Way to go "trying my best"
I am in awe of such fabulous ideas!
We've got our plans in motion for this year, but already I can't wait to try out some of yours for next!
We did a "Food - Fair - Flicks" event that went over great and made $1000 to boot based on 700 guests. 4 elements were involved: (1)Served chili dinner very cheap (Family of 4 could eat for $10; desserts donated; beverages included) (2) School Librarian ran her Book Fair (highest sales ever for the fall book fair) (3) Kids could visit Story Lofts to hear storytellers and receive a small giveaway (ie The Man in the Yellow Hat read Curious George and gave away mini bananas, At the Franklin story loft they received green Air Heads); (4) Parents could drop their kids in the gym where we showed 4 30 minute flicks while 7th and 8th graders supervised the kids. During that time parents either shopped the fair, ate, or just socialized with others.
Other notes: It was a great relaxed family night that also highlighted literacy. The book company (Scholastic) donated some items for giveaway as well as $$ that we turned into $2.00 book fair coupons for the 1st 100 families to buy dinner tickets. Scholastic also lent us 4 costumes, no charge (Ms. Frizzle, Clifford, Franklin, Curious George) that I recruited 8th graders to wear and draw kids back to the story lofts. In addition to the adult volunteers, 60 6th - 8th graders helped as well supervising flicks, dressing up, bussing tables or being floaters!
We have a used book sale that requests students to bring in those used books that they have out grown. We then set up tables catagorized by reading level and sell them back to those little buggers!! They absolutely love going through the crates and finding their favorite book, or one they have donated. The kids walk away with an arm full of books for practically nothing. We resell paperback for .50 cents and hard cover for $1. We also put a higher price on collections or very expensive books. We even have the librarian from our sister school come and by for their library. All in all we feel it is a great way to get those dusty books back in cirrulation (and the extra change is an added bonus)
Last year we also cooridinated our with Dr. Suess but we used the theme of "Green Eggs and Ham". If the students read a total of 200 hours in a certain amout of time then the Principal would get into a swimming pool of Green Jello. Which I might add was awfully funny to see! The kids each donated 1 bag of 2 boxes of pre-made lime jello for this. The kids thought it was a real hoot!~
We run our reading program in March in conjunction with Dr. Seuss' birthday. If you go to www.nea.org/readacross
you can find some ideas. For the young grades we do Hop on Pop, we have coloring contests and also Dr. Seuss style writing contests for the older kids.
March is reading month and I am looking for some new ideas. Does anyone have any ideas for activites/programs. Usually we (as does most schools) do the overall reading goal and if the students meet the goal the principal does something wacky, does anyone have a new idea for that (besides the ever popular "kiss a pig")? I'd appreciate any ideas, I'm fresh out. We are an elementary with about 280 students, k-5 if that helps. Thanks!
