Reading month is kind of a big deal in my classroom. While we're busy creating a love of reading all year long, March is when we KICK IT UP A NOTCH! So, with that being said, I want to share a few things that I am doing in my own classroom this month.
Decorate Lockers With Covers of Your Favorite Books:
A fun and easy way to kick-start the month is by having students decorate their lockers with their favorite book covers. First, have students choose their favorite book. Then, give each student a piece of card stock paper. Next, give them time to sketch and color their covers. They may need to use your classroom library or the school library to get a copy of the book in order to sketch it. Once students finish their covers, hole punch the top. Then, tie a piece of string through the hole and the slit of their locker. If your students don't have lockers, just tack or tape the card stock to the wall. Last, enjoy the displays! Visitors and other students love walking the halls to check out our display of favorite books.
Didn't these turn out awesome?!
While "competition" usually doesn't come to mind when curling up with a good book, let's face it, our kids LOVE a good, friendly competition.
Students set a personal goal for books throughout the month and take AR quizzes on their books. The only guideline I set is that the book must be at the student's reading level. I encourage them to read both picture books and chapter books. I also make sure to monitor students so that they are reading the books for the right reasons versus quickly getting through them for points. Each year I do this, they are 100% honest.
Side note: I know many of you amazing teachers out there have a love/hate relationship with AR, but since many schools are required to use it, you might as well make it fun!
Book Swap:
I do this every year, and my kids act like it's Christmas! Nothing like out with the old and in with the new!
Students bring in books from home that they have finished reading or don't want anymore. Each student may bring up to three books. If they bring three books, they get to swap for three new ones. If they bring two books, they get to swap for two new ones. My students absolutely love going home with "brand new books!"
Click HERE or the picture below to grab this FREE Book Swap note!
Whole Class Drop Everything and Read:
One day, towards the end of the month, we take the afternoon to drop everything and read. I let my students wear pajamas and bring in one comfy thing from home (blanket, stuffed animal, pillow, etc.). Students bring both picture books and chapter books, I provide a healthy snack and we get to just sit and read! It's the best!
Poem In Your Pocket Day:
The real "Poem in Your Pocket Day" isn't until April 18th. But since I absolutely love this idea, we are celebrating it twice this year! For those of you that haven't heard of this, the idea is simple. Students select a favorite poem, they put it in their pocket, they then share their poem with friends, other teachers and whomever else on this special day. A fabulous teacher I work with even used chalk last year to decorate the entire playground with her student's pocket poems! :)
I would love to know what you do with your students in your classrooms for March is Reading Month!
I do this every year, and my kids act like it's Christmas! Nothing like out with the old and in with the new!
Students bring in books from home that they have finished reading or don't want anymore. Each student may bring up to three books. If they bring three books, they get to swap for three new ones. If they bring two books, they get to swap for two new ones. My students absolutely love going home with "brand new books!"
Click HERE or the picture below to grab this FREE Book Swap note!
Whole Class Drop Everything and Read:
One day, towards the end of the month, we take the afternoon to drop everything and read. I let my students wear pajamas and bring in one comfy thing from home (blanket, stuffed animal, pillow, etc.). Students bring both picture books and chapter books, I provide a healthy snack and we get to just sit and read! It's the best!
Poem In Your Pocket Day:
The real "Poem in Your Pocket Day" isn't until April 18th. But since I absolutely love this idea, we are celebrating it twice this year! For those of you that haven't heard of this, the idea is simple. Students select a favorite poem, they put it in their pocket, they then share their poem with friends, other teachers and whomever else on this special day. A fabulous teacher I work with even used chalk last year to decorate the entire playground with her student's pocket poems! :)