(1) A group of students at Defence Laboratories School conducted a survey that found most students spend their free time watching TV or playing games instead of reading. (2) The students proposed implementing a 50-minute "DEAR" (Drop Everything And Read) period each day where students and teachers would read silently. (3) They obtained books through donations, set up class libraries, and motivated students to read. (4) After starting the DEAR period, the percentage of students reading books increased significantly across all classes.

1. DROP EVERYTHING AND READ
‘DEAR’
‘PADHHO AUR BADHHO’
DEFENCE LABORATORIES’ SCHOOL,
VIGNYANAKANCHA,RCI,HYDERABAD

2. Often we hear our teachers complaining about
fading reading habits among students. Students
these days have no love for books at all. They
would rather watch TV, play video games or just
gossip in their free time.

3. THE ‘DEAR’ TEAM
NAVYA ABHINAV SWETA ADITYA PRATIDHI

4. •We first conducted a survey among the students
to ascertain -
• How they spend their free time
•How many hours of reading do they do in a week
(other than text books)
• The reasons for not reading books
Watch TV
5% 20% 60% Play Video Games
15%
Read Books,
Magazines
Whileaway Their Time

5. •Non- availabilty of books
•Lack of time
Don't own
15% books
40% Parents don't
25%
allow
20% Don't find
time
Lack interest

6. SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE Name:___________
1. How much free time do you get in a day? Class:___________
a) 1hour b) 2 hours c) more than 2 hours
2. How do you spend your free time?
a) Watching T.V. b) playing video games
c) Playing any other game d) reading books
3. How many books/articles have you read this week?
a)One b) Two c) More than two d) Nil
4. The reason for not reading books/ materials other than the class books.
a)Don’t have enough time b) non-availability of books c) lack of interest
5. Do your parents encourage you to read books?
a)Yes b) No c) Does not matter to them
6. Do your parents buy you books other than you class books?
a) Yes b) No c)Rarely
7. Would you read if you were given books & time to read?
a) Yes b) No c) Not sure
8. Would you like to have a proper reading period in the school?
a) Yes b) No c) Doesn’t make any difference
9. Do your parents allow you to read books other than your course books?
a) Yes b) No
10. Would your parents like you to have a reading period in school?
a) Yes b) No c) Doesn’t matter

7. OUR ACTION PLAN…
•Allocating 50 minutes of “DEAR”
(Drop Everything And Read) period
everyday.
•Collecting books from the
neighborhood.
•Setting up class libraries.
•Motivating students to read by
making each student own a book.
• Inviting students to present book
reviews.

8. DISCUSSING THE PROJECT WITH PRINCIPAL
We discussed the project with our Principal
and urged him to squeeze out 50 minutes for
our reading session everyday .

9. FITTING ‘DEAR’ PERIOD IN TIMETABLE
We suggested to take out 5 minutes
from each period including the lunch
period, to make a 50 minute „DEAR‟
period

10. BOOK DONATION CAMPAIGN
PREPARING FOR THE CAMPAIGN

11. CAMPAIGN MARCH

12. COLLECTING BOOKS FROM NEIGHBOURHOOD

13. SORTING OUT BOOKS
We sorted them out to suit different
levels of understanding & interest.

14. HANDING OVER BOOKS TO THE CLASS TEACHERS
These books were handed over to the respective
class teachers for class libraries.

15. MOTIVATING STUDENTS TO ‘DEAR’ PERIOD
In the school assembly, we
talked to the students
about the pleasures of
reading books and
motivated them to read.

16. DO…
HERE WE GO WITH OUR
‘DEAR’ PERIOD!

17. ‘DEAR’ PERIOD IN PROGRESS
The whole school, including the teachers, sat
down to read silently in rapt attention for 50
minutes everyday during the ‘DEAR’ period.

18. ENGROSSED IN READING

19. PRESENTING BOOK REVIEWS

20. WE LOVE READING

21. OUTCOME…
• There is a marked difference
among students in their
keenness to read books.
• All the students carry a
storybook in their bags now!
• “DEAR” period becomes a
permanent feature in our
school time table.

22. WE CARRY OUR STORY BOOKS…
EVERYDAY…

23. AND WE GO ON READING …
EVERYWHERE

24. PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS READING
BOOKS BEFORE AND AFTER
IMPLEMENTING THE „DEAR‟ PERIOD
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
PERCENTAGE
50%
OF STUDENTS BEFORE
40%
AFTER
30%
20%
10%
0%
Class VI Class VII Class VIII ClassIX
CLASSES

25. SHARING ‘DEAR’EXPERIENCES
‘DEAR’ period
is soooo…. Reading time
dear to me is fun time. I
luv it.

26. OUR FUTURE PLANS
•Extending ‘DEAR‘ concept
to Family Reading Time.
•Spreading the ‘DEAR’
to other schools.