I Can Read 100 Books!

A few months ago, I challenged my first graders to read 100 books! My students all had different reactions to this challenge… Most got really excited and started right way. Some thought it was absolutely impossible. (It’s hard enough to count to 100… let alone read 100 books!)

However, no matter what their reactions were at the beginning of the challenge, I knew they would all read 100 books by the end of the year. I make a really big deal about it and I have always had a really good success rate with this! So far this year, I’ve already had five students complete this challenge and I am so proud of them! Click HERE to download everything you need for this challenge from my FREE RESOURCE LIBRARY.

When my students read 100 books, they bring their 100 Book Chain into school. Then I take a picture of them so I can display it in the classroom. Putting their pictures up on the “I Can Read 100 Books!” wall can be really motivating to some students.

This is my cute niece from a few years ago. She was the first to read 100 books! (Of course this is what happens when your aunt is your first grade and second grade teacher…)

As their reward, my students get to pick out a new book to take home. I used my Scholastic book order points and got them all for free! I also wrote a special note in the front cover of each book.

They also get this little treat bag, which includes: candy, a bouncy ball, and a finger flashlight.

To start this challenge, my students make their chain starters in class. I copy them onto white card stock and they color/decorate them. You can challenge your students to read 100 or 50 books–depending on the grade you teach and how much time you have left in the school year.

With their chain starters, I also sent home a letter explaining the rules of the challenge to the parents. Attached to the letter I included 10 pages of chain links (100 chain links total). Students will fill out a chain every time they read a book.

Looking for more? Reading Comprehension Worksheets & Activities contains 90+ PRINT-AND-GO reading response worksheets, games, and activities that can be used with ANY BOOK! They are easy to use and SO easy to print off. The worksheets and activities in this packet are perfect for small group instruction, centers, and whole group instruction (ideal for grades K-3). Since these reading graphic organizers and activities are generic, they can be used for a variety of stories, genres, and reading levels.