As those winter temperatures start to drop encourage your students to warm up with a good book. Host a read-a-thon day in your classroom where your students can enjoy a few good books with their classmates. For some extra fun encourage your students to come dressed in their PJs. Set up a hot cocoa bar complete with marshmallows and peppermint spoons for students to enjoy a warm cup of cocoa and a cookie as they curl up with their books.
To get ready for your winter read-a-thon set up a hot chocolate bar for your students to enjoy. Start with a simple white tablecloth then layer a few buffalo check placemats down the center. I love to use a crock pot in my classroom to keep the milk nice and toasty. I just use a ladle to individually fill the snowflake cups.
My students use one of the peppermint candy spoons to stir in their hot cocoa mix. I leave the peppermint spoons wrapped until students are ready to use them. They fit nicely into these adorable marshmallow mugs! Lastly, mix in a few of the candy marshmallows. I love how they come in individual bags so you don't have to waste an entire bag of marshmallows.
Students love any opportunity to wear special clothes. Encourage your students to bring a blanket or pillow and wear their pajamas for your class read-a-thon. This will help them get extra snuggly and comfy while reading their books.
Before the class starts reading I set up a prize table. When students finish a book they get to pick from my winter read-a-thon prizes. I have a variety of winter themed bookmarks, snowflake pointers, marshmallow stickers and plush snowflakes, to name a few. My students love getting to pick a prize and it encourages them to keep reading all day long!
For completing a chapter book I let the students earn all the prizes at once, as it can take their whole day to read just one book. While my students are reading I pass out a few notes of encouragement. I use snowflake cutouts and just write a little personal note on the back like, "You can do this!" "You are a dynamite reader" or "You are snow good at reading!" These words of encouragement help give them motivation throughout their read-a-thon.
To end their read-a-thon I give my students a little treat. These snowman suckers are adorable! Just print the FREE tag, place a hole punch at the top and bottom and then slide the sucker through. Use a piece of colored felt to cut a strip and tie to the base of the sucker above the tag. This looks like a fun, colorful scarf and adds just the right winter touch. Next time you're stuck inside because of the weather, make the most of it with a winter read-a-thon. I'll be sending you some warm wishes during these cold winter months!
