As our Title I teacher, it is part of my responsibility to help plan and implement a school-wide Literacy Night. I had the opportunity to meet with our PTA president and our FRC coordinator today to brainstorm for this upcoming event and, needless to say...
I. Am. So. EXCITED.
!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, I cannot wait to see it all come together in March!
Are you familiar with Literacy Nights?
Basically, the school puts on an evening of activities that encourage community literacy and emphasizes reading outside of school. As we all know, family engagement is absolutely crucial for student success. And, reading? Also crucial for success. Combining the two and bridging the gap between school and home is what a Literacy Night is all about.
Fortunately, our Literacy Night will coincide with our PTA Read-a-Thon and Read Across America week. Yay!
I don't want to disclose too many details because I want to blog all about it with pictures and ideas afterwards!
Have you participated in or planned a Literacy Night before? Since I'm a Literacy Night novice, I'd love to hear feedback, suggestions, or ideas you might have for me! Please share!
Happy Tuesday :)
22 comments:
When I student taught, the interns put on a math and literacy night. The parents stayed in the cafeteria for a make and take of activities to do at home. The students were split into 4 groups (we sent home RSVP slips so we had a general idea of how many students) and rotated through 20 min activities (usually a short book/poem and a follow up activity). We announced on the loud speaker when it was time to switch so it went very smoothly! Good luck! I know what ever you do will be awesome!
aconnolly1216@gmail.com
We have to have ours done by December. We've had bookmark/book walks (instead of cake walks) as one activity.
Sounds like a great night! I have to admit, I need to do a better job at attending events like this at my school. I drive 40 minutes one way so leaving and coming back is awful, but it also makes for a LONG day if I stay! :/ Literacy Night sounds neat, though!!
We just had our reading night about 3 weeks ago. We are also a Title 1 school and have to do a reading night and math night. This past reading night, we had a public librarian come and speak for 10 minutes about programs the library offers. We then broke into separate classes by grade level and each group played book bingo and the kids all won a book. We also made a comprehension guide to use at home. My grade made a comprehension cootie catcher, first grade made two dice, and Kindergarten made a spinner. We put dots on each thing and they corresponded with questions that parents can ask at home. Hope that helps!
Swimming into Second
Hey Abby...I have participated in many and planned two of them. It's a good idea to have an overall theme. One of our themes was All the Places You'll Go where every room was labeled a state or country. This year we did Reading in a Winter Wonderland. This was one of my favorites ever. Students and families completed activities and as they did collected parts of a snowman. In the end, they built their snowman and we made a huge display. I've been meaning to post about it. I guess I need to go do that. Anyway, good luck and have fun with it!
Kathy
First Grade a la Carte
As a Title I teacher myself, we have a Title I Family Night once a year. Only our Title I students and their families (K-5)are invited. We've been doing this the past 2 years. This year will be a bowling theme; last year was Fall and the year before we did a Sports theme. We service both reading and math so we have to prepare activities for both.We serve dinner as well(pizza or hot dogs). If you have any bowling suggestions, I would love to hear them; we are having a hard time finding anything "bowling".
As a Title 1 teacher, I helped plan our Literacy Night in November. In past years we have had authors come visit during the day and invited the families into the school that night for literacy activities. This year we focused on writing. We had students writing displayed all throughout the schools with "I Can" statements next to each classroom. We had free books to hand out to every child that attended. We also had a book walk where there was a story that was displayed on poster boards on a trail outside. It was awesome!
Amy
Eclectic Educating
We had our first literacy night in 2011. I teach in a parochial school grades K-8. Our night was designed for parents of students grade K-3. Each grade took a topic and presented it several times, as we did rotating stations. We began all together and explained the evening and the key was prizes which would be given at the close of the
evening. We had a secret letter at each station which the parents needed to win the prizes. The prizes were all school related, uniform gift card, a week of free lunches, free family pack admittance to sporting events and cultural events. It was a huge success. We are planning a math night this April. Good Luck you will be great. If you need any help Please email. Leslie
Hi Abby!
My building is hosting our FIRST annual Literacy Night on March 6!
We are having administrators man booths and answer questions regarding the new CCSS and third grade guarantee. We are having the local library man a booth for id card registrations, and our local YMCA will also present on their after school programs. As for us teachers, I think we are manning the ice-cream station with sundaes and slushies! (Actually, I think we are speaking and sharing ideas on choosing good-fit books at home to read!) I would love to know what you are planning!
Julie
Ms. Marciniak's First Grade Critter Cafe
I teach in a Title 1 school as well! To encourage family involvement- we have "Family Reading Nights" EVERY month where the families can come in with the children and read with them in the library then take an AR test. Sometimes we offer free pizza for those who attend. (PTO usually funds it when we do.) =) I can ask our librarian more about if i you are interested! Just let me know! =)
Jessica
Hi Abby,
Our Title 1 Night is actually tomorrow night. We do something different each year. This year we planned a Family Fun Night. We'll start with a short presentation, followed by pizza (incentive to attend). Then the families can visit 5 literacy stations to gather ideas for use at home.
1. Technology: Mac books and iPads with a variety of sites and apps to try out
2. Fluency: Leveled plays, partner poems, and other ideas for building fluency
3. Book Nook: A cozy corner for reading complete with books, a loopy rug, lots of pillows, and tons of ideas for family reading time at home - also ideas for establishing a homework/reading supply basket (highlighters, pencils, crayons, post-its, glue stick etc.
