What's the easiest way to determine whether or not a student will be successful later in life? Whether or not that student reads. Students make great strides in cultivating their own reading lives while in school, but what happens when they leave our classrooms? Becoming a reader both in school and out of school is our ultimate goal for our students, which is why we would like to have a Parent-Student Reading Night, where reading is given a new context. Parents and students can share in the joy of reading together while exploring new books, creating reading-related items and sharing their love of reading and books with others. This event will foster connections between parents and students while also starting a conversation about their respective reading lives. Seeing a parent engage with books is such a powerful moment in a child's reading identity, and giving both a space to do just that will undoubtedly result in a strengthened relationship with reading and between parent and child. 

During the Reading Night, students and parents will be able to:

• Participate in "book speed dating," where they spent a few minutes at a table with a new title before moving on to a new title

• Create an Amazon wishlist for books they'd like to purchase, which can be shared with family members

• Preview award winners

• Potentially Skype with an author to discuss writing and reading

• Take time to quietly read

• Participate in raffles for books, comfy reading bean bags, bookmarks, book lights, book covers etc

• Add book recommendations in a way other people can see (a Padlet page)

• Create their own Book Talk trailer with a green screen to be featured on the morning announcement video

• Design their own personalized bookmark

• Design their own "book bag"--a carrying bag for their books

• Sign up for a local public library card 

In order to facilitate this event, funds will be used to purchase raffle prizes, secure the space for the evening, and purchase food and drinks for attendees. 

Our students deserve time and space to explore and cultivate their reading lives. We want every student to leave our middle school identifying as a reader, and events like these play a large part in growing that identity. 

Back Up Plan