Brandi Prater
- May 7
- 6 min read

Year Long Programming - Reading Joy Challenge

OVERVIEW

The goal of this challenge is to promote a lifelong love of reading & help students find “The Joy of Reading.” The challenge invites students/staff readers to explore settings, characters, formats, genres, and perspectives that might be outside of their reading comfort zones & is organized into two options. The goal is to read at least twelve (12) books, but you can read more. You must reach a minimum of Level 1 to be eligible for the giveaways; there is no maximum limit. Each time you Level Up, you earn an additional entry in the giveaway. See the different levels below and pick the level that works best for you.

Option 1: Categories This option includes 5 tiers of 12 categories, each with a "free space" to slot in whatever strikes your fancy. The tiers contain more challenging categories as you ascend to higher levels. Pick your challenge level based on how many books you want to try to read during the year, or play along however you like.

Option 1: Freestyle This option allows you “reader’s choice,” but will still need to explore different settings, characters, formats, genres, and perspectives. You can use the categories list to help you make selections or you can get ideas from this Master List of Reading Challenges. You may only use 1 poetry, 1 picture books, or 1 manga/graphic novel in the entire challenge.

LEVELS Level 1 – Book of the Month Club: Read 12 books Level 2 – Casual Reader Club: Read 24 books Level 3 – Dewey Decimal Club: Read 36 books Level 4 – Library Addict Club: Read 48 books Level 5 – Library Card on Fire Club: Read 60 books

Reminder: Record what you read in the Google form link in your Knox Library Course module. Required Reading does not count.

(Optional) Added Challenge(s) & Giveaway(s): This year we will be doing a few fun challenges throughout the year. We will have an Audiobook Challenge (Sept - Oct), the Library BINGO (Nov - Dec), & lastly an End of Year Check-In (April 1st). Each added challenge will have a fun giveaway plus the MAIN giveaway.

(Optional) Reviews: Write a review for the Goodreads Group Knox Reading Joy to enter the giveaway – 2 sentences or an essay, whatever works for you, but there is a minimum of 2 sentences. Not sure what to write? How about something like; “The plot was a delight, but the characters didn’t capture me.” “I enjoyed the story and really liked the characters.”

Please use #KnoxReadingJoy when sharing your reviews, library pictures, etc

Phases

Teacher Guide

Planning

July – August (prior to 1st Day of School)

Create a category list for each level of the reading challenge
Create Canvas module for reading challenge
Record an information video to include on the library website/Canvas module
Create Google form for student/staff Reading Log
Create printables for instructions, categories option, and freestyle option (have all info translated in languages represented in campus culture)
Design promotional materials for the campaign
Outline the marketing campaign including the social media campaign.
Coordinate with the broadcast teacher to promote the campaign internally.
Distribute info via email/newsletter/social media
Establish a budget, contact possible funders/partners and begin to plan fundraising events or collect donations

August – September

Create Audiobook Challenge
Add challenge to Canvas course
Finalize locations and reserve rooms and/or book facilities for the event
Create printables for instructions on audiobook challenge (have all info translated in languages represented in campus culture)
Design promotional materials for the campaign
Distribute info via email/newsletter/social media
Submit purchase order for snacks, drinks
Order promotional items, books for giveaways, and craft supplies for activities.
Order Refreshments
Print OverDrive Assets
Book an Online Visit with an Audiobook Narrator
Coordinate with local library and invite representative to attend the event & help with MCMLS Digital Access Cards
Audiobooks Aren’t Cheating Night – community training on apps/access

October – November

Create Library Bingo Challenge
Add challenge to Canvas course
Book facilities for the event (Bingo for Books)
Create printables for instructions on library bingo challenge (have all info translated in languages represented in campus culture)
Design promotional materials for the campaign
Distribute info via email/newsletter/social media
Submit purchase order for snacks, drinks
Order promotional items, books for giveaways, and craft supplies for activities.
Order Refreshments
Distribute info via email/newsletter/social media
Bingo for Books Night – community training on apps/access

January – March

Finalize activities and promotions
Book facilities for the event
Design promotional materials for the campaign (have all info translated in languages represented in campus culture)
Distribute info via email/newsletter/social media
Order promotional items, books for giveaways, and craft supplies for activities
Submit purchase order for snacks, drinks
Finalize student/staff Reading Logs the 1st week of April
Have students families/register for Event (set deadline)