4. Make-n-Take: Supplies to complete a bookmark, comprehension board game, Bloom's question rings,
and a ton of other things.
5. Word Games: Board games like Scrabble, Boggle, Bananagrams, Upwords etc. to play that night
Students will have a ticket to get stamped by the teacher at each station. When each station has been visited, the ticket is entered into a prize drawing for books, homework supply baskets, plastic letters tiles, and board games.
PTO funds the event. :) Love them!
Hope this give you an idea or two. I can't wait to hear about your Literacy Night...it may help me plan for next year!
Wendy
Read with Me ABC
I have helped the school librarian with a few this year and they have been a blast (they are organized by grade.) Some things our school did to increase attendance was offering a raffle for all the families in attendance, making sure younger siblings were welcome and adding food/some type of snack was helpful plus. Lastly, the school had a special grant and every student walked away with a free book (aligned with the evenings theme) which was fantastic!
Good luck, Abby! I am sure it will be great :)
Catherine
The Brown-Bag Teacher
A few years back I helped plan our Read Across America day o'fun...the parents and the kiddos LOVED our "Guess The Title" game. Basically, we made poster size copies of Dr.Seuss book covers {minus the titles} and parents and students worked together to name the books. SO.MUCH.FUN! They completed a lil recording sheet and turned it in as a raffle entry for a set of Dr.Seuss classics to take home. It was a great hit and even the teachers enjoyed the trivia :)
Kimberly
The Learning Tree
I have participated in 3 literacy nights. At the first one we had a guest reader (Mary Jo Huff) and then the kids wrote short stories(using a sentence starter), made book marks, and we read different books to them using props. At the second one we each had a different story and we dressed up as the characters in the book (ours was Miss Wishy Washy) and we read the story for a small group of students and they rotated through the groups. At the third one there was a guest story teller, a book swap, & 3 guest readers. Hope this helps!
My school always hosts a literacy night in March as well. A key that we have learned is to always offer food and childcare. That brings a lot of parents that might not otherwise come! This year, we are including a book study (I think its "The Book Whisperer") that our entire staff will be doing during the month of March, and all parents will be invited to join in as well. We're using grant money to give several books away. Break-out sessions, teacher involvement, parent-friendly language...it all makes for a great night!! I'm sure that you have LOTS of awesome ideas and I can't wait to read all about it!!
Jill
abcs and polkadots
In the past we have had "bedtime Night". Kiddos come in their pajamas and they had milk and cookies and went around to various literacy activities they could do at home with their parents. My favorite one was actually held at the grocery store. From 6-8 kids came into the store and got a scavenger hunt list designed for their grade level. This one incorporated math stuff too. Like comparing prices. I know my first graders had to look for blends in the fruit aisle (grapes, plums...) Lots of fun! Enjoy your night!
Yes! My school has an annual Family Literacy Night every year during Read Across America week. It's a huge event... we have a craft room where we do Dr. Seuss themed craftivities, character reading, reading on camera (we show it on the TV's around school), carnival games, hat creations, Dr. Seuss movies, pictures with the Cat in the Hat... we also do a book donation raffle and this year we are adding in a silent auction.. a teacher at our school writes to famous children's authors every year to get autographed items to win/give away for our event! We've gotten stuff from everyone from Mo Willems to Chris Van Allsburg. It's pretty awesome! We have things set up throughout the entire school... in classrooms, outside, the cafeteria, etc...It's a super fun event... good luck with yours! :)
--Caitlin
thekindergarden.blogspot.com
Hi Abby,
I have had one several times before. Teachers put up different project for the parents to see. At times, I have done a Make and Take where students/parents can make games to take home and use. They usually have dice and pawns around the house. It is fun to have teachers stationed around the school reading different books as well.
My only idea is make it early in the year and don't have it conflict with any major sports for children or the coming of spring ! Parent turnout will be less. March 1st sounds like a great time. I will look forward to seeing your pictures afterwards ! :)
When I taught at a title one school we had Literacy nights every Quarter. One of our goals was to get books in those kiddos hands! We would ask for book donations from the community (and purchase some out of our budget). Then we would make sure that every student who came walked out with a book to keep at home. We were always skeptical about whether or not we would have enough books. But it always seemed to work out. Have a great time planning your night. I hope it is the first of many!
Cara
Kindergarten Boom Boom
Hi Abby! We met at the Reading Recovery Conference. I have hosted several Lit Nights since I began Title I at my school. We have done a "Chicken Soup with Rice" night and a "Curious About Rhymes" night. Families had clues and they had to determine which nursery rhyme the clues matched. I have also hosted several "Chili Cook-offs" where we focused on recipes and cooking. I am happy to share more if needed. Good Luck!!
Em
curiousfirsties.blogspot.com
My school had a literacy night called "Hotdog! It's Reading Night!". There were stations set up throughout the school. We served free hot dogs. Students and parents signed a pledge to read 10 minutes a night for 100 nights. The students that followed through with the pledge will get to squirt our principals (one will be dressed as a hot dog and the other will be fries) with mustard and ketchup.
For title 1 I put on a literacy night for our school at the beginning of the year! We had a raffle for family game baskets (scrabble jr. story cubes, etc.) and a kindle fire which was a great incentive to get people to come. Our parents loved the handouts for ideas at home. I like what Wendy said about having a ticket stamped. We had a laminated bookmark with all of the stations on it, but some families didn't visit all stations. Getting it stamped at each one in order to enter the raffle is such a great idea!
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