Reading Champions - www.ussteel.com
READING CHAMPIONS
| To foster a love for reading and increase reading scores in our region, U. S. Steel has partnered with the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation and developed the Reading Champions program to encourage students to be champions of reading. Launched in 2021, Reading Champions encourages 3rd grade students to be champions of reading by challenging each child to read for just 20 minutes a day (the length of a hockey period.) Along the way, students can work to achieve Rookie, 1st Line & MVP levels. With each level met, the class earns prizes and at the end of each season, students tally up their 'scores' and the room with the most minutes read is awarded the "Steel Cup," a perpetual trophy made by U. S. Steel employees with steel made in the Mon Valley. Each student also receives a personalized steel medal. |
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| Nearly 1,600 Reading Champions Students |
In its pilot year, Reading Champions enrolled more than 200 students from West Mifflin School District and Propel Charter Schools. Now in its 4th year, over 600 3rd graders in the Mon Valley and surrounding schools districts are beginning the program for the first time. |
Since launch, students have logged over 1.8 million minutes of reading...and that figure is growing! This year, 32 classrooms have launched Reading Champions across the Pittsburgh region and include Clairton, Duquesne, Propel Charter, West Mifflin, Wilkinsburg and Woodland Hills school districts. |
Over 1.8 million Minutes Read |
| 1,456 Books Donated |
To date, over 1,400 books have been donated to schools within our region to encourage students to be champions of reading. At the start of each season, U. S. Steel employees hold a kick-off event, coming together to write inspirational messages to encourage kids to do their best. |
In the first 2 years of the program, students in the West Mifflin Area School District who completed improved their reading proficiency scores by 20%. |
20% Improvement in Reading Proficiency |
Our Reading Results
We are proud to share that Mon Valley schools, such as Duquesne City 3rd graders, are seeing measurable improvements in student literacy, thanks to targeted interventions and innovative tools. Recent i-Ready Reading Diagnostic data show a 30% growth in reading proficiency from the first to the second assessment window. This encouraging progress aligns directly with the implementation of the Reading Champions program, which ran during the same timeframe.
The i-Ready Diagnostic, used across Pennsylvania schools, provides adaptive, individualized assessments that pinpoint students’ reading strengths and challenges. Combined with the personalized instruction that follows, this tool has empowered educators to tailor their teaching more effectively and meet students where they are.
The 30% growth at Duquesne City reflects not only the hard work of our students and teachers but also the success of collaborative efforts like the Reading Champions program in fostering a culture of literacy and learning. We remain committed to building on this momentum and ensuring every student in the Mon Valley has the tools and support they need to become confident, capable readers.
The i-Ready Diagnostic, used across Pennsylvania schools, provides adaptive, individualized assessments that pinpoint students’ reading strengths and challenges. Combined with the personalized instruction that follows, this tool has empowered educators to tailor their teaching more effectively and meet students where they are.
The 30% growth at Duquesne City reflects not only the hard work of our students and teachers but also the success of collaborative efforts like the Reading Champions program in fostering a culture of literacy and learning. We remain committed to building on this momentum and ensuring every student in the Mon Valley has the tools and support they need to become confident, capable readers.
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