This week’s academic spotlight shines on members of Lansing Elementary's 2nd-grade team and the engaging reading activity they completed with students. As a reward for positive behavior and a way to celebrate reading, the teachers transformed their classrooms for a day-long event called Camp Read-A-Lot. Students rotated through a series of engaging, camping-themed stations focused on literacy, math, and creativity—all with the goal of reading 100 books in a single day!
Teachers created cozy learning spaces using tents, campfires, and even fake ponds to spark imagination and excitement. Activities included independent reading, listening to books on iPads, word-building, creative writing, math scoot games, and more.
Here’s what some of the teachers had to say:
Rachel Johnson:
“One student told me as I
read
to him... ‘This is the best day ever!’ They loved
read
ing under desks, playing UNO by the fire pit, and snacking all day long thanks to amazing parent support.”
Shalee Eilderts:
“Even my reluctant
read
ers are thrilled when I pull out the Wild Robot books for
read
-alouds. I wanted to make some really great
read
ing-related memories with these kids.”
Erin Dinwiddie:
“From the moment we started, they were hooked and couldn’t wait to dive into their books.
Read
ing became an adventure they didn’t want to end.”
Aleya Baker:
“We set a goal of
read
ing 100 books, which sparked excitement and a sense of accomplishment.”
Cheryl Sander:
“Because we take a cross-curricular approach, students are constantly
read
ing and doing activities that support comprehension and fluency... Every student absolutely loved their day at
Camp
Read
-A-Lot.”
Barb Robinson, who couldn't participate this year, reflected on last year’s success:
“Students were so excited to
read
all day long, moving through different
camp
sites. It was always fun to end the day eating s’mores!”
Big thanks to these six teachers for making Camp Read-A-Lot a meaningful and memorable experience for our second graders while also focusing on a significant district initiative to instill a love of reading in our kids. We’re lucky to have you all as teachers in our great district!
