HOPE – The students in Caren Duncan’s fourth grade class at Clinton Primary School amassed enough points to qualify as the winning local class in the nationally-sponsored Achieve 3000 “Read to Succeed” contest.

From Nov. 2 through Dec. 4, each participating class in eligible schools earned points for completion of comprehension activities based upon articles chosen by each student from a range of selections.

Students were to read their selected articles and answer questions about each article, along with explaining their answer. Reading material was provided through Achieve 3000.

Duncan said students were given the option of “stretching” an extensive article to its full length, and testing on that basis.

“Our kids were winning the stretch points every day,” she said. “We also had one of the highest reading grades when we had our testing class.”

At least 75 percent of the students in a competing class were required to participate through the KidBiz3000 reading skills program. For each student scoring at least 75 percent, the class earned two points; and, scores of 88 percent or higher earned the class three points, under the contest rules.

“They all had to read eight articles each to qualify,” Duncan said. “All of my kids qualified.”

Duncan kept track of her class’ status through the contest website, and said some of her students completed as many as 30-40 reading activities through the course of the contest.

Her class will receive a $30 gift card from Achieve 3000, which Duncan said will be used to provide a pizza party for the students. Her students also received certificates for their achievement.