I loved using Mystery Readers in my classroom because it helped build positive parent and teacher relationships and it really got my students interested in reading.
This idea can work in any grade level. It’s simple. You enlist the help of your students’ parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, and relatives to come into your classroom to read a story to your class.
The best part…it’s a MYSTERY!
To get the Mystery Reader system set up in your classroom, you’ll need to follow these steps:
1. Create an online sign-up and send home and Myster Readers information sheet.
It’s really important that you let your families know about this great opportunity in your classroom. You can do this at Back to School Night or at any point in the school year. In your parent communication make sure to include an information sheet about the Mystery Reader process and details. Don’t forget to include available dates throughout the year or a link to your sign-up form.
Here’s a copy of a letter I wrote for my Back to School Night to inform the parents in my classroom.
In addition to the informational sheet, I also place a sign-up sheet in the back of the classroom.
2. Keep your Mystery Readers sign-up form easily accessible throughout the school year.
Remind parents about the opportunity to be a Mystery Reader and keep your sign-up form updated for parents to access. The sign-up form has parents write down their name, their child’s name, if they need a book, and their email address. The week of their scheduled day/time, I send them a reminder email with the day, time, book choice (if they said they already had one or not), and directions of how to come into our classroom without ruining the surprise.
And of course, they needed to email me FIVE clues about themselves that I could read to the class prior to their arrival.
3. Offer a selection of quick stories and/or picture books.
I always ask my Mystery Readers if they’ll need a book to borrow for the reading, or if they’ll be bringing one of their own. A lot of the parents in my class chose to bring their own books. They would also bring a gift for the class (not mandatory of course) that would match the book. For example, if the Mystery Reader brought If You Bring a Mouse a Cookie, they also brought cookies for the whole class.
Just make sure your school’s rules allow for food gifts and all that good stuff.
4. Create a cozy environment for your Mystery Readers.
I always set up a reading chair in our little reading corner. My kiddos would sit on the carpet, patiently waiting for the Mystery Reader to arrive. I also set up an additional chair for the Mystery Reader’s child to sit on. They always loved sitting next to their reader who came by to visit! I would sit next to my group of students and make sure my behavior management was ON POINT! Most of my Mystery Readers did a good job reading, keeping the kiddos engaged, and making it a fun experience. My students were just so excited to have a guest in our classroom!
5. Get your Mystery Reader clues ready for your class!
- I have three children.
- Breakfast is my favorite meal.
- I love dogs.
- I won first place in a karate competition.
- I was born in raised in this town.
I would read these clues to my class on the morning of the Mystery Reader’s visit. I would take five guesses and write these names on the board. My kiddos were excited to see if their guesses were correct.
The families in my class had a lot of fun with this over the years! We had relatives from out of state come to visit, grandparents, cousins, and older siblings.
