National Education Association’s Read Across America is a time to celebrate a nation of diverse readers.
I love celebrating Read Across America with my students and promoting my love for reading. Whether it’s listening to a read-aloud, listening to an audiobook, or getting wrapped up in a picture book or novel, reading opens doors for our imaginations.
Oriental Trading has some great resources that are perfect for celebrating Reading Across America. I’ve created a list of some engaging activities and how I’ll be using them with my students to celebrate reading and language arts.
Celebrate Diversity
Oriental Trading has some great books to help celebrate cultures from around the world. I plan on using the Around the World book set, along with these Nonfiction Close Reading Tabs to help my students access content from these books.
I would like to have my students (fifth graders) meet with their primary grade buddies (second graders) so they can discuss these topics together. It would be a great way to learn about other cultures, while also helping each other understand the content while reading.
Another way we are celebrating diversity during Read Across America Week, and always, is by using Oriental Trading’s Around the World Poster Set and border.
Speaking and Listening
Another great way to celebrate Read Across America is by giving students an opportunity to share and talk about what they’ve read or seen in illustrations. Since some students are still strengthening their reading skills, it’s also important to give them tasks that they feel successful in completing.
One way I am planning on doing that during Read Across America week is by using Oriental Trading’s Caption This! cards. 
They are perfect for eliciting conversations among students, while also getting them to feel confident in what they’re learning. I also appreciate how these cards celebrate diversity. I plan on using my content imperative sheets to have my students write more about the cards that they find. But you can also have your students write a story about what they see in the illustration with partners or individually. Click here to get the content imperative sheets.
Reading Logs
I am not a huge fan of sending home reading logs, but I really like the idea of keeping one at school. These Reading Genre Bingo Cards are perfect for that purpose.
Starting in March, I am going to challenge my students to fill their Bingo Cards by the end of the month. They’ll also have to keep track of the books they’re reading on the back of their Bingo Cards. I am planning on handing out some bookmark prizes to celebrate students who win with a “blackout” bingo win!
Reading Challenge
We are going to challenge our student body to read as much as they can during Read Across America Week. We will remind them that picture books, graphic novels, books on tape, anything that will spark their imagination can be a part of what they read for the challenge. Listening to a teacher or family member read a story also counts!
Each time they read a new book that week, we’ll challenge them to write or draw about it on a summary page. They can submit it to the office and they’ll be entered to win a prize from our special Read Across America prize bin. These fun bookmarks will be a part of those prizes. Click here for the free book summary template.
Week-Long Celebration
At our school site, we decided to organize a week of themed days and activities to celebrate Read Across America starting on March 2nd. Our week is filled with themed days, dress-up opportunities, and a whole week of reading fun.
Here’s a look at what we’re planning! You can grab this sheet plus editable ones by becoming a subscriber.
For more information on this week, read my 6 Themed Days for Read Across America post.
Just click here!
And if you’re interested in some reading shirts for Read Across America week, check these out!
Click here to see them in my teacher shirt shop.
The ideas expressed in this post are my own. The links to the products are affiliate links.
