FAMILY READ MAIN PAGE

Getting Started: The Game Plan
For the Winners Take All Family Read

The Basic Idea:  Third, fourth and fifth graders, parents, and teachers read Winners Take All by Fred Bowen on their own. Then they gather together for a Family-Read Family Discussion Event to talk about the story and the interesting issues it raises.

With the Author: Fred Bowen has led many Family Discussions at Winners Take All Family Reads. For information about having him at your discussion click here.

The Game Plan

1. Decide on the scope of your WTA Family Read. You can sponsor it just for your school, or as many elementary schools as you would like.

2. Decide if the book will be assigned for all the children to read or if the program will be voluntary. Making it voluntary has the benefit of ensuring that the participants will be a happy, eager bunch.

3. Decide when to sponsor the Family-Read. Then schedule your Family Discussion Event for 4 weeks after the start date.

4. Plan your Family Discussion Event. Where will it be? Will you serve a meal or light refreshments? (Click here for a Sample Plan.)

5. Organize the supply of books.

• Click here for information on Ordering Books in bulk at a discount.
• Contact the local library so that it can stock up.
• Contact the local bookstore to let them know about the project.

6. About four weeks before the scheduled Family Discussion Event, send home a letter inviting parents and children to sign up to participate, and to order books. (Click here for Sample Letter).

7. Host the culminating event: The Family Discussion Event.