Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from School Librarian and MSTA Reading Circle Chair, Brenda Steffens.
As everyone gets ready for the beginning of a new school year one of the concerns we all face is how to get our students to read more. Are you looking for an inexpensive and easy way to motivate your students to read this year? If so, the Missouri State Teachers Association has the program for you! It’s the Reading Circle. Yes, the Reading Circle is still around. Some of you may remember participating in the Reading Circle when you were in school. We have updated the program and are excited for you to join us.
The purpose of the Reading Circle is to encourage an interest in and enjoyment of reading. Since 1885, this program has encouraged incalculable number of children to discover the wonders of reading and to earn the Reading Certificate. The Reading Circle program is open to all students in public, private or parochial schools and is very easy to participate in. Students are asked to read a certain number of books for each grade level and keep track of the books read in a reading log. At the end of the year, those students reaching their goal will earn a Reading Circle Certificate. If a student earns the Reading Circle certificate for five years, they earn the Lifetime Reading Circle Certificate.
It’s easy to get started, just go to the Reading Circle website to download the certificates, policies and procedures, Reading Circle poster, log sheets for different grade levels and more information will be added throughout the year.
Reading Circle isn’t just for elementary students. Reading Circle is open for students in grades preschool through 12th grade. Plus, teachers can tweak the program to fit their classroom needs. If you have students who struggle with reading, then you can adjust the type of books they read.
Students are required to read the minimum number of books in the genre of his or her choice. Reading Circle encourages a healthy balance of fiction and nonfiction.
|
Prekindergarten to second grade |
20 books |
|
Third through sixth grade |
16 books |
|
Seventh through twelfth grade |
14 books |
Our goal is to read and to have fun reading. There is no extra work for you, just have the students fill out the log sheet and turn it in. Everything you need to get started is just a click away. It’s that simple!
Start your year off with an easy and inexpensive way to motivate your students to read with the Reading Circle. The next post will be on different ways to keep them motivated and to celebrate their success.
Happy Reading!
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