Celebrate Reading Virtually or many you may be teaching remotely, so Read Across America can be virtual too! You can still celebrate reading in a virtual world! Remember, NEA’s Read Across America Day is Monday, March 2nd. If you’re planning an event, MEA is here to help fund your great idea. MEA offers grants, apply for one today (see next page for more information). In additional to virtual read alouds and mystery readers, below are some fun ideas to make this year’s Read Across America Day exciting and safe, no matter the format.
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Book Talks Host an Author Deepen student enthusiasm for both reading and writing with a virtual author visit! Many authors and illustrators are offering opportunities for virtual visits with students. These might be short 15-30-minute interactive sessions or up to an hour for longer discussions or activities. Author visits go best when students have read their books in advance and, if appropriate, have prepared questions. Most authors have an online presence and can be easily contacted via their websites, social media, or through their publishers—try reaching out to school and library marketing departments.
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Maine Educator • December 2020
A book talk is just a short presentation about an awesome book to get readers excited and interested in it. You can record yourself or give a live book talk or ask your school or public librarian to offer virtual book talks. You can also have students give book talks. That way students get to learn what their fellow students enjoy reading. Book talks work best when they can be conversational, with questions asked and answered. Slides can also be developed and used to add visual interest and help provide structure. Reading Drive In Invite families to a physically distanced evening out of reading fun! As members of your community read aloud a variety of diverse books, live stream their read alouds on a large screen set up in the school or community center parking lot for families to enjoy from their vehicles. Have readers use props, costumes, music, or interesting virtual backdrops to make the stories come alive for your audience.