PROMOTION

This event will be promoted using the following tools:

ELA & History Classrooms
Knox Reading Joy Display in Library
Bulletin Board or Window Display
Library Webpage & Library Canvas Course
Parent Newsletter
School Social Media Account
School Webpage (The Latest News)
Announcements & Broadcast (Monthly & Challenge Announcements)

PREPARATIONS

Librarian will need to communicate/collaborate with ELA & History teacher at BOY. Schedule classes to visit the library and introduce students to the Reading Challenge and mini-challenges scheduled throughout the year. Give an overview of the program, the monthly activities, and EOY celebration. To promote the challenge, initiate Free Book Fridays on a regular basis to build up our student’s home libraries. Host monthly book talks & quarterly Reading Inventories.

July – August

Create reading category lists/chart
Create freestyle chart
Create book talks
Create displays promoting challenge
Create calendar of challenge/special events & post to all marketing sources
Contact First Book & other resources for free and low-cost new books that will be provided at each event.

August – September

Finalize activities for Audiobooks Aren’t Cheating Night
Confirm attendance of Audiobook Narrator
Confirm attendance of community leaders – administrators, principals and community leaders.
Submit purchase orders
Buy snacks/drinks
Create agenda for event
Decorate library, school, and displays for the event.
Construct posters/signage in multi-languages of school community
Design/Create book displays for event.

October – November

Finalize activities for Bingo for Books Night
Confirm attendance by MCMLS representative
Confirm attendance of community leaders – administrators, principals and community leaders.
Submit purchase orders
Buy snacks/drinks
Create agenda for event
Decorate library, school, and displays for the event.
Construct posters/signage in multi-languages of school community
Design/Create book displays for event.

January – March

Finalize activities for Reading Challenge Night
Confirm attendance of Audiobook Narrator
Confirm attendance of community leaders – administrators, principals and community leaders.
Submit purchase orders
Buy snacks/drinks
Create agenda for event
Decorate library, school, and displays for the event.
Construct posters/signage in multi-languages of school community
Design/Create book displays for event.

April

Invite the local press to the event
Host Reading Challenge Literacy Event
Print out certificates and/or trophies
Document the event (s)
Remind attendees that Reading for Joy is a yearlong family literacy initiative that culminates with family celebrations in April
Send Thank You notes to partners.
Hold a debriefing session
Document information to prepare for the next year

PROCEDURES

Begin each “Challenge” month by highlighting authors/illustrators during the month. Gather book collections of recommended books for children/teens in multiple languages and on various formats. Decorate the library, school hallways, and classroom doors for each event. This could include a competition component for the door displays. Create special displays in the library that represent students and the challenge from the library/audio collection and ask classroom teachers to include a read-aloud with the event themes in their classrooms. Organize a book driving and deliver books during the “Challenge” month as a part of each celebration. Create activities for each event.

Audiobooks Aren’t Cheating: 20 Things to Do While Listening to Audiobooks – Students with participate in various programming activities while listening to audiobooks.

Knitting
Puzzles
Coloring
Craft Projects
Fidget Spinners Puzzles
People Watch with Coffee
Baking

Bingo for Books: Students/Families will play Bingo. When they get a Bingo, they get to grab a free book. Lots of winners are chosen in each round before Bingo boards are cleared, so that everyone leaves with a stack of books.

Barbecue and Books: Students/Families will be invited to a family literacy night featuring games or movies based on their favorite books. Barbecue Food Trucks will be present for families to eat dinner while attending the event.

PAYOFF

The common goals of the reading challenge are to encourage Reading for Joy in our students and families:

Celebrate children and connect them to the world of learning through books, stories, and libraries.
Nature cognitive and literacy development in ways that honor the joy of reading and helps support literacy in families
Introduce families to community resources that provide opportunities for learning through multiple literacies
Create family partnerships where we recognize and respect culture, heritage and home languages and dialects as powerful tools for strengthening families and communities
Teach parents and caregivers how to work with their children at home
Support initiatives that increase book access at home and public library use