A second grade student at Cape Elementary School read more than 700 books this year, earning 520 accelerated reader points.
Cape Elementary School second grade teacher Clint Garlick said his student Julia Lin, 9, has read more books in one year than any student he has ever had.
“I have had classrooms that haven’t read as much as she has,” he said.
Julia began reading at the second grade level when the school year began, which quickly changed to a fourth grade level.
“She is a phenomenal student,” he said. “She excels in every academic. I am extremely proud of her.”
Julia read more than 700 books, more than 2 million words, which consisted of almost 200 chapter books, picture books, non-fiction books and autobiographies.
In nine weeks, she accumulated 125 accelerated reader points due to the number of books she was reading.
Her goal for each quarter was to reach 100 points.
A picture book is worth a half of a point and a small chapter book is worth one point. Garlick said at times she would earn more points due to the length of the book she read.
Garlick said at times Julia would take 10 to 12 books home a night and finish them all before she came to school the next morning ready to take a test.
She obtained a 96 percent average on all the tests she took.
“She remembers most of the things she reads,” he said smiling. “She recalls the facts.”
Garlick said depending on the size of the book, there can be up to 20 questions regarding what the book was about. He said that can be challenging for students because of the number of words they are reading.
Julia said her only complaint is that the school library needs more books. Although her favorite subject is math, she said she likes reading mysteries because it gives her something to do.
Due to her achievement, Garlick had an orange jacket made for Julia that has honor reader written on the sleeves, along with the school mascot and her name printed on the front.
Next year, Garlick said she will begin reading at a third grade level, until she proves to her teacher she can move up to the next level.
“I have no doubt she will move up,” he said. “I suspect she will be reading fifth grade level by the end of the year.”