Interesting stuff. I'm interested in specifics on how you executed your Nights. If you feel like posting here -- great! If you have anything like an agenda or set-up instructions, please feel free to email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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They also do custom stories, so if there is a specific topic you would like have covered, they will work with you.
2Blockheads.com Personalized Books
We hold our literacy nights once a month. We have done the pajama party where some teachers read a book and then parents can choose a book to read. We then made Bear Bisquits.
We have had Winter Wonderland nights where we made snow ice cream, had yarn snowball fights, and made snowflakes.
We had a Valentine's literacy night where we made valentines for the veterans hospital after reading some book about "smelly valentines". (Ask your children, I am sure they know which one).
We are now planning two literacy nights involving space in conjunction with the "Space Lab". It is a blow-up planitarium that schools can get. We are planting a moon tree and serving moon pies to the K-2 grade, and firing rockets and serving hot dogs to the 3-4 grade.
Once during the year, we hold a literacy night that all teachers particate in. They team up and choose a book and related activity. We start in the cafeteria and then you get to choose 2 of the classrooms to go to. Then we come for refreshments.
We have HUGE turnouts to our literacy nights. The teachers outdo themselves coming up with new ideas. They are the best. The PTO pays for everything and volunteers help out.
You can have stations and have the children make book markers. Have the Principal, Music Teacher,
Cafeteria Mgr. read books to the children. You ring a bell everytime so everyone can move on to the next station. Then at the end you can have a author presenter or a rep from the children's library dept from your local area. Maybe they can bring applications to join the library. Even a station where parents can get tips on how easy it is to stop and read to their children. At the end serve juice and granola bars. The children and staff (modesty) can come dressed in their Pajama's and call it "Warm up to Reading Night". Give away door prizes "Books, Books and More Books" Have a month before everyone who has used books that they no longer need and have a table set up where everyone can pick up free books depending on how many you get (1) per family they will need to be seperated by appropriate reading level. Even Parenting Magazine., etc., If you have some left over maybe you could seperate by grade level and give them to the teachers to give to the children who didn't attend. But do this as a surprise this way you have more attending.
I've heard a lot here about Family Reading Nights, but now that we've decided to have one I'm not exactly sure what to do. I know it's basically getting the kids and families together for reading, but what have any of you guys done specifically in your nights. Looking for any ideas. Thank you.
