This article was written by Amy Duncan. Amy is the Learning Coach at Schickler Elementary in Lapeer, Michigan, part of Lapeer Community Schools, where she supports teachers and students in building a school culture grounded in character and community.
There is a unique kind of magic that happens when an entire school settles into a gymnasium. You can hear the rhythmic squeak of sneakers on the polished wood, the low hum of hundreds of whispers, and finally, the expectant hush that falls when the book cover is revealed.
As part of our commitment to The Positivity Project (P2), we have adapted an old building tradition: our Monthly Reading Assemblies. Once a month, our entire school family gathers to dive into a single story. Now, unlike in the past, these are not just “story times”; they are a cornerstone of our mission to build a community grounded in character. By aligning our monthly book choice with a specific character strength, like teamwork, integrity, and gratitude, we turn abstract concepts into living, breathing examples.
While the primary goal is to reinforce our P2 character strengths, these assemblies are designed with four specific, high-impact outcomes in mind.
In an age of individual screens and on-demand entertainment, the skill of being a good audience member is becoming a lost art. Our assemblies provide a “live lab” for students to practice collective respect. “Eyes watching, ears listening, voices quiet, and bodies calm” is echoed throughout the room to get us all started.
Being a good audience is not just about sitting still; it is about active listening. It is about learning when to laugh together, when to hold a reflective silence, and how to show appreciation for the person sharing the story. When 340 students lean in at the same time during a suspenseful page turn, they are learning that their individual presence contributes to a larger, communal experience. We are teaching them that their attention is a gift they give to others.
Reading can sometimes feel like a “school task” rather than a joy. We want to flip that script. By making our monthly reading assembly a high-energy, whole-school event, we are signaling to every student that reading is a celebration.
When students see their teachers, their principal, and their peers all engaged in the same narrative, it builds a massive amount of “social proof” for literacy. We want our students to leave the gym buzzing about the plot twist or the illustrations, heading back to their classrooms eager to pick up their own books. We are not just teaching them how to read; we are showing them why they would want to.
Every month, we intentionally select books that challenge our students. These stories often contain “tier-two” vocabulary, those rich, descriptive words that do not always show up in everyday conversation but are essential for academic success and self-expression.
By hearing these words used in the context of a compelling story, students can “anchor” new vocabulary to an emotion or a character’s action. Whether it is the word resilient during a story about perseverance or compassionate during a lesson on kindness, we are building a shared lexicon. This allows our entire school to speak the same language when it comes to character, making it easier for students to identify those strengths in themselves and their friends.
During our assemblies, students hear how an experienced reader:
This modeling is vital. It helps students understand that the black marks on a white page are actually a musical score for the human voice. When they go back to their desks to read on their own, they have the “echo” of that expressive reading in their minds, which helps improve their own comprehension and fluency.
At the end of the day, these assemblies are about more than just literacy, they are about connection. When we read about a character who shows integrity in the face of a challenge, we are not just talking about a definition; we are witnessing a choice.
By gathering as a whole school, we ensure that every student, from the youngest kindergartner to the oldest fourth grader, receives the same message: Character matters, and stories are the map that shows us how to find it.
Looking for more books to connect literacy and character? Explore the P2 Book List to find recommended titles organized by character strength and grade level.