A+ Ideas from teachers
CELEBRATIONS
Hold a Read-a-Thon in the school library media center. Several students may volunteer or be selected to read short stories in the library media center all day. Teachers may bring their class to hear one or more stories at any time during the school day. The school PTA may want to get involved by getting pledges for each minute of reading. Proceeds could be used to buy new books for the library media center.
June Sullivan, Highlands Elementary, Vero Beach, FL, Media Specialist
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Host a reading carnival to recognize students' accomplishments. Each child could be given a set amount of tickets to be used at the carnival, or the students could begin earning tickets in October when the BOOK IT!® program begins. The tickets could be earned by reading a set amount of minutes or pages. The Carnival could be set up in the school gymnasium. It could consist of booths set up by local clubs, high school organizations, teachers, room mothers, etc. The prizes could be anything from bubble gum or cookies to pencils, bookmarks, and books.
Nancy Lewis, King City R-1 Elementary, King City, MO, Grade 7
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Create a reading community celebration. There should be a festive atmosphere throughout the school, with balloons and decorations everywhere. Everyone, including staff, should come dressed like his or her favorite storybook character. Posters with catchy slogans or book cover illustrations could be carried as classes parade around the school at a scheduled time. A play or puppet show could be included. Authors of well-known stories could be invited. Lots of time should be allotted for reading, and community leaders and the elderly could be invited to read stories to small groups.
Ruth Delmonico, Pompositticut School, Stow, MA, Grade 1
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Divide your class into teams with four to five members each. Make stacks of books from various kinds of literature, i.e., poetry, historical, fiction, biography, reference, mystery or book awards. Have the teams rotate through stations and read from stacks approximately ten to fifteen minutes each. At the end of the session, they should have been exposed to all the available types of literature. Barbara Lyons, Mary Herbert Elementary, Emporia, KS, Grade 4
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Have a reading scavenger hunt. First set up reading stations. The reading activities at each of the stations can be either independent or teacher-directed. Then divide the class into teams and give each team an envelope containing directions to one of the stations. After completing the activities in that station, give each team of students directions to the next station. In my classroom, there are seven stations involving teachers, administrators, and supervisors. All the activities are related to reading, such as reading a story independently, listening to a story, reading and writing poetry, and reading directions.
Carol Samuelson, Glen Acres School, West Chester, PA, Grade 4
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