As summer approaches and reading lists are posted, teachers are reminding students of the magic of immersing themselves in a good book. Grade 3 teachers and students created 鈥淐amp Read-A-Lot鈥�, a day dedicated to pushing desks aside, bringing pillows, stuffed animals, and flashlights to class and cuddling up with their favorite books.
鈥淪et the stage to engage!鈥� Grade 3 teacher, Cari Barocas exclaimed. 鈥淲e have realized that when we set up the room in a totally different way, students are super excited about and engaged in whatever the lesson is that day.鈥�
Camp Read-a-Lot was designed to rekindle a passion for reading just in time for summer to start. They also ventured to make connections with听Inside Out And Back Again听By Thanhha Lai, the historical novel grade 3 has been reading. In this book, the main character, H谩, is forced to leave Vietnam and to find comfort in her family and one chosen item, an old worn-out doll. Grade 3 was able to choose their one item, their stuffed animal. And, everyone was able to experience the day as one big family.听
鈥淚 liked that I got to use my imagination to pretend we were all camping as a family and all reading books.鈥� Said Wiley McCord who chose to read听Diary of a Wimpy Kid听by Jeff Kinney.
While reading was the main focus for the day, students also participated in other camp-themed lessons. They wrote about what item they would take if they had to leave home forever. They had a math lesson in which they planned a camping trip with a $500 budget and a list of supplies that all had to fit in a certain area of the campground. Students read non-fiction books about their favorite sport or historical event. One class even made friendship bracelets.
鈥淢y favorite part of the day was sitting and working in the dark. I really liked the star lights on the ceiling, too.鈥� said Brandon Cranmer who joined Wiley in reading听Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Shortly after this event, a representative from the听听came to speak to our students about an exciting summer reading initiative. Children and adults are encouraged to听听and log which books they read for a chance to win prizes. Don鈥檛 worry if you don鈥檛 live in Fulton County! If you are a student or a teacher in Fulton County, you can participate.