January in Wisconsin means snow, cold temperatures, and a long stretch of winter ahead. Coming back to school after the excitement of the holidays and winter break can feel like a challenge for both students and teachers. That’s why I’ve made it a tradition to start the year with something my students look forward to: our Winter Reading Challenge!
This annual activity has become a favorite in my classroom and a wonderful way to ease back into our school routine while keeping the joy and excitement alive. Here’s what makes this challenge so special and how it brings warmth to our long winters.
Why the Winter Reading Challenge?
The weeks leading up to winter break are filled with holiday cheer, travel plans, and a lot of excitement. When we return in January, it’s the perfect time to shift gears and refocus, but I also want to keep the fun going. The Winter Reading Challenge is the perfect blend of learning and engagement—it helps students rediscover their love of reading while giving them something exciting to work toward during the cold winter months.
How It Works
The Winter Reading Challenge encourages students to complete a variety of creative and simple reading activities at home. Each activity is designed to make reading fun, interactive, and engaging for kids and their families. Activities might include:
- Reading a book under a cozy blanket with a flashlight.
- Visiting the library and picking out a new book.
- Reading a story aloud to a family member (or even a furry friend!).
- Exploring a book while sipping hot cocoa.
Students check off each completed activity on their challenge sheet and have an adult sign to confirm. Caregivers are also encouraged to snap photos of their child completing the challenges, especially for activities marked with #selfiethat.
#SelfieThat: A Classroom Favorite
One of the best parts of the challenge is the #selfiethat component! Families send me photos of their children reading in fun or silly ways, and I print and display them on our classroom window. The kids love seeing themselves and their classmates featured—many of the photos even include their beloved pets! Whether it’s a dog curled up on the couch during storytime or a cat perched on a student’s lap, these pictures bring smiles to everyone’s faces and create a sense of community in our classroom.
Class Rewards
To make the challenge even more exciting, the class works together to earn rewards based on how many stars they’ve collectively achieved. The rewards are compounding simple yet motivating:
- 50 stars: Movie time
- 100 stars: Movie + PJs/Slippers
- 150 stars: Movie + PJs/Slippers + Blankets & Stuffies
- 200+: Movie + PJs/Slippers + Blankets & Stuffies + Popcorn
The kids love seeing their progress displayed on the bulletin board with our printable star tracker. It builds teamwork as they cheer each other on and celebrate each milestone together.
Why I Love This Challenge
The Winter Reading Challenge is about so much more than just reading. It fosters creativity, encourages family involvement, and strengthens our classroom community. It’s also a way to brighten up the dreary winter months with something positive and exciting. Seeing my students take pride in their reading achievements, share their fun photos, and bond over their shared success makes this one of my favorite traditions!
Tips for a Successful Reading Challenge
- Get Families Involved: Share clear instructions and emphasize the fun nature of the challenge. Families love participating, especially when they see their children’s photos displayed!
- Celebrate Progress: Use a bulletin board or classroom window to showcase completed activities and photos. Visual trackers help build momentum.
- Make It Fun: Incorporate rewards that excite your students and create anticipation. Keep the focus on celebrating their love of reading rather than making it feel like homework.
- Teacher Participation: Have some fun yourself! It’s great to show the kids that we read at home as well. Plus, they love the sneak peak into your home life.
Join the Fun
If you’re a teacher looking for an engaging way to start the new year, I highly recommend a Winter Reading Challenge. It’s a simple, affordable (my only cost is popcorn), and meaningful way to inspire a love of reading while keeping students motivated during the cold winter months. Plus, the memories and photos you’ll collect along the way are priceless!
Let’s make this winter one to remember—happy reading!
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