Event: Planning a Read-In - Contributed by Barbara Combes
Having a read-in at your school is a great way to celebrate literacy and reading in your school.
Read-ins were started in the US a number of years ago. Usually in a school context, the read-in takes place in the library and is similar to a sleep-over. The original read-in idea has since evolved into the Read Across America project.
Below are some sites that contain ideas to start your thinking and planning.
Edmonton Public Library http://www.epl.ca/readin
Education World http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson057.shtml
Education World, Read-in activities - http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr336.shtml
Read Across America http://www.nea.org/grants/886.htm
Ways to make reading fun for children http://www.readin.org/ways-to-make-reading-fun-for-children.htm
Things to consider:
When you will hold the read-in?
Who will attend (students, parents, teachers, Principal)?
Logistics (food, sleeping arrangements if you use the sleep-over idea). The canteen or Home Economics/Food Technology classes may consider catering for the event or Subway (delivered) is also an easy option.
Educational linkups (will you connect with another group having a similar event).
Educational outcomes (how will you evaluate this event, what will it do for raising literacy levels in your school, community).
Educational activities (literacy games, Readers Theatre, Storytelling, Book Raps, Team games).
Will you work with your local public library to organise this event?
Things to remember: Including parents, teachers, the Principal and community members not only promotes literacy and reading, but these people are excellent role models for your students.
While this is a celebratory event, your primary role is educational, so it must have associated documentation that clearly outlines the educational benefits. This includes an evaluation/assessment process. You can use this documentation when seeking support from your Principal and the teachers.
Use some of the advocacy ideas, articles and links on this web site when writing up this documentation.
Connect with other schools to create a shared event via WATLNet - http://www.wasla.asn.au/watlnet/
Always document your event using a digital camera - this can be done by a group of students whose final product is used as an assessment piece, for the School Newsletter or Year Book. If you can get these processed and up on display the next school day, you will have instant student engagement (they love being the centre of a display).
Share and send in your reports, pictures, feedback to WASLA for publication on this site and then direct your school community to it.
Any documentation you create should contain the Library logo or motto and your mission statement these may be the same as the school logo or motto, but their must be some indication that it came from the library. Also include your name and email.