Read-A-Thon

Our PTSA spends approximately $200,000 per year on various student enrichment programs, staff support and other activities. The annual Read-a-thon is one of the many ways to help support our many programs and activities.

Every Student Counts. Every Contribution Counts!

During the week of Read-a-thon, EVERY single student is strongly encouraged to read for fun and help raise much needed funds for our school. Do what you can, and know that every dollar counts and benefits all of our children.

Read! Read! Read!

Try to read every day during the Read-a-thon. See the “Reading Tips and Strategies” section below for recommended reading times by grade. Track your reading time! Students mark off how many minutes they read each day in increments on their reading log. Parents and guardians may help students with this task. All reading inside/outside of school counts, whether you read or someone reads to you.

100% Participation

All students who log any reading on their online reading log by the deadline will be counted toward participation.  While we hope that all students will try to secure donations, you do not have to have any donations to count as participating. 

Event Details

For our Read-a-thon this year, we are using an awesome web-based fundraising system that makes it super easy to request pledges from your family and friends and for them to make secure credit card donations online. You get notified each time a pledge is made, and you can track your pledge progress online. It is fun, it is easy and people who use it typically raise twice as much as those who don’t!

Teacher Tricycle Race

Prizes

The prizes for the Read-a-thon change each year. Things like “Pampered Lunches” to top winners, scoops of ice cream for the winning grade, and classroom prizes for participation. Look for information from your Fundraising team for the current year’s Read-a-thon prizes!

Reading Tips & Strategies

To make setting a daily reading goal easier, listed below are some sample times for each grade. Please work with your child to set a daily reading goal that is a bit challenging, yet attainable given his or her reading level and ability. If you have questions about what is appropriate, please contact your child’s teacher.

Recommended Reading Times

  • Kindergarten 10-20 minutes per day
  • First Grade 15-25 minutes per day
  • Second Grade 20-30 minutes per day
  • Third Grade 25-35 minutes per day
  • Fourth Grade 30-45 minutes per day
  • Fifth – Eight Grade 30-60 minutes per day

Reading Tips & Strategies

  • Make this challenge fun for the whole family! Visit the library (online) and stock up on books that interest your child. Encourage and praise your child as they participate and engage in reading anything that is appropriate for their reading level.
  • For children in the lower grades listening to adults or older siblings read counts as reading time. When reading with your child, ask recall questions about characters or details of the story in order to build his or her reading comprehension skills. Talk about the story and relate it to your child’s everyday life when possible.
  • For families with students in the upper grades, consider having them read in one room with others who are reading quietly — a family reading night! Or, try reading out loud as a family one night a week while rotating readers.
  • To parents, family members, and guardians, we encourage you to take the challenge of setting a goal and reading daily as well. Show your child that reading is important in your life too.
  • When our children see us reading, they learn the value and joy of it. Have fun reading.

Soliciting Sponsors

  • Sponsor your child in the Read-a-Thon! You could also offer to match your child’s total collected donations or donations up to a certain amount.
  • Let people know that all donations are tax deductible!
  • The online application makes it super easy with an already created email template that they will send to family and friends to request donations. Or customize your own message to email on your own.
  • Help your child approach at least 10 family members and friends.
  • Ask more people for smaller donations of $5, $10, $15, and $20. It’s really easy for donors to make online donations. Go to https://pledgestar.com/bayfarm/ to set up your readers and request donations.
  • Social media is also a great way to solicit donations… just post your child’s webpage on your social media accounts and allow friends to donate.
  • Also, don’t forget to check to see if your workplace will match your donations up to a certain amount.
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