Been Caught Reading!

One of our main goals at Lely Elementary this year is to cultivate a love of reading among the kids. We want them to see reading as a reward, not to read for a reward. In order to do that, we first must hook them into reading and that sometimes does require rewards. Hopefully, in time, the kids will be so engaged by what they are reading that they will see the reading itself as rewarding time spent. 

We have many different ways to encourage kids to read. One of the new things that we have started on campus is "Been Caught Reading". When we happen upon a student reading while waiting for the bus, on the courtyard in the morning, or in any other situation where reading is not required, we snap a quick photo without their knowledge. Then we surprise them by putting their picture on the news and calling them down to the media center for a prize. That prize is a coin to get a free book from the book vending machine. 

We have had a really good reaction from the kids. The kids that we caught reading had no idea, so when they see themselves on the news, they are very proud of being caught. Their peers are both congratulatory and a bit jealous. 

We love finding different ways to encourage the love of reading among our kids. Making sure that they have the books they love and then encouraging a culture of reading is usually the best bet to turn kids into lifelong readers. So many have found the joy of reading and it's only a matter of time before every student in our school is an avid, independent, lifelong reader.