MARYVILLE (WATE) – Nearly 200 Carpenters Middle School students are reading and riding during 20 minutes of their language arts classes.

While all the school students read a book they select for 20 minutes a day, the 196 students in the new “Pedal Power” program ride exercise bikes at the same time. The goal is to improve reading and the exercise is an added benefit.

“I get distracted a lot and I’ll sit there and stare off into space. But here, I can sit here and concentrate, read by book. It’s silent. I don’t get distracted at all,” said studnet Peyton Lorde.

“Hopefully we’ll find that these students have improved in their reading skills, but if nothing else, success is in talking to the students and knowing that they enjoy it,” said literacy leader Terri Bradshaw.

Bradshaw was inspired to launch “Pedal Power” by people she saw reading while exercising at the gym and other school “read and ride” programs.