Read Across America Day Ideas For Big Kids

4th Graders may be big kids, but most still like to be part of the Read Across America Day celebration.

Here are a few ideas that are fairly easy to implement:

1. Pair up with a buddy class for story time. 📘

If you are in a school with younger grades, try pairing up with Kindergarten or First Grade. The fourth graders can bring in picture books they liked when they were little to read to a younger buddy. Alternatively, the school librarian could help with book selection. Students can finish up with a snack and juice or even make it a reading picnic!

2. Play a Dr. Seuss book trivia game. 🤔

Create a trivia game using sentences from Dr. Seuss's books. Read each sentence and have students guess which Dr. Seuss book the sentence came from.

3. Schedule D.E.A.R. time. 📖

Drop Everything And Read! Do this with your class or get the whole school involved. Decide on a time and for 15 minutes everyone in the school drops everything and reads. 

4. Organize a book collection. 📚

Ask students to gather up books they have outgrown and donate them to an organization in need.

5. Start a book club. 📕

Students may want to be part of a small group reading the same book. Assist students in getting started by looking for multiple copies of the book. You can ask the librarian, check local thrift stores, or borrow from a colleague. 

Even big kids can enjoy Read Across America Day!☆

Additional posts about READING:

5 Ways to Teach Reading Comprehension

Benefits of Read Alouds in the Classroom

10 Ways to Promote Reading at Home

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The Benefits of Buddy Classes in School

Buddy classes in school are when two classes from different grade levels, usually a higher and lower grade, are paired together. The purpose of buddy classes is to foster relationship building, provide mentorship, and extend the school community.

Benefits of buddy classes in school include:

1. Positive relationships are developed between the younger and older students, which can help to create a more positive school environment.
2. The older students can act as mentors for the younger students, helping to explain concepts and provide guidance.
3. The younger students can practice their social skills with the older students.
4. Younger students receive individual help with tasks.
5. The buddy system provides all students with a sense of belonging to the school community.

Buddy classes can meet monthly, quarterly, or as the need arises. You could start by scheduling a few days throughout the year, and add more days if desired.

Here are some buddy class ideas you can start out with:

Math Games

Reading Games

Review Games

Planting Seeds

Monthly Themed Crafts

Reading Picture Books

Making Cards for Veterans or Seniors

Special Day Activities (100 Day, Read Across America Day, etc.)

Writing

Holiday Projects

Making Posters

Studying for a Quiz or Test

Flash Cards

Scavenger Hunts

Craftivities

Readers' Theater 

Poem Reading and Writing

The possibilities for buddy classes are endless!

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4 Lent Activities for Families

Children can develop a closer relationship with God during Lent. Lent activities revolve around prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. 

Here are a few Lenten activities you may want to try:

1. Make a prayer jar. 

Have children write a prayer each day, and place it in the jar. 

You can add a prayer choice board...

Prayer Choice Board

Or a use a  prayer box instead of a jar...

Prayer Box

An alternative could be to set up a prayer writing center...

Prayer Writing Center

2. Make Lenten crosses.

Gather small sticks and tie them together with string. You can even use the crosses to make a Lenten garden!

3. Participate in a Lenten fast.

Brainstorm a list of items that children could possibly give up during Lent (electronics, cookies, candy, etc.) Have students choose one to give up.

4. Give to others.

This may be a good time to sort out clothes and toys that are outgrown to donate to charity. Children may be able to help with a service project during lent. They could also help clean out the pantry or go shopping to choose items to donate to a food pantry. 

Choose an activity to complete during Lent, and watch the children grow closer to God!

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Click: How to Teach the Holy Trinity

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