READ-A-THON
READ TO WIN PRIZES AND RAISE MONEY FOR OUR SCHOOL!
IT'S TIME TO READ!
​
For our Read a Thon this year, we're using a web based system that makes it much easier for you to request pledges from your family and friends, and for them to make secure credit card donations online. It's fun, it's easy, and people who use it typically raise twice as much as those who don't!
The Read a Thon is February 15th - 23rd, 2023, so please register now to help our school raise as much as we can for our school.
Using your computer's browser:
-
Click “Not Registered For This Year’s Event”
-
Enter your name and email address, then click “Submit”
-
Follow the instructions on-screen to register Reader(s) and add family and friends
Using your Android or Apple phone or tablet:
-
Go to the Apple App Store on IOS or the Amazon App Store on Android and search for "PledgeStar" to download the Family App, or go to https://pledgestar.com/willmar/downloadapp.html
-
On the home screen enter your event code: “willmar” to locate your event
-
Click “Not Registered For This Year’s Event”
-
Enter your name and email address, then click “Submit”
-
Follow the instructions on-screen to register Reader(s) and add family and friends
When you finish, the system emails pledge requests to your family and friends, and allows 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. All minutes read are also tracked through the PledgeStar site.
Call 1-888-598-7510 if you need help setting up your account.
SET A DAILY READING GOAL
Students set a daily reading goal for the 9 day period. All reading outside of school counts, whether your child is reading or being read to. In-school reading will be recorded by the teachers.
SECURE SPONSERS - START TODAY!
Students share their reading goals with family, friends, and neighbors and ask for a flat donation to support their efforts! Each student should try to raise at least $100 or ask 10 people for donations.
​
Students must be registered on the PledgeStar Read A Thon site in order to accept online donations. If you do not register your student, friends and family will not be able to donate online. Once registered you will be prompted to send out emails and/or texts to family and friends to solicit sponsorships. Each family will have their own unique fundraising page,
​
Sponsors can alternatively write checks, or give cash donations. All checks and cash should be brought, or mailed to the school office clearly marked with the students first and last names.
TRACK READING TIME
Read! Read! Read! All minutes read will be tracked in PledgeStar. After you have registered your reader, you can track their reading minutes each day in the "Enter Readers" section. Click on the image of a book next to your student's name, make sure the date is correct, simply type in how many minutes they read then click "add".
PledgeStar will keep a running total for each student participating. You can check your child's minutes at any time by logging in to your account. Parents are expected to enter reading hours.
READING STRATEGIES
Make this challenge fun for the whole family! Take a trip to the library 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. 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.
​
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.
PRIZES
Reading Level Prizes by Grade
Students can earn a prize for each reading level they complete. Prizes will be handed out on Wednesday 2/21 and Friday 2/23.
Drawings for Money Raised and Minutes Read
Elementary
Middle School
High School
Class Prizes
Each class has the opportunity to win a pizza party for the most money raised per student, and a field trip for the most minutes raised per student in their class. We are claculating out per student in the class to account for variying class sizes.
.png)
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
The BFG by Roald Dahl
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Each Peach Pear Plum by Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg
Anything by Jon Scieszka and Dave Shannon
Dragons Eat Noodles on Tuesdays by Jon Stahl -- a local Alameda author!!
Girl Running by Annette Pimentel -- Annette was the local author at our 2019 Read-A-Thon kick-off assembly!
How I Met My Monster Series by Amanda Noll
One - by Kathryn Otashi -- artistic/visual take on bullying and standing up to bullies
How To Babysit a Grandma by Jean Reagan
-
What are the dates of the Read-a-Thon?February 15th - 23rd, 2024. Reading done before or after these dates is terrific, but is not counted toward the Read-a-Thon.
-
What does my child need to do to participate in the Read-a-Thon?Parents need to register their students here. Set a daily reading goal, solicit sponsors through PledgeStar via text or emial, read, and keep track of the time he or she spends reading.
-
Do I have to register online for my students to participate?Yes. Even if you choose not to solicit sponsorships from family and friends, all reading minutes will be tracked through PledgeStar. Please register here to get started logging minutes.
-
My child cannot read yet on his or her own, can my child still participate?Yes! Parents, guardians, siblings and other family members may read aloud to your child. This reading time counts toward minutes read.
-
What counts for reading?Any time your child spends reading outside of school time Thursday, February 15 to Friday, February 23. This includes individual reading time and being read to aloud.
-
Do I need special forms for the Read-a-Thon?No. Everything is recorded into PledgeStar. If you have not already, please register your students here.
-
Whom should my child ask to be a sponsor?Sponsors can be parents, relatives, neighbors -- anyone who has a connection to your child, would like to support his or her reading and would like to support our school. This is our CCS fundraiser where it is easy to ask extended family and friends to sponsor and donate to our school.
-
How much money should a sponsor donate?That is up to the sponsor. All donations should be flat donations.
-
When should the money be collected from sponsors?Donations are collected online. If a sponsor wants to write a check students should collect the donation at the time they ask for it and secure all donations in an envelope with the students name. Checks should be written to the CCS.
-
Who is responsible for collecting the sponsorship donations?You and your child are only responsible for collecting sponsor donations if they write a check.
-
Are there prizes for the students?Yes. There are individual prizes for each reading level achieved, as well as drawings, and class prizes.
-
Can my child participate – even without sponsors?Yes, all students are encouraged to participate regardless of the amount of sponsorship. Register your student here to log reading minutes. They can earn individual prizes, and participate in their class' collective minutes read.