The West Prairie Press

By Megan Pittman

At West Prairie Junior Senior High, we’re kicking off the year with a new reading challenge called Pittman’s Purposeful Pages. The challenge is simple: the first 10 students to finish an independent reading book and conference with Coach Pittman will win a mystery prize, Facebook fame, and a seat at the end-of-September pizza and milkshakes lunch soirée.

So—what’s the purpose? Why are we doing this?

Why the Challenge Matters

The goal is to get students genuinely excited about reading. Independent reading isn’t just about finishing a book; it’s about building stamina, making personal connections to stories, and discovering that reading can be an adventure, not an assignment. Choice and time are powerful tools in helping students grow as readers. When you choose what you read, you’re more invested – and when you get time to read, you develop the habits that carry you far beyond the classroom.

Reading also transforms us. It shapes our identities, builds empathy, and creates opportunities for lifelong learning. As Penny Kittle reminds us, “It’s never too late to lead a non-reader to reading.” That belief drives this challenge – we’re rewriting the story of what reading looks like at West Prairie.

What I’m Reading Right Now

Like many of you, I always have a book going. Recently, I’ve been reading Away by Megan Freeman, a survival story about a girl who suddenly finds herself completely alone in her town after a mass evacuation. This novel in verse is about resilience, courage, and the quiet strength it takes to keep going when the world feels uncertain. I’ve also been reading The Boys of Riverside, which tells the inspiring true story of a deaf football team and their quest for glory against all odds. What struck me most about this book was not just the football action, but the way it showed how determination, teamwork, and refusing to let limitations define you can open the door to incredible achievement.

I’d recommend these books because they both made me pause and reflect. Away made me wonder how I would respond in moments of isolation and challenge, while The Boys of Riverside reminded me that barriers – whether physical, emotional, or social – don’t have to hold us back from chasing big dreams. Both stories drew me in, connected me to characters who felt real, and left me thinking long after I closed the book.

Books like these remind me why reading matters. It’s not just about finishing pages – it’s about stepping into someone else’s world, gaining new perspectives, and learning empathy. Reading pushes us to imagine beyond our own experience, to see life through another lens, and to discover lessons about perseverance, hope, and human connection.

Why Reading Is So Important

This year at WPJSHS, we’re committed to building a true culture of literacy. Our no-cell-phone policy means fewer screens during the school day, but more time for stories. We’re creating challenges like this one to make reading a joyful pastime and not just another box to check for school.

At the end of the day, Pittman’s Purposeful Pages is about more than prizes. It’s about changing habits, opening doors, and sparking curiosity. Reading helps us grow as thinkers, leaders, and human beings – and it’s something worth celebrating together as Cyclones.

So grab a book, dive in, and see where it takes you. Who knows? You might just find yourself at that pizza and milkshake table in September…or lining up to tackle the next reading challenge!

#CycloneNation #WestPrairieProud