Frontier Middle School has launched a new reading initiative aimed at trading screen time for page turning, creating a school-wide culture of literacy by silencing the building at the end of the week.
The program, dubbed “Talons and Tales,” requires all students and staff members to dedicate the final 30-minute period of the day to sustained silent reading. Currently scheduled one to two times a month on Fridays, organizers hope the quiet conclusion to the week will spark a long-term interest in literature that extends beyond the classroom walls.
“We’re noticing more and more each year that students are really tech dependent and have a hard time focusing for a sustained amount of time,” said Nicole Coolican, a seventh-grade English and honors English teacher at the school. “We thought by implementing this – where the teachers are reading beside them and getting excited about it as a community – that we would be able to not only help them become better readers, but hopefully enjoy it too."
The initiative kicked off its first session with immediate results, transforming the typically bustling middle school environment into a quiet sanctuary.
“It’s amazing because I have 12th period English with a bunch of 13-year-olds, and you can hear a pin drop, which as a middle school teacher, it doesn’t always happen,” Coolican said.
Tricia Applegate, an English teacher who co-developed the program alongside Coolican, agreed that the launch exceeded expectations.
“I think this is a perfect way to end a Friday,” Applegate said, noting the calm atmosphere heading into the weekend. “Our hope is that they’ll really get into these books and want to read the next one and the next one ... and that that momentum will just build throughout the year.”
Organizers are partnering with school librarian Rachel Brew to maximize student access to books. School officials emphasized that reinforcing reading habits early is critical for long-term academic and professional achievement, especially as school districts nationwide navigate post-pandemic learning challenges.
“Literacy is so vital, not just as a student but as a human being,” Coolican said. “Unfortunately, since COVID, a lot of school districts across the country have seen literacy scores dropping. Taking the time to just read, whether it’s a graphic novel, a nonfiction book or a fiction story, is really important. It can help their vocabulary, their comprehension, and hopefully expose them to different cultures and societies.”
Applegate added that these fundamental literacy skills remain essential regardless of what career path a student eventually chooses.
“No matter what job they choose to do in the future, they need to know how to read,” she said.
If the initial rollout continues to go smoothly, organizers plan to expand “Talons and Tales” into a weekly Friday event.
The silent reading blocks serve as a prelude to a broader seasonal push for community literacy. Frontier Middle School will host its annual “Fall into Reading” festival on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Organized by Amber Chandler, Middle School ELA Teacher and President of the Frontier Central Teachers Association, through an annual grant, the event is designed to break down barriers to book access across the entire region.
“It’s a great opportunity to encourage reading, both for our students, their families and as a whole,” Coolican said. “So if their parents are reading and their siblings are reading, they are more likely to read as well.”
The community gathering will feature thousands of free books and free family activities. Several regional organizations are scheduled to participate, including the Buffalo Zoo, the Buffalo Historical Society, Hawk Creek Wildlife, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. Additional support and exhibits will be provided by Frontier Farm to School, the Frontier PTA, local clubs and student musicians.
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