Participating in the Readathon has many benefits...
- Teach children about the challenges faced by people with disabilities
- Receive a free assembly about MS and disabilities
- Make it part of your community service program
- Add it to lesson plans
- Have students give book reports
- Get student and school prizes
Once you get involved in the Readathon, there are plenty of ways to keep your students motivated during the designated reading period. If you have a tip to share, e-mail us at readathon@msdelaware.org.
Set a Goal
Talk to your students about a goal for the class. Goals can include:
- How many books and/or pages each student can read during the reading week
- How many sponsors they can get or the total amount of money they want to raise
Chart Your Progress
Create a chart or poster with each participating student's name and use stickers or a thermometer to track their progress
Create incentives for reading more: a homework pass, dress down day, small prize, offer a pizza or ice cream party for the classroom with the highest percentage of participation, the top fundraiser in each grade, and the top reader in each grade.
Create a Readthon Challenge
Challenge another classroom to see who has the best participation, most books read, total donations, etc.
Creative Ideas
Encourage students to create bookmarks or a new book cover depicting their favorite scene or character from a book they are reading. Have them write new and creative endings for their favorite MS Readathon book.
Make Readathon a part of your lesson plans
Have the children write short book reports or put on presentations about one of the books they read for Readathon.
Plus, your school wins if you participate in the program. School supply grants are awarded as follows:
| Amount Raised by School | DuPont Grant Award | Laffey-McHugh Foundation Grant Award* |
| $125 - $499 | $40 | Not Applicable |
| $500 - $999 | $80 | Not Applicable |
| $1,000 - $1,999 | $150 | $35 |
| $2,000 - $2,999 | $200 | $75 |
| $3,000 - $3,999 | $250 | $100 |
| $4,000 - $4,999 | $300 | $125 |
| $5,000 - $7,499 | $350 | $175 |
| $7,500 and above | $400 | $175 |
Grant awards are not cumulative.
*Laffey-McHugh also awards a $50 grant to every school who participates in the Readathon program as well as a $25 grant to the teacher of the class that reads the most.
To see a complete list of participating schools, click here.
Donate to a Readathon Participant click here