Family Reading Night is Thursday, November 20, 2008 The statewide event brings families together for a fun-filled evening together as well as provides an opportunity for students to display their reading and writing projects or to perform their literacy skills.
Following are a few suggested themes to energize your Family Reading Night events:
Pre-Schoolers & Parents — Pajama Party
Have children wear their pajamas and play the PJ matching game. Before the event, laminate cutouts of matching pajama top and bottom shapes from various wrapping paper patterns. Show parents how to help their children match the tops and bottoms. Have parents read bedtime stories to their children and serve a bedtime snack. (Head Start programs are eligible for competitive grants through The Pajama Program to receive new pajamas and books for children. Visit www.pajamaprogram.org for more information.)
Early Elementary Age & Parents — Family Scavenger Hunt
Design an indoor scavenger hunt and prepare a scavenger hunt list with clues. Introduce families to the concept of a scavenger hunt. At the end of the hunt, offer rewards of books for families to take home. Invite a local librarian to read excerpts from themed books such as Hoot, by Carl Hiassen; Holes, by Louis Sachar; Shipwrecked, by Rhoda Blumberg; Wild Man Island, by Will Hobbs; or Eyewitness: Shipwreck, by Richard Platt. Serve deserted island-themed snacks such as bananas, pineapple, kiwi and coconut.
12- to 15-Year-Olds & Parents — Ethnic Night
Have a potluck with families bringing an ethnic dish from their native country. Provide a world map on the wall for families to mark their home country and ask each family to tell about their country, traditions, families, etc. Tie the evening together by reading books about other cultures. Providing a meal (donated by a local restaurant) and offering prizes are surefire ways to get more people at your event. For other Family Reading Night themes, check out the new book from Eye on Education called Family Reading Night.
