read-a-thon

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Home : 2003 : January : 28

read-a-thon
By Lisa

I did this last year and my students loved it! All year we did reading logs where kids were reading books at their level that interested them. For our yearend read-a-thon we all brought in treats....pushed our desks to the
back of the room and put all of the treats there like a buffet. Everyone (including me) brought the book they were reading, a pillow and/or blanket, and a teddy bear (if wanted). we all spread out around the room and read all day! When they felt hungry or thirsty they took a mini break and then got back to reading. We had gathered pledges (some by the page, some by the chapter, some by

the time), so that motivated them, too. I invited mothers and fathers to join us...some came and took their child into the hallway and had them read to them, some brought in their book and joined us on the floor. There was quite whispering about the stories they were reading, but everyone stayed on task for the majority of the time! It was really amazing! I made certificates for everyone and the money we raised went to buying books for a poor public school (we are at an American School on Mexico, so the public schools don't have what we have). It is now going to be an annual thing for our fourth grade service learning.
Hope this helps!
Lisa