Organize your classroom library with the Classroom Library Bin Labels and Book Stickers to make it easy for students to find what they want to read and put it back properly when they are done reading.

One of the great things about reading is that it is never too late to make a new goal about what you want to read.  In 2012 there are ample opportunities to take charge of your reading habits and start anew.  Teaching students that they can always set reading goals is important to their continued enthusiasm for picking up a book instead of a video game remote.  Whether it is in conjunction with Read Across America Day/Dr. Seuss’ Birthday, Leap Day, or the end of a marking period, students can set goals to read a certain number of books, or a certain type of book, before the date they designate arrives.  Use the teaching tips and tricks below to help you get them started.

Big Goals, Little Goals, Every Goal Counts

For your voracious readers, reading 10 books before Valentine’s Day might be an easily attainable goal.  For those developing readers, however, 10 books might be a goal for 10 months!  When goal setting with students, it is important to validate that every goal that they set is important if it challenges them to achieve more.  This can easily lead into a discussion about focusing on goals, not making goals that are so easy they are not even a challenge, and personal growth.  Reading goals that match students’ individual reading abilities should challenge them, but also be attainable.

Goal Ideas

• By Genre:  If you are focusing on a certain genre in class, encourage students to set goals about reading a certain number of that genre during a designated time frame.  Another idea is to set goals to read one book of each genre before the end of the school year.
• By Date:  Create reading goals that coincide with an upcoming holiday, event, or celebration.  29 books by Leap Day, 12 books by Read Across America Day 2012, or 17 books before St. Patrick’s Day are all achievable and fun goals for students.  At the start of the new school year, have a class challenge to read 100 books before the 100th Day of School.
• By Interest:  Capitalize on students’ interests and encourage them to set goals based on topics that they enjoy.  Children that enjoy sports might want to read 12 sports related books before the end of the school year and the 2012 Summer Olympics.  Those who enjoy mysteries can be encouraged to read a mystery and a nonfiction book about the place where the mystery takes place (i.e. – Ancient Egypt or the Old West).

Tracking Goals

The ways to track students’ progress to their goals is limitless.  Place heart stickers on a cut-out heart if the goal is near Valentine’s Day.  Fill in lines of a Dr. Seuss hat for a Read Across America goal.  Color in the segments of a beach ball for a year-end reading goal.  Use a 100 grid for a goal to read 100 books during the school year or before the 100th Day of School.  No matter how you and your students track the books they read, make it fun, colorful, and exciting.

Celebrate your students’ success and make a fuss over the completion of their goals.  Your encouragement and their achievement will make their love for reading flourish.  How do you encourage your students to challenge themselves in reading?  Share your ideas and tips below.