We did an event with Usborne Books...REACH for the Stars. Kids get pledges for reading a minimum of 300 minutes in two weeks. 50% of the pledge money goes back to kids to choose their own books from Usborne and school/org can get a combination of cash/books up to 60% of the pledges (yes that's 110%)....we did it in combination with a "kiss the pig" contest the principal agreed to "kiss a pig" if pledges reached a certain level! It worked.
If you go to BookAdventure.org they have a great website for students to go in and pick books they want to read over the summer and then go to their local library to get. Once they read the book they go back on-line and take a test about that book. They earn points and can win prizes. I think this is pretty new. We are going to send out in our final newsletter some info on it for parents to help keep reading an important part during summer break.
This year we had two reading related programs. The first was Family reading night. We had two separate areas, one for k-2 and one for 3-6. The k-2 was an Arthur night. We had the older kids (our school is k-8) read books to the participants. There were 4 classrooms set up and each had a different book. Then they went to the library for cake and juice and had a raffle where we gave away about 30 books. The parents also attende with their children. They 3-6 was a Harry Potter theme. We turned the MPR into Diagon Alley with brick "walls" and stations - the owelery, a hat shop, a wand shop - where the kids made those items. Also there was "pumpkin juice" and "Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans". The principal dressed like Dumbledore and older kids read passages from book one. The kids really loved this.
The second event was BEAR night. Be An Enthusiastic Reader. This was a sleepover in the school MPR. In order to attend the kids had to read a pre-determined amount of pages (less for the little kids and more for the older ones) and write a SHORT description of the book and charactors. We allowed 2-5th grade to attend. They read books and had art projects, pizza, cake, etc.
As we prepare for next school year, we are listing ideas of how we can promote reading for the kids, as well as how to get the parents and community involved in this. Any ideas? There are some cute ideas...."campfire reading night" , "Bagel Book Buddies", etc, but I need more. I wantto do something at least once a month about rading and the benefits of reading to your kids,etc.
