Advanced Reading Challenge

The 21 Balloons by William Pene Dubois

Beginning in October each year  we hold an Advanced Reading Challenge at my school.  The lists of books come from Imagine Schools. Students who choose to participate select books to read from a list developed for their grade level. After they complete the books they do a creative response project for each of the books.  The goal is for the students to read and respond to 25 books.  Students who complete the challenge earn a $100 savings bond from the Imagine corporation.  The Advanced reading challenge is a great way to provide enrichment opportunities for the readers in my class.  Initially, the program was designed for the higher level readers in my class, but I have a hard time excluding any students from participating.  I tell my kids that even if they do not complete 25 books the fact that they choose to challenge themselves as readers is an accomplishment to be celebrated.  At the end of the challenge I have a party for all the students who chose to participate.  I have read the majority of the books on the list and can recommend books that would be accesible to the majority of the readers in my class.  Every couple of weeks I hold an after school session with the kids to come and come up with project ideas and help them work on their projects.  It is honestly one of the most enjoyable activiites I get to do with my students.   I love seeing how creative my students are and giving them the opportunity to express it.  My 90 minute reading block is so jam packed with lessons and activities that those kinds of projects are often not given that chance.  I allow them to work on projects when they have finished their class assignments, but can focus more time and attention on helping them in out after school workshops.  I had the chance to work with one of my third graders on a project for the book  The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene Dubois.  She decided to create a hot Air Balloon and put facts and information about the book in the basket.  Originally, she used a regular balloon which deflated rather quickly so we decided to try covering the balloon with dilluted glue and water and cover it in different color tissue paper.  It was really great how the project turned out.  I am thinking we might have to add another layer to make it more sturdy, but so far it is holding up pretty well.   I went home covered in glue from  holding the balloon, while she covered it with the tissue paper, but we had so much fun doing the project.  Those are the interactions with my students that I treasure.  To see how excited and engaged they are about responding to books is exciting.