Most classrooms, typically, dedicate the first week of March to Read Across America, but why not extend the fun throughout the whole month of March? During this time, you can continue to build reading accuracy, fluency and comprehension skills by sprinkling in a little creativity and novelty to encourage children to read in and out of the classroom. Use these 10 Read Across America celebration ideas to create proficient readers, cultivate the love of reading and make this reading event magical and memorable for your students!
Create reading rock stars, during Read Across America, with a few rock star themed rewards! The bright mics will help your students channel their inner rocker, as they practice their reading fluency. Of course, every rock star needs a pair of cool shades to help them read. Plus, the "Rock Star" Ribbon Awards and guitar trophies make for a fun reward at the end of the month. Just tuck everything into the guitar shaped gift bags.
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Set the stage for Read Across America by establishing a class reading goal with the Graffiti Classroom Goal Chart. At the end of the month, use the Rad Reader Necklaces and/or Color Your Own Canvas Rad Reader Pencil Cases as a reward for meeting the goal!
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Reading is always better with a buddy, and these book buddies are sure to create excitement for Read Across America! During independent reading time, your students can practice reading aloud to their book buddy or I Love to Read Stuffed Puppies. Plus, they make an adorable keepsake once the celebration has ended!
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Inspire your young readers, during Read Across America, with a punch card bookmark. The smiley faces on the front can be hole-punched when they finish a book, reading assignment or set amount of time spent reading. After punching out all of the smiley faces, the students can choose a reward!
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Challenge students to read different genres of literature as you kick off Read Across America! Play the Reading Genres Bingo game throughout the month, and students can add a sticker to their sheet every time they finish a book of a genre on their card. Students can aim to get five spaces in a row or fill up the entire card!
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Develop an intrinsic desire to read with I Can Read Book Bags and monthly reading goal trackers! These bags are perfect to use as student book bags in the classroom, but also work exceptionally well as at-home book bags that the students can bring to and from school. The best way to grow better readers is to have them read, read, read; and what better time to introduce the I Can Read Book Bags than during Read Across America?!
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As an added incentive during Read Across America, give one Book Buck to each student who has met their goal. You could also give extra Book Bucks Play Money to students who have surpassed their goal. At the end of the month, the students can use the Book Bucks they have earned to purchase books or other items!
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Begin Read Across America by encouraging your students to read with these DIY Bookmarks! They come with 24 bookmarks, as well as alphabet and shape sheets. All of the pieces are self-adhesive, making it super simple for the students to create a personalized bookmark!
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Build reading fluency during small group instruction or independent reading time with Read to Self Phones. These phones help improve focus and fluency, as the students are listening to their own voices and self-monitoring as they read. Toss a fluency phone into each student's book box to help kick start Read Across America!
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Add a fun twist on retelling the story with these Question Dice! Each colorful die includes the following words: where, what, when, who, why and how. Building reading comprehension skills, during Read Across America, is equally important as reading the words accurately!
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