Teacher Tip Tuesday
Last week, our school hosted a Family Reading Night. I kind of put it all together, so I thought I'd share some of the details here, in case you want to try it, too.
Theme: Get Fired Up About Reading!
Everything relates to heat and fire.
Opening: Fire chaplain comes out in turn out gear and reads a short devotion on the three men in the fiery furnace.
Reading aloud: Another fire fighter comes forward to read a fire picture book (little ones sit on rug in front of him. Discuss some reading strategies and use them (we ran out of time already, so we just discussed them.) We then took an AR quiz based on the book (we voted for the best answers.) One of the reading strategies was to offer kids choices, so we were then going to let the crowd choose an Arch book that fit our theme (there were two that fit.) But, we had already reached our time limit for this segment, and kids were getting "itchy," so we moved on.
Direct everyone to all the activities. Point out if some are available only at specific times, or if they can wander in and out.
Our activities:
Online computer game about finding fire hazards in the white house projected on a large screen.
Try on the firefighter's gear and get picture taken.
Coloring center (good for toddlers during the reading aloud or devotion part.)
Reading center (big rug with lots of pillows, plush animals, etc.)
Book display (I checked out as many heat-related books I could find and set them up between the reading center and the library display.)
Library display (freebies, bookmarks, and application forms from the public library.)
Book fair (this time we used a parent's Usborne display.)
Cookie decoration (decorate cutouts as firetrucks and firefighters, then eat them.)
Hot and spicy cooking demos (these were scheduled, so we wouldn't have people running in and out.)
Active listening (Coach read from the book Heat. Listeners did actions at the appropriate time.)
Science demonstrations (High school science teacher blended explosive chemistry with devotional thoughts.)
Book swap (Students could bring in old books to exchange for "new" ones.)
I think that was it! The activities took all of 30 minutes, but no one got bored!
So, with a half hour for the big group activity and a half an hour for the small groups, we rounded up everyone by saying, "Ice cream in the gym!"
It worked like a charm.
As kids ate little cups of ice cream, we did a drawing for several little prizes.
Soon, parents and kids were helping clean up. Before we knew it, everything was swept up and put away.
Theme: Get Fired Up About Reading!
Everything relates to heat and fire.
Opening: Fire chaplain comes out in turn out gear and reads a short devotion on the three men in the fiery furnace.
Reading aloud: Another fire fighter comes forward to read a fire picture book (little ones sit on rug in front of him. Discuss some reading strategies and use them (we ran out of time already, so we just discussed them.) We then took an AR quiz based on the book (we voted for the best answers.) One of the reading strategies was to offer kids choices, so we were then going to let the crowd choose an Arch book that fit our theme (there were two that fit.) But, we had already reached our time limit for this segment, and kids were getting "itchy," so we moved on.
Direct everyone to all the activities. Point out if some are available only at specific times, or if they can wander in and out.
Our activities:
Online computer game about finding fire hazards in the white house projected on a large screen.
Try on the firefighter's gear and get picture taken.
Coloring center (good for toddlers during the reading aloud or devotion part.)
Reading center (big rug with lots of pillows, plush animals, etc.)
Book display (I checked out as many heat-related books I could find and set them up between the reading center and the library display.)
Library display (freebies, bookmarks, and application forms from the public library.)
Book fair (this time we used a parent's Usborne display.)
Cookie decoration (decorate cutouts as firetrucks and firefighters, then eat them.)
Hot and spicy cooking demos (these were scheduled, so we wouldn't have people running in and out.)
Active listening (Coach read from the book Heat. Listeners did actions at the appropriate time.)
Science demonstrations (High school science teacher blended explosive chemistry with devotional thoughts.)
Book swap (Students could bring in old books to exchange for "new" ones.)
I think that was it! The activities took all of 30 minutes, but no one got bored!
So, with a half hour for the big group activity and a half an hour for the small groups, we rounded up everyone by saying, "Ice cream in the gym!"
It worked like a charm.
As kids ate little cups of ice cream, we did a drawing for several little prizes.
Soon, parents and kids were helping clean up. Before we knew it, everything was swept up and put away.
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