Jordan Barela/Times-Enterprise Braelon Brock, a Scott Elementary fifth grader, read almost four million words this school year as part of the city elementary school's literacy push. 

THOMASVILLE, Ga. — Braelon Brock has a vocabulary of almost four million words.   

A Scott Elementary fifth grader, Brock read 3.9 million words this school year — surpassing the city elementary school’s one million words challenge. 

“It feels kind of cool,” Brock said. 

Brock, who moved from Ludowici before starting fifth grade, likes to read fiction.  

Currently, Brock’s reading list consists of the “Trials of Apollo” series. Brock also is reading the “Assassin’s Creed” series, which is based on a video game saga of the same name. 

His love for reading, Brock pointed out, came from his grandmother. 

Brock said it was not every day someone is interviewed about their love of reading. 

“This is pretty cool that I’m actually getting interviewed,” he said. 

Scott Principal Brian Beaty challenged third, fourth and fifth grade students each to read one million words. Beaty said he thought he “set the bar high” until Brock’s “phenomenal” feat. 

“I’m very proud,” he added. 

The million-word goal, Beaty said, was aimed to increase Scott’s reading Lexile scores. 

Adrienne Angry, Brock’s reading and social studies teacher, said the Accelerated Reader (AR) program also plays into the school’s literacy focus. 

Students take a test about the plot of a book. Each book, based on the text’s difficulty, offers a certain number of points. 

To pass a test, Angry said, students must get at least an 85 percent. Brock’s AR average is 97.3 percent. 

Angry said she is “very proud” but “not surprised” of Brock passing the word count. 

“He’s just an avid reader,” she added. 

Because of his penchant for reading, Angry pointed out, Brock often will ask “outside-the-box” questions in class. 

“His love for reading crosses over to his academics,” she said. 

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.