CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -
Ten students from a Clarksville middle school received an electronic reader for their accomplishments in their toughest subject.
The Kindles were purchased by realtor Michael Griffins and were rewarded to students at West Creek Middle School for improving their reading levels.
The students receiving the electronic readers completed a reading comprehension project called "Read 180."
The class is designed for students who struggle with reading and whose reading level had fallen behind that of their fellow classmates.
"All the children when they first started in August, they were like, ‘I hate reading. I don't like reading I don't want to read,'" teacher Melinda Hargis said.
According to Hargis, students participating in the class could only choose books that are on their reading level and they must read independently.
Sixth grader Sarah VanDeMark was just one of the students who found success in the class.
After completing the program VanDeMark has improved her reading level to a 12th grade level.
"I used to have a hard time comprehending words," she explained to Nashville's News 2.
Kindle recipient Starr Steele also said she is thrilled to receive the reader and is looking forward to downloading books from the "Twilight" series.
"I always wanted one of these so I can get in there and read and I could find different authors," she said.
Steele's mother, Angelique Miller said since her daughter has completed the class she has seen a major improvement in her reading skills.
"You can tell a difference, she likes to go to the library now," Miller said.
The gifted Kindles are only electronic readers and do not have access to the Internet or to play games.
