Think your students can spend an extra 10 minutes a day reading and then record their progress? Perhaps you should register your classroom to take part in Fast Break for Reading, a joint project between the International Reading Association (IRA) and the American Basketball Association (ABA). The program runs from November 18, 2013 until March 14, 2014 and is sure to delight any student or teacher interested in sports.
2013 Fast Break winners from the
Raymond E. Voorhees School in NJ What Students Gain from Participating in Fast Break for Reading
Fast Break for Reading has many incentives for students to read and log their daily 10 minutes. All students receive a certificate for participation and a ticket to an ABA game of their choice. In addition, a grand prize is granted to a diligent student who reads the most total minutes with a teacher who has the greatest minutes for their classroom. The student who wins this grand prize gets to attend an ABA finals game, including a paid round trip airfare for them and two chaperones with a one night hotel stay.
Teacher Benefits for Registering their Class in Fast Break for Reading
Students are not the only ones who can attend ABA games. The teacher who has the greatest number of minutes read by their students also wins a grand prize, a paid trip airfare for two to an ABA finals game including a one night hotel stay. In addition, all teachers are awarded a free IRA E-ssentials digital publication for participating and are eligible to become a teacher liaison. Teacher liaisons are an important component in Fast Break for Reading. These volunteers work alongside ABA teams and coordinate events such as assisting students in attending an ABA game, scheduling ABA events at schools, and arranging the Buckets & Books Program. Teachers who donate their time as liaisons are awarded a team jersey and access to any ABA team game.
Buckets & Books Program for All
Attending an ABA game is exciting, and it can be helpful in other ways too. At any ABA game books can be donated. These books will go to nearby schools and be used in their reading programs. In addition, anyone who donates books for the Buckets & Books Program can get 50% off the general admission cost. This is a wonderful way for everyone to participate and help their local schools.
Another Slam Dunk
Last year participants read for over two million minutes total in Fast Break for Reading, and this year we hope to attain four million minutes read. Visit /fastbreak to review the rules and specifications, and to join in the fun.
Chelsea Miller is the strategic communications intern at the International Reading Association.