Genre Reading Challenge

Have you ever had an idea, event, or experience that suddenly made you “click” with a coworker?

For me, that experience happened when I read The Book Whisperer by Donovan Miller last summer.  I was literally blown away.  I could not underline, highlight, and take notes quickly enough.  I raved about it to my coworkers, but only one of them was interested in reading the book.  I quickly shared my book with her and…BAM!!!!

After four years of working together, my coworker and I REALLY started bonding.  I had always admired her and looked up to her (figuratively and literally as I’m barely 5’0!!).  We were having daily conversations, brainstorming about getting our class involved in the 40 Book Challenge, and making Google Forms.  The next thing we knew, we had come up with an idea to fill our hallway with books...GIANT books!! 

We made nine giant books for nine different genres.  Above each book, we added the characteristics of the genre.  To finish the look, we added a matching bookmark.  During the year, students wrote recommendations and added to the books. These could also be used to list all of the books read during the school year.

Instead of using reading logs (which always seemed to get lost or parents didn't sign), I made an interactive notebook for the students to use.

We took notes as we worked through the PowerPoint over several days.  Students used their notebooks during the year to write reading responses.


At the beginning of the school year, we became a 1:1 digit school.  In addition to the physical reading responses, I created a Google Slides product to use with Google Classroom.  These worked extremely well also by giving students preselected responses to write about.  

• All of these items can be used simply for getting your students excited about reading.  
• They could be used in the media center.  
• These giant books can be located in a central location or maybe even the cafeteria to encourage students to read. 

You certainly do not have to implement the 40 Book Challenge or read The Book Whisperer to encourage students to read, read, read.  Sometimes, all it takes is a giant book to spark that curiosity. 

If you are interested in any of these items in my store, you can click on the pictures below.

What better way is there than to let your love of reading bond you with a coworker who becomes your teacher BFF?  Wouldn’t that be even MORE fabulous?

That’s just…

My Kind of Teaching

See you soon!