I Love to Read Month Ideas

Here is a list of ideas to promote literacy during February, I Love to Read Month, and throughout the rest of the year!

	Summer 2007 Reading Calendar & Activities
	February 2007 I Love to Read Month Calendar & Activities
	February 2006 I Love to Read Month Calendar & Activities
	February 2005 I Love to Read Month Calendar
	February 2004 I Love to Read Month Calendar
	2004 I Love to Read Teacher Ideas
	2004 Summer Reading Calendar & Activities

READ ALOUD!
Read aloud to the class everyday—no matter how old the students are! Read students brief but complete stories as often as possible. Provide variety such as high interest, humor, special interest, and family stories. Be a model. Let students see you read.

FOOD FEST:
Plan a “food fest” for the classroom. Each student shares a poem that uses food as a theme.

READ-ALONG:
Celebrate with song by holding a read-along, sing-along. Use an overhead projector to project the words of old favorites and new songs. Students can assist in the preparation by illustrating the transparencies.

KIDS’ ROOM LIBRARY:
Develop a “Kid’s Room Library”—made, run, and maintained by students.

FEBRUARY DATES TO REMEMBER AND EXPLORE:

• AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH—Call (202)-628-1776 for a schedule of events; ask for the Historian General’s Office.
• AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH—For a celebration of African-American history as featured in picture books and nonfiction selections, from pre-Colonial time to the present. See the Feb. 1996 issue of Teaching preK-8, “For Black History Month: A Timeline of Books,” pp 46-48.
• AFRICAN AMERICAN READ-IN CHAIN—http://www.reading.org
• GROUNDHOG DAY—February 2nd!
• ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL IN AMERICA—The Boston Latin School opened on February 13th, 1635.
• VALENTINE’S DAY—February 14th! Have students pen their own Valentines cards, or research some of the ancient Greek/Roman mythology behind the holiday.
• NATIONAL PTA FOUNDER’S DAY—February 17th!
• PRESIDENT’S DAY—February 18th!

FAMOUS AUTHORS’ FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS:

• Charles Dickens, February 7th
• Laura Ingalls Wilder, February 7th
• Alice Walker, February 9th
• Erma Bombeck, February 21st