Take a deep breath, finish a book, take a walk, meet with friends.  You've probably already been back in the classroom - unpacking supplies and starting to cope with the piles of paperwork that technology promised to decrease.

Your expectations for the year will set the mood.  Face it - it has to be better than last year!  If it looks like it won't be - make it better.  Reading is the foundation of all learning, so here's a few ideas to kick off a wonderful reading year.

Modeling!! - read to them, in front of them, with them!

More effective teachers have their kids read 10x as much as less effective teachers!

Good readers read!

Poorer readers spend most of their time learning about reading and practicing isolated decoding skills, being taught to read but NOT reading!

DEAR  - drop everything and read         

Read when your work is done.  Have Reading corners  and special spots.

Instead of a science fair, have a reading fair -students can make displays of favorite books, invite other classes in to visit.

READ on!!