Nine Days I Am Looking Forward To Celebrating With My Students
Today, for the first time this summer, I looked at a calendar and started mapping out the upcoming school year. I spent some time reading my old blog posts from last year. Looking back at all the great times I had with my students got me thinking about all the fun I’m going to have with next year’s class.
Here are 9 of the days my students and I will celebrate during the 2013-2014 school year:
Mr. Sharp “talks” about how much he loves reading (first day of school)
Dot Day (September 15)
I love celebrating Dot Day with my students. In the past it has been a day that they talk about the entire school year.
First Author Skype (September or October)
Skyping with authors always comes up at the end of the year when my students reflect on their favorite moments of the school year. I can’t wait to see who we end up Skyping with this year.
Want to Skype with an author? Check out Kate Messner’s amazing resource: Authors that Skype for Free
Mock Caldecott November
I can’t think of a better way to teach students about book awards than to have them participate in a Mock Caldecott unit.
Check out this trailer my students made during last year’s unit:
ALA Youth Media Awards (January 27, 8 AM EST)
My students love watching the ALA Youth Media Awards live. My students from the 2011-2012 school year got a little carried away during the Caldecott announcement (see video below).
Since the awards will be announced before school this year, my students and I will be having a before school breakfast party.
International Book Giving Day (February)
Book giving day was new for me last year, and boy was it a hit. Seeing the smiling faces of my fourth graders as they carried around their gifted book was priceless.
Read Across America March 3
Anything associated with Dr. Seuss is a hit. Anything.
World Read Aloud Day (March 5)
My absolute favorite day of the school year. I LOVE celebrating this day with my students.
Poem In Your Pocket Day (April 2014)
I think that this is one of the happiest days of the school year. How could you be sad when everyone you see will read you a poem that they house in their pocket?
Now it is your turn. I know that every single day in our classrooms and libraries are special, but what specific days are you most looking forward to for the upcoming school year?
Colby Sharp (@colbysharp) is a teacher in Michigan. He helps out with Nerd Camp, Title Talk, The Sharp Schu Book Club, and Title Talk. He blogs at sharpread.
Nerdy Book Club 
What great ideas. I am going to incorporate many into my library classes. Can I be in Mr. Sharp’s class? Pretty please.
I’d love to have you in my class:)
Did you do a post on Dot Day last year? I’m interested in doing it in my classroom this September. What did your class to do celebrate?
Here is a great Dot Day post from Mr. Schu. http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/2011/09/international-dot-day.html
My kids LOVE book fair! I start the year off with one the third week in August and that gets them excited about reading right away. Then we have a second one the week of Valentines Day because we LOVE books! My adult “kids” often tell me how much they loved book fair…
Love these! I already plan to do many of them, but would like to know more about International Book Giving Day! 🙂 Thanks for the information!
I love all the fun ways you celebrate! You are an inspiration! 🙂 I love Skyping with Mr. Schu for a lot of these fun events. My favorite is Poem in Your Pocket Day! My favorite activity last year was a Fake Mustache Party after we read Fake Mustache! The kids loved it! 🙂 I also plan to Skype with more authors this year! My students love it and they learn so much!
Great post Colby. Please check out the new calendar I put together of reading events. Do you have any to add? http://thelatebloomersbookblog.blogspot.com/p/reading-event-calendar.html
What is “Dot Day?”
My mom is from Michigan, and I love Michigan, but you’re going to have to move the family down to Colorado so you can teach my sons. Sorry about that. 🙂 I am a big reader, it’s my most favorite activity ever, and I’m afraid I’ve pushed it so much that my boys are turned off. I’m trying to be more subtle now, but I’m hoping its not too late for them to develop their own love of books.
This is not the classroom I grew up in–more’s the pity! Thanks for ALL you do, Colby!
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Real men love Babymouse, indeed. Great post, Colby. I’m inspired to think about my own upcoming celebrations.
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