Teaching a Reader

• D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read). Stop instruction for 10 minutes of uninterrupted reading for everyone ... even the principal. This can expand to a school-wide activity for all students and teachers. Set yearly goals and record reading minutes.
• Incorporate "student reader" time. Allow students to bring in a picture book and read it aloud to their class or a younger student. This promotes good reading and speaking skills.
• Start a wall of books. Have students print their name and the title of each book they read on something artistic and display the "proof" of reading creatively. Example: design a paper bookshelf on the wall. Add rectangles (book spines) with titles.
• Create a class reading mascot. Example: purchase or make a bookworm or shelf elf. Name him or conduct a student reading contest for the right to name him. Incorporate mascot into all class subjects. Have mascot communicate with your students on bulletin board, blog, etc.
• Dress as your favorite character. As a reward for students meeting reading goals, have a book character day. Make sure you dress as your favorite, too.
• Have a library scavenger hunt. Give young readers a fun way to get to know their local or school library. Develop a scavenger hunt list specific to your library. When a student completes a hunt, give them a small reward such as a bookmark. This connects "fun" with "reading" and also educates a child about where to find their favorite books on the shelf.
• (Book) cover your door. During March, celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday by decorating your classroom door with your favorite Seuss book cover. Go one step further - challenge other teachers to a school-wide door decorating contest. Even better? Decorate your door with a different book cover every month (just make sure that particular book is available in the school library, so interested students have access to a copy to check out).