To get my students excited and motivated to read during their silent reading time, my class is doing a picnic theme. I have called it a "booknic". Each student has their own book and their own picnic basket. They are allowed to find a comfortable spot in the classroom, read their book, and eat a snack while they read. When silent reading time is over, they have to go back to their seat and journal about what they read on a paper plate. When they finish a book they earn an ant. When they collect a colony of ants, they earn a prize. So far, the kids have really enjoyed reading and look forward to silent reading everyday!
