Can you imagine how excited your students will be if you had guest readers in the classroom? Besides their excitement, there are so many benefits for your kids! Having guest readers in the classroom is actually pretty easy to set up in your classroom.
Benefits of Guest Readers in the Classroom
There are so many benefits to having guest readers in the classroom. First off, student engagement will soar when they see a new face! They will be so excited to have someone new and different read them a story.
Having a family member come in to read a story is a great way to build that home-school connection. It helps families feel welcome in the classroom and to be a part of your day.
Having another adult read aloud to your students, gives you the chance to sit back and observe your students. You’ll have the opportunity to really see the different ways that your students engage with a read-aloud.
Inviting Guests
1. Send home a letter of interest
Start by introducing the program to your students’ families. What is a guest reader and why are they important? Send home a letter to gauge interest among parents. This will also allow family members to sign up to be a guest reader in the classroom!
2. Create a schedule
Once you have all the guest reader forms returned, create a schedule. It’s important to keep track of who is coming when, so I use this form to jot down the dates/times and stick it right in my plan book!
3. Inform your guests
After you have created the schedule, let your guests know which day you would like them to come visit. If you really want to engage yours students, you can keep this part a secret! Mystery guest readers in the classroom are even more fun!
4. Enjoy the read-aloud
Your students will be so excited to see their own family members and even their friends’ family members in your classroom! This will allow your guests to get to know your students and really bond with them. It’s a great way to get to know families and to build that community.
5. Thank your guests!
This last part is important! We should always teach our students to be grateful that someone has shared their time with us. Writing a thank you note is a great way to not only teach gratitude, but how to write a letter as well.
Want your own copy of these guest reader forms? Simply put your info in below and I’ll send it right to your inbox!
Looking for another way to engage all your readers? Invite an author to your school!
