Read, Remember, Recite

Often, when children read, they don’t retain the information. (This happens to adults, too!) To enhance retention, plan a storytelling competition that requires children to memorize a short story. Help them select tales that are a reasonable length, and give them several weeks to rehearse. Invite your colleagues to be judges. Make the competition an official affair by presenting the top three students Lamp Of Knowledge Medallions.

Flexing Some Muscles

Well-rounded children need to be in good shape both mentally and physically. You can help them achieve this goal through a “Recess Incentive.” Set a weekly or monthly reading target for each student. Give those who achieve their goal an extra 10-15 minutes of recess or gym time as well as an “Exercise Your Mind, Read” Tattoo. And exercise every child’s mind by distributing to all our “200 Tricky Words” Bookmarks. They make a great resource for improving skills in both reading and writing.

Exercising Their Rights

Put democracy into action by letting children vote for their favorite books. When it comes time for your classroom to start reading a new book, give students at least three choices to vote on. Summarize what each book is about so students have some guidance in choosing their favorite. Whatever book gets the majority of votes wins. After the vote are tallied, give each student an “I Vote 4 Reading” Lollipop or a “Reading Gets My Vote” Ribbon for their role in the democratic process.

On The Right Track

Hold a fun-filled reading competition to inspire children to read more. Make a construction paper cutout of a car for each child and put his or her name on it. Then, on a bulletin board or wall in the classroom, draw a start line on the right side and a finish line on the left. Line up all the “cars” at the start. For each book a student reads, move his or her car one car length closer to the finish. As students complete the “race,” give them “Race Into Reading” Silicone Bracelets or Water Bottles.

Build A Book

Combine reading and geography to bring the world to your students. Divide up your classroom into groups of three or four children, and assign each group a continent. Have students research their assigned continent and type up at least three pages of information about it. When the task is complete, edit the text and make enough copies for each student. Then combine all the pages into books, in which each continent is a separate chapter. Pass out a copy of the book to each student, and have students read the sections they worked on aloud to the class. Give each child a “Read Here, There and Everywhere” Key Tag and a “Star Reader” Pencil Topper.

Parental Involvement

Stress the importance of literacy to parents with the help of a local ProLiteracy America affiliate. (Visit www.proliteracy.org to find one near you.) These organizations help people of all ages learn how to read. Ask a volunteer or representative to speak to parents one evening. Prior to the event, hang up an “Explore New Worlds As A Family… Read Together” Banner on the wall behind where the speaker will stand. Make sure he or she includes suggestions for ways parents can help foster the love of reading in their children. At the end of the program, pass out “Explore New Worlds as a Family...Read Together" Card with Silicone Bracelet to remind parents that reading with their children is a beneficial family activity.

The Best Candidate

Candidates for political office have to work hard to get elected. Instill this work ethic in your youngsters and encourage them to use their reading skills to win a mock election. Hold a contest to see who can read the most books in two weeks. Ask the top three readers to run for president of their class. Have each candidate write a short speech about why he or she should be elected, then read it to the class. After the elections take place and the new president is chosen, give him or her a special book of your choice. Also present all three candidates with “Readers Are Leaders” T-Shirts. Give every student in class a “Readers Are Leaders” Dog Tag.