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Showing posts with label Reading Month. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reading Month. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Fun Reading Activities for Kids: National Reading Month

 March is a special month that brings the joy of reading into the spotlight - it's National Reading Month! This time of year is perfect for encouraging the young readers in your life to explore new worlds, go on adventures, and discover the magic that books have to offer.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, or mentor, there are countless ways to make reading fun and engaging for children.

In this article, we'll dive into some creative and enjoyable reading activities that are sure to kindle a love for reading in kids of all ages.


young boy reading a book


5 Fun Reading Activities for Kids


1. Start a Book Club for Kids

One of the best ways to make reading a social and enjoyable activity is to start a book club. Gather a group of kids who are at similar reading levels and choose books that cater to their interests. You can meet weekly or monthly to discuss the books, share thoughts, and engage in activities related to the story. This not only enhances comprehension skills but also builds social connections through shared experiences. 


2. Create a Reading Reward Program

Motivation plays a key role in encouraging kids to read more. Setting up a reading rewards program can be an exciting way for kids to track their progress and get rewarded for their efforts. Websites like Fitness Finders offer fantastic resources for creating a rewards system. Whether it's earning a badge for every book read or achieving milestones for a certain number of pages, these tangible rewards can significantly boost their enthusiasm for reading.


3. Dive Into Interactive Reading Apps

In this digital age, interactive reading apps can be a wonderful supplement to traditional reading. These apps often include stories with animations, sound effects, and interactive elements that make reading a more immersive experience. By combining technology with education, kids can enjoy the process of learning to read and improve their literacy skills in a fun and engaging way.


4. Host a Book-Theme Party

Imagine the excitement of bringing a favorite book to life! Hosting a book-themed party can be a fantastic way to celebrate reading. Choose a beloved book and organize activities, games, and crafts based on its theme. From a magical Harry Potter evening to an adventurous Percy Jackson day, the possibilities are endless. 

This not only makes reading fun but also allows kids to express their creativity and imagination.


5. Encourage Creative Writing

Reading and writing go hand in hand. Encouraging kids to write their own stories can enhance their understanding and appreciation of literature. Provide prompts or story starters related to the books they're reading, and let their imagination run wild. This not only improves their writing skills but also helps them to think critically about the stories they read.


Making Reading a Joyful Adventures


As we celebrate National Reading Month, let's remember that the goal is to instill a lifelong love of reading in children. By incorporating fun reading activities, we can transform reading from a solitary task into a joyful and shared adventure.


Engaging in activities like starting a book club, creating a reading rewards program, exploring interactive reading apps, hosting book-themed parties, and encouraging creative writing can make a significant difference in how children perceive reading. It's about making reading an enjoyable part of their lives, something they look forward to every day.


Reading opens doors to new worlds, ideas, and possibilities. It's a skill that not only contributes to academic success but also to personal growth and empathy. 


As we explore these fun reading activities, let's also remind ourselves of the importance of being role models. Showing kids that reading is a valued and enjoyable part of our own lives can be one of the most powerful motivators. 

In the spirit of National Reading Month, let's challenge ourselves and the kids in our lives to read more, explore more, and imagine more. After all, every book is a new adventure waiting to be discovered. Happy reading!


Don't forget to check out Fitness Finders for more resources to make reading fun and rewarding for kids.

Thursday, February 18, 2021

A Reading Teachers' Motivational Tool


An Interview with Tina Slater, a Special Education Teacher


Name:
Tina Slater
Position Title: Special Education Teacher
Grades: Fourth and Fifth Grades
School Name: Onsted Elementary School
Years Teaching: 27 years
Current Subjects: Reading, Math and Writing




How do you use tokens from Fitness Finders in your reading classroom?

In my reading resource classroom, students are awarded tokens after reading a leveled chapter book. Students are reading their chapter book 10-15 minutes each day so it can take 8-12 days to complete a book. During reading, the student and I talk about the text and I listen to them read. When the book is complete, we meet to talk about the book and their reading success. During this time I present a token to commemorate their accomplishment. 

 

How do you choose which tokens to use?

When selecting the token to award, I try to match the token with the book the student has just completed. I have a variety of animals, and objects to choose from. When students completed a book about Knights, I awarded them a key and a compass — which were two important objects from the Knights Quest. They were thrilled! Sometimes it can be more difficult to make a match - in those cases I may use the question mark token and make a connection with the predictions students made during reading or their use expression when reading aloud. 

 

How do you distribute tokens?

Tokens are presented by me to students in a private ceremony. I actually make a big deal when presenting the token and make a mini speech calling out the achievements the students made while reading the book and making connections between their reading success and the token. I am conferencing (video) with the student, but I am aware that others (family members) are listening. I try to call out as many positive reading behaviors as possible.

 

How do students display their tokens?

Students wear their tokens on lanyards during reading class (the laces from Fitness Finders). Each student selected their lanyard and the links (Lacelink) from the variety of colors and patterns Fitness Finders offers. When students aren’t wearing their necklaces they are displayed on hooks near our bookshelves. 

 


 

 Do you have a favorite token? 

I love all of the ANIMALS! Our school mascot is the wildcat — so all of the cats and paws are a hit with my students. 

 

 How has this changed your classroom environment or impacted student motivation? 

Rewarding tokens has brought a bit more fun and provided a visual that represents student success.  I love it when I hear a student say, “I can’t believe I have read this much,” as they are putting on their necklace before class.

 

Can you share any stories or quotes from students while using tokens in your class?   

5th grader Emma said, “When we get rewarded with tokens, it just makes us want to read more and work harder. It makes everything more fun!”

 

Do you have any plans specifically for reading month?

During Reading Month, students will be earning double tokens and we will be celebrating Wildcats Read with drawings for extra tokens. I’ll also be taking pictures of students reading while wearing their token necklaces to send home with their progress reports in mid-March.