Reading Friends Betty Klein, 1st Grade Teacher

"In my classroom I have a wide array of stuffed animals that I've collected throughout the years. When it is time to read silently and independently, students select a stuffed animal friend and curl up with it as they practice reading. Students seem satisfied and enjoy this task."

Reading Garden K-8 Lynda O'Brien, Educator/Administrator

"Have students write reading summaries on a round or cone coffee filter. Include Story/Book title and author. On a poster board, have the students glue just the centers of the round coffee filters, arranged as they wish. These are the flowers. Students can then use assorted art supplies to make stems, leaves, backgrounds, etc. Display each as a composite garden or as individual gardens that adorn you class room. Thus your Reading Garden."

"Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" Danielle Keller, After School Supervisor

"I had an After School class that was crazy about Harry Potter. I first wrote a letter to the students as "Professor McGonagall" telling them all that they were accepted at Hogwarts and that they would be divided into the four houses from the books, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Huffelpuff, and Ravenclaw and that each house would accumulate points (or lose them) based on their performance in my classroom. Good behaviors earned points for the house, bad behaviors lost points. Certain games and activities in my room were also worth bonus points. It helped my student learn to work as a team and it really curtailed bad behavior. At the end of the year, I threw an "end of the year feast" with pizza and sweets, with the winning house receiving certificates stating that they had won the "House Cup" as denoted in the books,and that team also won a small prize. It worked well as a classroom theme for me. We played a modified version of Quidditch in gym, and the students were encouraged to write to their favorite Hogwart's Professors via an envelope that I had labeled "Outgoing Mail to Hogwart's". I would then write back to the students in the character of their chosen professor. It was a blast for the kids, as well as for me."

"Reading Across New York" Jackie Seiars, NYC Teacher

"I created a great interdisciplinary incentive system that reinforces reading for my students. One of the main topics of my Social Studies curriculum is New York State geography and landmarks. I have a detailed map of New York State in my room with a colored thumbtack for every student.

Every week, the thumbtacks take a trip to location or landmark within New York State. A student's thumbtack is advanced a set distance for every page they read during reading time. This has really motivated students. Along the way to the final destination, the students will have several stops. These include major towns/cities or landmarks. When a student reaches this location, they receive a simple reward. The rewards range from extra free time to a snack. When they reach their final destination we provide them with larger rewards.

Students really seem to enjoy this system and they're learning a lot more about their State. This system is simple and can be adapted to any state, province, and/or country."

"Word Game" Linda Herrmann, Recreation Worker

"Select a word. Ask for words that can be made from the selected word, using the letters only as often as they are in the word, no capital letters, and at least three letters to the word. The spelling and meaning of each word shown should also be a requirement. Example: sacrifices---rice-a food, face-front of head, ice-frozen water, etc."

"Thanking My ABCs" Thomas Siekes, Reading Teacher

"I usually have the students sit on the floor in either a circle or a horseshoe. I then have children say "Thanks for".. something that begins with an "A" and continue around the circle, until they get to "Z". If in a horseshoe, when it reaches an end, they must repeat what the last person said and then say their own. I found that the children love this and it is a spin on Geographic ABCs."

"Tactile Sight Words" Tanya Rivers, Elementary Teacher

"My team found a great activity to help students learn sight words:

1. We write the words on sets of large flash cards. Always make sure to laminate the cards, this way you do not have reinvent the wheel every year.
2. Give students hand clay. Ask the students to roll the clay so that it looks like a long pencil. The thinner the clay is rolled, the easier it is for them.
3. Have the students trace the words on laminated cards with the clay.

"The Alphabet Elephant" Angela Ross, Primary Teacher

"I use a large stuffed elephant as a motivator in an alphabet/phonics game to encourage students to share their thoughts. We call him the "Alphabet Elephant".

I pretend that the elephant whispers letters to me and tell the class that the Elephant wants to hear a word that starts with a certain letter. I choose the letter at random. I then ask for volunteers to share words with the class that start with that letter. Students that wish to share a word hold the elephant while saying the word.

This really encourages students to share their thoughts."

Warm Up Activities Antonio Cobo Rodriguez, High School Teacher, Colombia

"I have students review vocabulary by row. Every row of students is a team and every student has a responsibility within the team or row. I say a category and have students write as many related words as they can. The team with most complete and accurate number of words wins. It is quick and fun."