The 40 Book Challenge

 


The 40 Book Challenge is a project that I have adapted from Chicago based teacher Ben Kovacs. This simple tool generates a ton of buzz around independent reading across my grade level and has students swapping reading material faster than you can imagine. Students are assigned a personal reading record via Google Forms and challenged to read 40 selections in over 10 genres. Book reviews are simple and can be completed in under 5 minutes. The point is not to bog them down with so much writing that they get distracted from the reading. Results prove that this project is an effective hit!


Tips from personal experience:

-Log the first book as a class. Use your first novel or read aloud. This is the only book they can use from a whole-class shared reading experience, however, so they read more independently. 

-Have a yard sign made that says, "I completed the 40 Book Challenge in _______'s class" and send it home with students for a week after they've finished the assignment. This is builds a sense of pride!

-Make your librarian aware of the project so they can highlight material in various genres when your class visits.


Click here for a copy of the 40 Book Challenge 

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