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Image by Josh Applegate

READ-A-THON

READ TO WIN PRIZES AND RAISE MONEY FOR OUR SCHOOL!

IT'S TIME TO READ!

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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:

  • Go to http://pledgestar.com/willmar

  • 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.

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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, 

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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.
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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. 

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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. 

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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

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