Stephanie Pearce’s third grade class at Andalusia Elementary School is striving for reading greatness as they hit the halfway mark to their goal of earning 1,000 Accelerated Reader points.

The Accelerated Reader program is a computerized program that tests readingcomprehension. Students select books on their reading level, read independently, and take an independent comprehension test on the computer. Each book is worth a certain number of points based on its length and reading level.

“Our class’s Wildly Important Goal or WIG is to reach 1,000 A.R. points by May 1,” third grader John Thaxton Brannon said. “Right now we have 501.8. It took several books for us to read to get there.”

AES participates in the Leader In Me program and uses the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Pearce’s class is utilizing the second and sixth habits to try and reach their goal.

“We have been using habit two, which is ‘Begin With the End in Mind,’ ” Jaiden Goldsmith said. “And habit six, which is ‘Synergize.’ We all have to work together to accomplish this goal.”

Goldsmith’s favorite book “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.”

Student Haylee Little read the class mission statement, which states what they are trying to achieve if they use all Seven Habits. Pearce said that the students wrote the mission statement themselves by brainstorming about what’s important about coming into their class.

“In our class we set goals, synergize, respect each other, lead and learn where we can be successful,” Little said.

Little’s favorite book is “James and the Giant Peach.”

Colby Smith and Gabby Cobb said that reading is very important.

“Reading helps you get better at reading,” Smith said.

“I like reading because it is very interesting,” Cobb said.

The class received a pizza party as a reward for reaching the halfway point to their goal and when asked if they liked having pizza parties the entire class shouted, “Of course.”

“Back in August we actually got together as a class and talked about what we wanted to do if we reached the halfway point,” Pearce said. “And they decided that we should have a pizza and rice krispy treat party. I am so proud of them getting to this point and if we reach the entire goal they will definitely get rewarded again.”