May Reading Month

The month of May at CSK has been "Reading Month"! In order to promote reading in both German and English in our school, the teachers put together some fun activities to motivate our students.
It is now the end of the month and it has certainly been a success. My students were such enthusiastic readers over the last few weeks and were eager to read different types of books and in different languages!
 
Here are some of the activities we did!
First, we created a giant castle. For every book that the students read OR for every 50 pages read, students (and teachers!) could fill out a castle brick. Our goal was to fill the castle by the end of the month.
The different colors are the different grades. Way to go third grade with all their green bricks!

 
This picture was from a few weeks into our program. Now, the castle is almost filled to the top. Hopefully we can finish it this last week!
 
Next, each Friday during May we had a special activity to promote reading.

The first Friday was to dress like your favorite book character. My class had lots of characters come visit! There was the mouse from "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie", Kaya from The American Girls series, Fly Guy, Clifford, Gandalf, knights, and pirates. There were also characters from A to Z Mysteries, Peter Pan, and Spiderman. I dressed as one of my teacher inspirations: Ms. Frizzle!

My colleagues all dressed up as well!

 

Amy and I were teacher opposites! She was Miss Viola Swamp!

 

We love to read!

The next Friday's activity was to bring in a picture that shows you reading in an unusual place. It is true, reading certainly takes us places! Here is my picture reading in a tree. The students were very creative and brought in pictures reading in fun places. Some of my favorites were reading on a horse, in a trash can, and upside down!



 

 

Pictures of the student's reading in unusual places!

 

Our third special day was "Mystery Reader" Day. I was excited to welcome my lovely friend Allison Stroud to read a "Harry" book to my class. I also had my mom Skype in from America to read a fun Eric Carle book. My dad even made an appearance as well! The kids loved it!

 

 

 

Finally, we had a comfy "Pajama Day". The students brought blankets or a stuffed animal and we spent some extra time reading. I didn't take many pictures on this day, but we did have a closing chapel and Amy took some sweet photos of the students worshiping together. My heart was so blessed hearing and watching these students praise God! It has been such a joy to help lead our chapel band this year and to help lead our school in our praise and worship time.

We loved having pajama day and spending extra time reading as well!

 

 

 

My friends and students know that I certainly love to read. I love how books open up new worlds, take us to new places, and help to expand our thinking. It is my hope that my students will learn the joy and value of reading. I was so thankful for this month of intensive reading and seeing how reading can be lots of fun. In addition, the students are reading more and more in their non-native language and what a gift that is!