Hi everyone! Welcome back to the Read Aloud Classroom. I’m Sarah, and today we’re talking about something that makes my teacher heart so happy, celebrating Read Aloud Week in our classrooms. You know, last year I had a teacher tell me she wanted to do something special for Read Aloud Week, but just thinking about planning one more thing made her want to curl up under her teacher desk, and believe me, I get it.
Between district requirements, packed schedules, and everything else on our plate, adding one more thing can feel impossible. But here’s the thing, celebrating reading doesn’t have to mean those elaborate Pinterest worthy displays or hours of extra prep. Today, I’m going to share 10 ways to make Read Aloud Week special in your classroom.
And I promise, you can pick and choose what works for you and your students. Let’s start with one of my absolute favorite ways to celebrate. Guest readers. Whether you’re bringing them in virtually or in person, there’s something magical about having someone new share a story with your class.
One year, I had a parent come in as a mystery reader, and my second grader spent all year talking about how she brought her dog’s favorite book to share. That’s right.
So this is one of my favorite ways to show students that reading is valued by our whole community. It’s not just something that you do in school, and it’s something you’ll do for the rest of your life. And that adults do it too. And you have so many options here. You can invite parents, administrators, local community members, or even connect virtually with readers from anywhere in the world.
And here’s a fun twist. Try mystery readers. You can give your students clues throughout the day or throughout the week about who their special guest will be. I had one teacher tell me she puts three clues in an envelope and reveals one each morning. Her kids were literally bouncing with excitement by the time the mystery reader arrived.
But, if coordinating in person visitors feels overwhelming, virtual guest readers can be just as magical. You can either pre record the readings or do live video calls depending on where this person is located and the timing of it. I’ve even had teachers connect their classes with other classrooms across the country for special Read A Lot exchanges.
And to make this even easier for you, I’ve created a free guest reader resource pack that has everything you need, from family invitation letters to thank you notes. I’ll drop the link in the show notes so that you can grab that and have one less thing to plan.
Next up is something that creates such special memories, partner reading between grade levels. There’s something absolutely magical about seeing a third grader sit down with a kindergartner and share a favorite picture book. This one’s actually a win win win situation. Your older students feel so proud and responsible, the younger ones get that special one on one attention with a big kid, and you’re building relationships across your whole school community.
Plus, and This is a big plus. It often helps with behavior because those older students really step up when they’re in that leadership role. Now I remember when I was teaching second grade we had a preschool group in our school and so I partnered with the preschool classroom and those students came into my classroom and one of the things that was so amazing to me to watch was that some of my really low readers gained this huge amount of confidence.
because those preschoolers just looked up to them with admiration. They could have been reading the phone book and they would have been so excited, but it allowed my lower readers to build that confidence because they saw how engaged and excited the younger kids were. So I definitely recommend this one.
But a quick tip, start small, maybe begin with just two classes partnering up once during the week and you can always expand it from there.
Next up is something that you’ve probably done in your school, be it whether for reading week or another week, but themed celebration days. So if you’re looking for something that creates that instant excitement, themed days are definitely one you can try. So here’s kind of a simple five day plan that you can adapt to fit your needs.
Monday can be favorite book character day. And, don’t worry, you can keep this super simple. Students could even just wear a color their character would wear, or bring in a small prop. Tuesday might be cozy reading day. Students can break out those comfy clothes, maybe even PJs, or bring in flashlights for flashlight reading.
Wednesday, well, that could be Wacky Wednesday, and you could read aloud some funny, silly books. Students can dress kind of silly and mismatch in colors, which would be really fun. Similarly, Thursday could be Reading Rainbow Day, and each grade level wears a different color. Or students can wear as many colors as they can.
Friday, make it an author celebration day where you showcase your class’s favorite author. And remember, you don’t have to do all five days. Even one special day can make the week memorable. And may I suggest the cozy reading day because that sounds like the most comfortable.
The fourth idea I have is a book scavenger hunt. And before you start thinking this sounds like too much prep, I promise it can be super simple. You can set this up during your regular center time or even make it a week long adventure. What you decide to do and how much time you have is up to you. So here’s one way to do it.
You can hide book related clues around your classroom that lead students to different genres or authors. Each time they find a book that matches the clue, they can add a sticker to a reading passport or to just their reading journal. I’ve had teachers tell me that this activity got even their most reluctant readers excited about exploring new books.
So, when you’re creating your own, simple clues like find a book about friendship or look for a book with an animal main character work perfectly.
The next idea I have is a book tasting. And this might sound a little fancy, but it’s really just a fun way to help students sample different books. And yes, you can make it work in your busy schedule. Think of it like a literary buffet where students get to taste test different books. You can make this super simple by just pulling out a bunch of books from your library.
Or borrowing them from other classes and having students go around and try out the different ones. Maybe jotting down some that they might like to be,
or even jotting down ones that they might be interested in reading. Sometimes pulling those books off the shelf makes it easier for students to see what you have available in your classroom library. Because often times when they’re on the shelf, they might not be able to see all of them. They might not be able to see all of the covers.
So by pulling them off and having them see their classmates, look at the books too, can really pull in that engagement factor and get students interested in maybe books that they were aware that were in your classroom library or that they weren’t aware that they were interested in. You could get a little fancier and set up your classroom like a cafe.
This can be as simple as putting tablecloths on your reading tables or creating simple menu cards and have students spend a few minutes tasting each book before moving to the next table. And the best part, like I said, you can use books that you already have in your classroom library.
And I love seeing teachers get creative with this. I had one teacher tell me she played soft cafe music in the background and wore an apron to be the server. Her students still talk about it months later.
