March Reading Madness & Giveaway! – Step Up For Students

Congratulations to the winners of our Book Giveaway!

Ms. Warren- The Foundation Academy

Mrs. Koch- Incarnation Catholic School

Ms. Mateo- Basilica School of Saint Paul

Mr. Belcher- Beacon of Hope Christian School

In honor of Read Across America Day, this month’s resources are all about reading!

There’s no better way to kick off this month’s reading theme than with a BOOK GIVEAWAY! We are giving away a book to FOUR lucky winners! **To enter, please email your name, school name & school address, and GRADE LEVEL TAUGHT, to officeofstudentlearning@stepupforstudents.org**. Entries must be in by March 15th, 2019. Winners announced March 18th. Each winner will be randomly chosen and will receive a surprise book to add to their classroom library that is appropriate for the grade level they teach!

10 Ways to Encourage Reading in Your Classroom & School

Read Aloud! This is important for students in all grades as teachers are able to model fluent reading, help students construct meaning from text, and improve student processing and comprehension.
Create opportunities for students to talk about reading. Book clubs, reading groups, literacy circles, or invite students to share a “review” of a book with the class to encourage others to read it.
Choose Books that Relate to Current Issues or Relate the Books you Read to Students’ Lives. Check out this report from Renaissance detailing what books kids love at each grade level!
Organize a “Read-In” Night– Encourage students and their families to attend a read-in! Use the gym or multi-purpose room, set up blankets, wear PJ’s, and encourage parents to bring a picnic snack or provide pizza to eat while students read books with their families or friends. Be creative! Invite parents, community members, local authors, or sports figures to be mystery readers each hour! Click this link to get some ideas for your own Read-In!
Take a Field Trip to the Local Library. Many libraries host children’s book readings and even have tours & presentations specifically for high school students on quality research strategies.
Talk About How Much You Love to Read! Share your favorite books, read passages from them, talk about how excited you are to read.
Create an Audio Book Station for Students to Listen to Books. Consider borrowing free audiobooks using your library card through hoopla digital! Make this a center activity, or a free time station.
Invite Authors to Speak Using Skype in the Classroom. Check out the link to see available authors for elementary, middle & high school.
Invite Guest Readers to the Class to Read to Students. Guest Readers could be other students, parents, community members, etc. You might also consider using these videos of authors reading students’ favorite books.
Build your classroom library and encourage borrowing! Consider asking for donations from a local book store, check out the local library book sale, create a wish list to share with friends on social media, or use the local library on a monthly basis! Check out more tips from WeAreTeachers on ways to stock your classroom library.