About Marietta Reads!

Marietta Reads! is a citywide effort to foster reading and literacy in our community. The purpose of this initiative is to encourage Marietta City School students to read more, read better and read widely. Research suggests that students who read improve vocabulary, develop an excellent background for future learning, improve academic performance, and develop a lifelong habit that will enrich experience.

Marietta Reads! participants will select books from the Accelerated Reader booklists that are posted on each school's website. After reading the book, the student uses a computer to take an Accelerated Reader test that measures reading comprehension. The student earns Accelerated Reader points based on the difficulty of the book and performance on the Accelerated Reader tests. Reading goals are set for students at each grade level, for each school, and for the school system. As an additional incentive, students earn awards upon reaching each goal.

Marietta Reads! is supported by a variety of citizens in a variety of ways. Students share book reviews, recommend books to each other, and encourage the reading of classmates and friends. Parents read at home to provide good models for children. Parents also read to and with their children, take them to the public library, and cheer them on as they work toward reading goals. Faculty and staff members manage the program, assist the students in selecting appropriate books, and teach the skills and strategies needed for reading. Volunteers come to schools to read to and with children. Businesses promote Marietta Reads! in the workplace. Individuals and organizations support the costs of providing books for students and rewarding reading achievement.

Each school year, Marietta Reads! gives a book to each student that they can take home with them.

2010-2011 book donations:

Did you know? Marietta Reads! has given away over 34,350 grade level books since it began in Fall 2003!