Thanks for the responses, everyone.

Yes, our cafeteria is our gym as well and all our rooms are SO darn small, even the library.

I'm just worried about space because we've been getting 150+ turnout (and we only have 200 students total) for our events. That includes parents, of course, but still. A good problem to have, of course!

Maybe if we totally gut a classroom we could make it work. Now, we just have to get the principal, janitor and teacher on board with that idea.

Do you guys like the format of having the readers read in succession in one room, verus having readers in two different rooms, which would ease up the space issues?

Yes, you can use a classroom. Just clear it out of the desks & chairs. Or maybe if you have a big hallway, have the reader at the end of the hallway that way everyone can sit there & face the reader.Or if the room has dividers, open them up. Or hold the crafts through-out the hallway. Good luck. I know you'll find a way to make it work.

Renee S. our cafeteria is the gym. It is an OLD school. Even our auditorium will not hold the entire school. Our library isn't open yet. Do you think holding it in class rooms would work? Thanks

We had our geust readers in the library. There were some chairs, but the kids and most of the adults just sat crossed legged on the floor.

Use the cafeterria to hold the readings that way the gym stays free for the other activities. Or a room where you can pile the the desks & chairs to make space. Good luck.

We have lots of fun things in store for our Family Reading Night next month, but I was wondering if anyone has used celebrity (guest) readers with their event? I have readers scheduled between 6 and 7 p.m., followed by reading-themed crafts, games, refreshments and contests in the gymnasium from 7 to 8 p.m. I thought I would have the readers (there are five) read one after the other in one room so we don’t have kids running from room to room, being noisy and missing out on stories when they come in halfway into the book. Our problem is that we don’t have any large rooms to accommodate the speakers if we get a large turnout, so the reading would have to be in the gym, where all the other fun stuff is located (but not starting until 7 p.m.). Aside, from barbed wire, I’m not sure how I can keep the kids away from the other activities if they are in the same room. Has anyone used a different format for their reading night? I’m trying to limit confusion, commotion and complaints.

Any other Reading Night input is appreciated, as well, as I couldn’t find any other threads devoted to this subject.