Elementary School Reading Activities

Much of the elementary school curriculum is focused on literacy development. Teachers teach children how to read, answer comprehension questions, and help them begin to acquire higher order thinking skills. However, it is also important for teachers to help students develop a love of reading. Keeping in mind the many learning styles, here are a few options for reading activities in an elementary classroom.

Reader's Theater

Reader's Theater is an excellent way to practice fluency, inflection and develop basic knowledge of a story and its themes. Scripts are given to each student in the class, and each student is assigned a part in the play. Students read the play many times in class, focusing on using emotion when they read, and practicing fluency with phrasing. Eventually, the class can put on a play for neighboring classes or parents. Students can also write their own scripts to perform as well. Kimberly Kimball-Lopez and Christy Gearhart of the Louisiana Reading Association assert that having students write their own scripts has many advantages such as "drawing their attention to story elements and developing an understanding of characters, setting, problem, key events, and solution."

Reading Contests and Celebrations

Celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday is a wonderful incentive for reading. His birthday falls on March 2. The National Education Association offers a program called Read Across America that challenges students and schools to compete in reading contests before Dr. Seuss' birthday. Prizes can be awarded to the team who finishes the most books. The National Education Association suggests that on March 2, communities can celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday with a schoolwide celebration that includes a day full of special guest readers from the community. The NEA also suggests getting a Seuss birthday cake, celebrating with Dr. Seuss hats, and taking the National Education Association pledge.

Art activities

Use art to make a story come alive. For example, after reading a story in class and talking about the main characters and plot, turn one of your bulletin boards into a student-led storyboard. Line the board with white paper and section off 8 to 10 sections with borders. Then, print or have your students print one sentence or one idea from the story, in sequence, on the board. Pair up your students and allow them to illustrate the story one block at a time. At the end, you will have a comic strip of the story you taught, and the students will have practiced sequencing, character development and plot.

References

• Using Reader's Theater to Motivate Readers
• National Education Association; Read Across America

Resources

• Scripts for Reader's Theater

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