Today is the day! The Extreme Read Challenge is a fun, collaborative event that encourages nothing more that sitting ad reading. We have 50 students already signed up, plus guests, family members, and school staff. Over the course of 4 hours we will add all the minutes read by everyone to come up with our total; Last year, we read over 15,000 minute together!
This is the third time we’ve done this event, each time more successful than the last. I based the idea off my previous school’s “Read-a-thon, but we adjusted a ew tings. First, I wanted a collaborative, but not personally competitive event. Nothings adder than being the kid who lost at reading; every reader contributes something to our collective goal. This makes it a much lower-risk event for students try out.
During the event I make sure the kids are as focused as possible by serving only healthy snacks and a family style dinner. No junk food allowed (until the after party!) I know it’s super attractive to kids to sip a coke and munch doritos, but we’re not helping anyone concentrate this way. Our PTA brings apples, bananas and grapes, several moms make a huge pile of PB&J, and I have out little cups of my signature ”brain food” trail mix. We set out huge trays on each table, and kids can graze while they’re reading.
We’ll have prizes, donated by teachers ro gathered here and ther during the year (great way to recycle appreciated, but not useful holiday presents–don’t worry, no one will ever know!). At the end of out time we ring a gong and cheer and have cake. . .and enjoy our success together!
Have an Extreme Read Challenge at your school
It may look like a huge event, but it only takes a few people and lots pf peanut butter & jelly to pull this off. If you can get a couple of PTA parents and one or two teachers, you’re in business. This is a great way to promote literacy as well as your library program (because where else are they going to get all those books to keep them busy for 4 hours!). Invite guests, take pictures, call your local newspapaer.
We’re looking for sometime to challenge to a “Read-off next year. We can post “team profiles,” set up a webcam to watch each other’s event. . .could be a blast!
