How it Came About

Since 1996, the Sonics have partnered with local schools to ensure students become better readers. The Sonics have always felt a strong responsibility to be involved in education and went directly to Seattle Public Schools and Washington State’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to help them meet their curriculum goals. They told the Sonics that their biggest challenge was to find a way to motivate kids to read consistently outside the classroom. The Sonics helped develop "Read To Achieve" which provides a consistent reading curriculum and offers incentives for students.

The Sonics are able to provide materials and incentives that encourage students to improve their reading skills, including school visits by Sonics players.

Program Details

The Sonics & Storm Read To Achieve Program consists of two components:

Read to Achieve School Year Program
The Sonics Read To Achieve program is now in full swing for the 2007-08 season! Since 1996, the Seattle Sonics have partnered with local public and private schools and school districts to help students become better readers and develop a life-long love of reading. The Sonics have always felt a strong responsibility to be involved in education and went directly to Seattle Public Schools and Washington State’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to help them meet their curriculum goals.

The Sonics Read To Achieve program is an incentive-based program that encourages students in kindergarten through eighth grade to read or be read to for at least 20 minutes per day.

Ask your school librarian about the Sonics Read To Achieve program. It's not too late for schools to sign-up!

For information, send email to Wyjuana Montgomery at wmontgomery@sonics-storm.com.

Read to Achieve Summer Program
Read to Achieve extends through the summer months with Seattle Storm players encouraging kids to read. This is made possible through partnership with the Seattle Public, King County and Pierce County library systems, as well as Starbucks Coffee Company. Here’s how it works:

Visit your local library branch within the Seattle Public, King County or Pierce County library systems

See the librarian to sign up for the Summer Reading Program!

Read a Million Words, Seattle
The Seattle Sonics are proud to support Read a Million Words, Seattle!, a reading campaign launched by Seattle Public Schools for the 2007-08 school year. Reading 20 minutes per day, seven days a week puts young readers on target for reading a million words this school year. Click here for more information on Read A Million Words, Seattle! if you are a Seattle Public Schools student or parent.

Questions

For any questions regarding the program, please contact:
Wyjuana Montgomery
Community Programs Manager
1200 Third Ave., Suite 1000
wmontgomery@sonics-storm.com
Phone: 206-281-5800
Fax: 1-206-272-2697