Third Grade Reading Challenge: September Kickoff

With our "welcome back" weeks of school coming to a close, we are finally settled into the routine of the new school year.  Students are motivated to do their best.

Today, we discussed how doing their best means more than just saying that we want to be the best.  To be the best and do our best, we have to put actions behind it.  We know that when we run a race, we want to be the winner.  When we play on a football or basketball team, we want our team to win.  We know that for our team to win those games, we go to practices so that we can improve our play and skill.  In academics, we need to do the same thing.  We need to practice.  Even if it is easy for us, we need to practice.  No matter how old you are, when you read, you are always learning when you read.  To get better, to be better, to be the best, to do the best, you need to practice.

Research has told us that reading at home 20 minutes a day is very important.  In fact, the studies have shown that the students who read for 20 minutes a day tend to score in the 90th percentile on standardized tests (such as the OAA).  But, what if your child only reads for 10 minutes a day?  That's good enough, right?  Well, actually... A child who reads for only 5 minutes a day will tend to score in the 50th percentile on standardized tests.  That extra 15 minutes makes a big difference.  And, if you weren't convinced of the importance of reading yet, a child who reads only 1 minutes a day will likely only score in the 10th percentile.

If they start reading for 20 minutes per night in Kindergarten, by the end of 6th grade, this child will have read for 60 school days.  The child who has only read 5 minutes per night will have only read for 12 school days.  And, the child who has read for only 1 minute per night will have read for only 3 days by the time he or she reaches 6th grade.  Make your minutes count.

Because of this powerful information, I have issued a challenge to the third graders.  Starting in September, and for every month after, I am challenging them to read nightly Monday through Friday.  I would like to see their reading logs filled up each month.  Beginning in September, I have set a reasonable goal for them.  I would like for them to read a MINIMUM of 5 minutes per night.  Realizing that many of them are not accustomed to nightly reading, I felt this was a good way to start building a positive habit.    Each month, I will add a few minutes to the challenge until we have reached the 20 minute goal.

Each student that completes their reading log will be asked to complete a "Book Buzz" to tell the class (and school) about their favorite book they read that month.  Students who have met the challenge will receive a special prize at the beginning of the next month.  Outside of our classroom, a chart will be displayed documenting the growth in our class average of minutes read each month.  So, let's get buzzing about books!