Everyone agrees that getting kids to read is a great thing: literacy skills are the foundation of a strong education and critical to success in school and in life. Studies have shown that reading improves empathy and memory as it provides a window into new worlds and experiences.
The Adam Beck Read-a-Thon is a fun and rewarding program that helps students grow a love of reading by engaging them in a friendly reading competition. Students read their favourite books, keep track of the minutes spent reading every day – in class, at home, or elsewhere – and submit their log at the end of the program.
Note the upcoming Read-a-Thon dates by using our Calendar, and read the most recent announcements about Read-a-Thon.
Get ready to read!
All students can take part in Read-a-Thon. The reading goals for the month for each age group are:
- JK/SK: 150 minutes
- Grades 1-3: 300 minutes
- Grades 4-5: 450 minutes
- Grade 6: 600 minutes
Colour Your Own Adam Beck Read-a-Thon Bookmark
Bookmarks will be distributed with designs for colouring in preparation for the contest, to place in all your favourite books over the course of the month of Read-a-Thon.
There are prizes to be won!
All the amazing students who submit a reading log will be acknowledged for their participation in the Read-a-Thon. Students who meet or exceed the recommended minutes goal for their grade will have their name put into a draw to win a gift card. There’s one gift card to be won per class. In addition, for every 50 minutes students read above their goal, they will receive an additional entry into the draw. We will also have additional prizes for the student who reads the most minutes in their grade.
The coveted Dassios Cup – named in recognition of the efforts of Gianna Dassios, a librarian and technology teacher at Adam Beck, now retired – will go to the class that reads the most minutes in the entire school.
How can parents help?
Encourage your children to participate in the challenge! Find and supply them with great books, help them add up their reading minutes or verify their addition skills and make sure they submit their reading log by the deadline.
Here are some helpful links to bookstores and the library to get you started:
http://www.greatescapebookstore.com/
https://www.childrensfrenchbookcorner.com/
https://adifferentbooklist.com/
https://www.nilevalleybooks.ca/
https://oldscoolgeneralstore.com/product-category/books/?orderby=date
https://www.notability.ca/store/
Find some great inspiration on the Toronto Public Library Website: https://kids.tpl.ca/fun-stuff/contests/2024
Looking to diversify your child’s reading list? Check out the Festival of Literary Diversity’s (FOLD’s) Kids Winter Reading List: https://thefoldcanada.org/webinars-activities/resources/fold-kids-2023-winter-reading-list/
Questions? Email the Read-a-Thon Committee: [email protected]
