PS10 2020 READ-A-THON

Make this challenge fun for the whole family! Take a trip to the library and stock up on books that interest your child. Articles in magazines, newspapers, comic books, and recipes in a cookbook all count! 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. Help strengthen your child’s reading skills by asking questions about his or her reading in terms of comprehension, recall of details, and discussing the book’s theme or ideas.

Here are some other ideas for ways to make reading a fun family activity:

• Have an indoor campout! Make s’mores or a similar treat (hot cocoa and marshmallows, anyone?) and then set up a “tent” using chairs draped with blankets. Read with your child by flashlight.

• Have a friendly competition at home to see which family member can read the most minutes in a day or week during the Read-a-thon. Award the winner with a fun prize, such as the right to pick the film for a family movie night.

• Read the “funnies” together. Check your newspaper each weekend for current comic strips or check out a collection of classics from your local library. Share favorites from your own childhood and encourage your child to put his or her favorites on the fridge, where he or she can read them often. 

To parents, family members, and guardians, we encourage you to take the challenge of 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!

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. All donations are tax deductible.

Help your child write a handwritten letter or send an email to family, friends, and your colleagues.  Download a Read-a-thon postcard. Just print on cardstock and send to family and friends! The PS 10 PTA will even pay the postage if you drop the postcard in the special mailbox in the PS10 lobby during the first week of Read-a-thon. 

Help your child approach at least 5 family members, friends, or neighbors. Use the talking points found in the sample letters below for guidance. 

Ask more people for smaller donations of $5, $10, $15, and $20 in a check (made out to PS10 PTA) or donate online. Please let your sponsor know to put your child’s name in the “comments” box so we can track your child’s fundraising efforts. 

Help your child try to raise at least $50. Everyone who turns in a reading log will get a prize. And the child and class in each grade that raises the most money will receive a prize as well!

Q: What are the dates of the Read-a-thon?

A: Friday, February 7 to Friday, March 6, 2020. Reading done before or after these dates is still awesome, but it is not counted toward the Read-a-thon.

Q: What does my child need to do to participate in the Read-a-thon?

A: Set a reading goal and keep track of the time they spend reading. While it is not a requirement for participation, we encourage your child to solicit donations for their reading as well.

Q: My child cannot read yet on his or her own, can my child still participate?

A: YES, ABSOLUTELY! Parents, guardians, siblings, other family members, or friends may read aloud to your child. 

Q: What counts as reading?

A: Any time your child spends reading outside of school time from Friday, February 7 to Friday, March 6, 2019. This includes individual reading time and being read to aloud. Homework reading done outside of school time can be counted toward the Read-a-thon.

Q: Do audio books count?

A: No. The focus of the Read-a-thon is on the physical interaction between a child and a book (or between you, your child, and a book!).

Q: Do I need special forms for the Read-a-thon?

A: Yes, a Read-a-thon packet including an envelope for collecting donations, instructions, a reading log, and a donation log will be sent home with your child on Friday, February 7 (or soon after that). If your child completes the reading or donation log, additional copies are available from the PTA office or right here.

Q: Whom should my child ask to be a sponsor?

A: Sponsors can be parents, relatives, or neighbors — anyone who has a connection to your child, would like to support his or her reading, and would like to support PS 10. This is a major fundraiser for the PTA, so we hope you will ask extended family and friends to sponsor and donate to our school. Find sample videos and sample scripts for asking below.

Q: How much money should a sponsor donate?

A: That is up to the sponsor. Sponsors can donate per minute read OR give a flat donation. 

Q: When should the money be collected from sponsors?

A: The Read-a-Thon is over on Friday, March 6 and all reading logs and donations are due that following Monday, March 9. Donations can be collected up front (flat donation) or after the end of the Read-a-Thon during the weekend of March 8 and 9 if sponsors are making a per-minute donation. Students should secure all checks in the Read-a-thon envelope. Checks should be written to the PS 10 PTA. Canceled checks can serve as a tax-deductible donation receipt. Donations can also be accepted online.  

Q: Who is responsible for collecting the sponsorship donations?

A: You and your child are responsible for collecting sponsor donations. You can also direct sponsors to donate online directly.

Q: What do we do with the Read-a-thon envelope when the Read-a-thon ends?

A: The entire Read-a-thon packet (including the reading and donation logs) and the collected donations in the envelope should be turned into your child’s teacher on Monday, March 9, 2020. Please be sure to tally your child’s minutes and donations and fill in the sticker on the outside of the envelope.

Q: Are there prizes for the students?

A: YES! Every student who turns in a Read-a-thon packet will receive a small prize. The individual student AND class in each grade that reads the most minutes will get a prize. There will also be a prize for the class and individual student in each grade that raises the most money.

Q: Can my child participate – even without sponsors?

A: Yes, all students are encouraged to participate regardless of the amount raised. Have your student turn in his or her reading log because the class per grade that reads the most minutes will get a prize. In addition, our school-wide goal is to read half a million minutes, so every student who turns in a reading log will help us meet this goal!

SAMPLE LETTER FROM A CHILD

[Date]

Dear [Grandma/Grandpa/Auntie/Family Friend],

Will you please support me in my school’s Read-a-thon?

The money I raise will support art, science, music programs and more at PS10. 

I am committed to reading _____ minutes or more between February 7 and March 6, and I will keep track of the total minutes I read. A flat donation of $5-$50 will help me reach my personal goal of raising $______ or more!

I appreciate any amount you are able to send!

The easiest way to donate is online.

• Enter your donation amount

• Indicate you are donating on behalf of me, and include [insert child’s class and teacher] 

• Consider donating 2% extra to cover the processing fees

If you make a donation online, please also be sure to forward a copy of the emailed donation receipt to my family so I know to record the donation on my Read-a-thon log. 

Or you can mail a check to me, payable to PS 10 PTA, before March 9, 2020.

Thank you for helping me to reach my goal!

Love,

[name]

SAMPLE LETTER FROM A PARENT

[Date]

Dear Friends and Family,

[Insert child’s name] is currently participating in PS 10 Elementary School's Read-a-thon to help raise money for her school’s art, MET Opera, science, and chess programs, and for classroom teacher support. We put together a short video that I thought you would enjoy. [Child’s name] has committed to reading [insert amount] minutes during the Read-a-thon and she's doing great! The Read-a-thon continues until March 7.

If you are interested in sponsoring [child’s name] in the Read-a-thon and helping her to meet her fundraising goal (even a little bit goes a long way!), you can donate online:

• Enter your donation amount

• Indicate you are donating on behalf of [child’s name], and include [insert class number and teacher name]

• Consider donating 2% extra to cover the processing fees

If you make a donation online, please also be sure to forward a copy of the emailed donation receipt to me so [child’s name] knows to record the donation on her Read-a-thon log.

Thank you so much for your support.

Sincerely,

[parent’s name]