Spring has sprung, and April at Team Read is a busy and exciting time. Readers have worked hard to develop foundational skills and grow their confidence. Now it’s time to put it all together with our annual Read-a-Thon! Each reader has a goal to read at least 30 minutes a day (including weekends and spring break).
For every 30 minutes spent reading, students get to color one gumball on their Read-a-Thon graphic. At the end of the month, these graphics will be filled with color and can be turned in for a special prize. Readers can even earn bonus gumballs by completing certain tasks such as choosing a new genre of book. Year after year, our readers love this challenge, and our teen reading coaches do a fantastic job cheering them along and monitoring their progress.
Alongside the Read-a-Thon, students will be focusing on poetry this month, and all students will receive a poetry packet. This year’s packet features both lighthearted and serious poems including works by Maya Angelou, Joy Harjo, Shel Silverstein and Effie Lee Newsome. Poetry is a great platform for readers and coaches to discuss how we express ourselves through words and sounds, see word play in action, and take comprehension skills to a deeper level.
Our poetry unit leads up to our annual Poetry Slam at the end of April. Each student chooses a poem that resonates with them, and during the last week in April they’ll recite their poem to the group. It’s a festive day that brings a lot of laughter, pride, and inspiration.
May will bring the final Team Read sessions for the 2024-2025 school year, and we’re excited to celebrate the joy of reading at all our program sites!