Bring the celebration of reading and literacy into your classroom, library, school, and home all year long.
Read Across America Day: Celebrate a Nation of Diverse Readers
Grades
|
Today is Leap Day!
3 - 7
Calendar Activity
| Holiday & School Celebration
Our solar year is 365.24219 days. Since our calendar does not deal in partial days, every four years, we add an additional day to February.
Grades
|
Coretta Scott King was born on this day in 1927.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students do a book report assignment based on a current or past winner of the Coretta Scott King Book Award.
Grades
|
Celebrate Kate DiCamillo's birthday today.
3 - 6
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
After examining the characters in one of DiCamillo's stories, students write original short stories featuring animals as central characters.
Grades
|
Celebrate Children's Authors and Illustrators Week
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Literacy-Related Event
Students "step into the shoes" of their favorite author by reading several of their books, conducting research, and preparing displays and presentations for the class.
Grades
|
Paperback books were first introduced in 1935.
3 - 8
Calendar Activity
| Literacy-Related Event
Independent reading is promoted among students by organizing a paperback book swap in the classroom or with other classes at the same grade level.
Grades
|
May is Get Caught Reading Month!
K - 12
Calendar Activity
| Holiday & School Celebration
Students celebrate Get Caught Reading Month by doing a reading-related service project such as planning an intergenerational reading day or organizing a book drive.
Grades
|
Author Lois Duncan was born on this date in 1934.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Mysteries are shared with students for them to solve and brainstorm the attributes of a good mystery. Small groups then compose short mysteries using the Mystery Cube.
Grades
|
It's Winter in the Northern Hemisphere!
K - 6
Calendar Activity
| Holiday & School Celebration
Students brainstorm words or images that they associate with winter, select and read a picture book about winter, and compare the two using the interactive Venn Diagram.
Grades
|
Author Eve Bunting was born in Ireland in 1928.
3 - 10
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students listen to a news article about the LA race riots and then read Smoky Night to discuss how a younger observer might be affected by these events and their perceptions.
Grades
|
Ursula K. LeGuin was born on this day in 1929.
5 - 10
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students examine realistic and non-realistic elements of a familiar fantasy story of their choice.
Grades
|
Celebrate National Library Week!
K - 12
Calendar Activity
| Literacy-Related Event
Students learn more about libraries as part of National Library Week.
Grades
|
Today is D.E.A.R. Day!
K - 12
Calendar Activity
| Holiday & School Celebration
April 12 is known as D.E.A.R Day! D.E.A.R. stands for "Drop Everything and Read," a national month-long celebration of reading designed to remind folks of all ages to make reading a priority activity in their lives.
Grades
|
Jon Scieszka was born in 1954.
K - 8
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students review Scieszka's tips for encouraging young people to read and then create their own, sharing ideas with adults in their community through a letter.
Grades
|
Today, the American Library Association announces its annual book award winners.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Literacy-Related Event
Students research different awards given by the ALA and do an activity based on one of the awards.
Grades
|
Caldecott Medal-winner Virginia Lee Burton was born on this day in 1909.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students discuss similarities in Burton's illustrations and writing style in her many books, in addition to her use of personification.
Grades
|
TeenTober?!? Learn about this month-long celebration.
5 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Literacy-Related Event
TeenTober is a nationwide celebration hosted by libraries every October and aims to celebrate teens, promote year-round teen services and the innovative ways teen services helps teens learn new skills, and fuel their passions in and outside the library.