Okay, number six. Let’s dream big for a moment and talk about author visits. Now, I know what you might be thinking, Sarah, there’s no way I can organize that right now. That’s okay. This might be something you want to plant for next year, but I want to plant that seed now. So, many authors offer virtual visits these days, which can be more budget friendly and easier to coordinate.
So, start by making a list of your class’s favorite authors and investigate their websites or even their social media channels. I know Instagram is really a big one for authors. for visit information. Some authors even offer free Q& A sessions or short virtual meet and greets. And here’s a tip that many teachers don’t know about, grant opportunities, specifically for author visits.
Many literacy organizations offer funding for these kinds of events, so definitely look into that.
The next tip I have, number seven, is a reading challenge. These are such a fun way to build excitement during Read Aloud Week. The best part? You can tailor them to fit your classroom’s personality and schedule. Try something simple like Read Across the Room Challenge where students track how many books they read as a class.
You could create a visual tracker, maybe a paper chain stretching across the room, or a thermometer style chart. One teacher told me she created paper footprints and her class was walking to the library that’s a mile away. They were so motivated to read more books to add those footprints. But remember, the goal here isn’t to create competition, but to build community through shared reading goals with each other.
Number eight is community connections. Building connections between your classroom and the wider community can make Read Aloud Week even more special. As I mentioned before, we really want to show our students that reading is not something we just do in class. That as they grow up, they’re going to continue to read, they’re going to continue to lead these book lives, and read as much as possible.
So you can reach out to your local library. Many children’s librarians would love to do a special virtual story time for your class or share about the upcoming programs. I know they are always looking to get more kids involved in their program. So letting them reach out to your class is a great way to do this.
You could even consider partnering with local businesses, maybe the local bookstore would create a special display of your class’s favorite books, or a local coffee shop might display some student book reviews. I’ve even seen classes partner with senior centers for that intergenerational read aloud session.
Talk about creating meaningful connections. The seniors love it, and so do the students.
Now, another way that you can celebrate reading week is with digital celebrations. So really in today’s connected world, digital celebrations can add another layer of excitement to read aloud week. You could try recording students sharing their favorite books and create a class reading rainbow video.
Parents love seeing these glimpses into your classroom. You might also consider creating a digital reading wall where students can post book recommendations or reactions. If you’re feeling tech savvy, why not help students create simple book trailers? They can be as basic as a few photos and text slides.
The creativity I’ve seen from even our youngest readers is amazing.
And the simplest way to pull in that digital component is to hop onto YouTube and you can find a lot of authors reading their own books. So you can pull in that author component as well as that digital component and the reading aloud part too in a very, very simple way. And hey, it gives you a break for a minute while they watch as the author reads the book aloud.
And last but not least, let’s talk about making these celebrations sustainable. Because here’s the truth. The magic of Read Aloud Week shouldn’t end after five days. Think about which activities could become regular parts of your routine. Maybe Mystery Readers becomes a monthly event. Or reading buddies meet every other week.
Document what works well and what doesn’t so you can refine your plan for next time. And remember, you don’t have to do it all. Pick one or two ideas that really resonate with you and your students. Sometimes the simplest celebrations create the most lasting impact.
And as you know, I love to end every episode with a selection of five books that I think would be great for you to share in your classroom this week. Since I’m looking out my window and there’s a lot of snow on the ground, I thought it would be perfect to share some snow books, some of my favorites with you.
First, we have Snow by Cynthia Ryland. This is about a young girl and a grandmother who enjoy a snow day. And it really shares through these lyrical descriptions the feelings that are evoked by that snow falling. And your students will, especially your students who have had a snow day before, will resonate with those feelings.
I couldn’t leave out The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. This classic book is about a young boy named Peter and his adventures in the deep, deep snow. My favorite part about this book is that it’s such a quiet fun, that he goes out and it’s just a, he goes out into this quiet world and how much he enjoys the snow just on his own.
The third book is Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin. This is the true story of William Bentley and his fascination with snowflakes and how he created his own book of snowflake photos.
There’s lots of up close images of snowflakes where students can really see what an individual snowflake looks like.
This next one is a fun one to be teaching onomatopoeia. This one is called 10 Ways to Hear Snow by Kathy Kamper, and it’s about a young girl on her way to her grandmother’s house. She stops and listens to all the different ways that you can hear snow, and it’ll be interesting if your students connect with them and if they can come up with any other ways to hear snow as well.
And last but not least is not one that’s Not necessarily about snow, but definitely takes place in the winter. This one is Owl Moon by Jane Yolen. It’s about a young girl and her father who go owling late at night in the woods during a snowy winter season. It has beautiful descriptions of setting, which is a great thing to teach with this book.
And all of these books that I’ve mentioned, you can grab a lesson plan to go along with each one of them in the Colorful Apple Book Club. I’ll leave a link in the show notes to join the book club and you can grab those lessons right away to use in your classroom during these cold wintry months.
And before we finish up today, I want to remind you that creating magical reading moments doesn’t have to be complicated. Even one special read aloud can make a lasting impact on a child’s reading journey. So whether you choose to implement one of the ideas that I shared today or all 10, what matters most is showing our students that reading is worth celebrating.
I’d love to hear which of these ideas you’re excited to try. Come find me on Instagram at The Colorful Apple and let me know. Or better yet, share a picture of your celebration in action. And don’t forget to grab the guest reader pack that I mentioned earlier. Thank you so much for spending this time with me today in the Read Aloud Classroom.
If you found these ideas helpful, I’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review. This helps other teachers find our reading community too. Until next time, happy reading!
