Annual Jazz/Usborne Reading Contest

The annual Jazz/Usborne Reading Contest is upon us!  There are two different aspects of this contest.  The first is the Jazz Contest.  If our school can be in the top 10 schools in the contest, we will be privileged enough to have a Utah Jazz player come to our school.  Being the amazing school we are, we have been in this elitist category every year we've entered this contest.  I expect this year to be no difference.

The school has offered various rewards to help push the students.  The top readers in the class will get the opportunity to throw a pie at their teacher (if he or she volunteers, which I will).  There are also medallions they can receive if they read at least 2,500 minutes. There will also be several events such as the PJs and Pancakes Party to help encourage more reading during this time.

Additionally, I add several motivators from within the classroom.  First off, rather than turning minutes in weekly, I like to have them turn in daily as daily reminder they should be reading.  So when they pester you day in, day out for initials on their reading calendar, you can thank me.  On the opposite of that, if your student isn't having you sign the calendar, you might want to bring it up with them.  Each day, those who turn in their tickets receive a ticket for use within the classroom.  Top reader each week will receive 5 tickets.  I have also brought in three prizes  for the top readers.  They are  varying prizes so the readers will get to choose which one they want in the order of placing.

We have also set a class goal of 72,000 minutes.  To reach that goal, these kids will need to read, read, read.  If they achieve the goal, I have agreed to buy them all donuts.  They wouldn't even settle for Krispy Kreme, they wanted Madbrook, so I went with it.  If they can reach that goal, which is WAY up there, I will buy them Madbrook donuts.

The final aspect to the contest is the Usborne side of it.  They have a sponsorship competition.  The kids will try to get people to sponsor them in their  reading.  For each dollar they get sponsored, they will get books worth half that amount and the school's library will get the other half.

In any event, please, between now and February 19 encourage your students to read their hearts out.  Push them read and surpass anything they ever thought they could.  What could it hurt?  Nothing, but it can help so, so much, not just in the contests, but in their minds.

"You're the same today as you will be in five years, except for the people you meet and the books you read." ~Charlie Jones