How to Participate
Choose a challenge leader
Identify a person who is willing to organize the challenge at your RIF site. Challenge leaders should be a RIF site coordinator, a dedicated parent, or a community member.
Select days, then pledge to participate
Select any days between March 2 and April 2, 2007 to conduct your four reading events and your one-day Community Reading Celebration.
 Plan events and recruit family and community members
Select one of the suggested activities for each of the four themes and conduct an event. These reading-related events should be fun and creative and must involve a set number of minutes of reading with children, families, and community members. Children in preschool - 2nd grade should read or be read to for 30 minutes, 3rd - 6th graders for 45 minutes, and 7th - 12th graders for 60 minutes. Previously planned events and programs such as a RIF distribution, D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read), Twice Upon a Time, or a Read Across America celebration may be modified to meet the challenge requirements.
Conduct a kick-off event or final Community Reading Celebration inviting Hispanic families, businesses, elected officials, service organizations, and local media to participate.
Publicize events and motivate participants
Announce your challenge by distributing a press release and posting signs in your community. Have children help make posters, fliers, or banners to advertise your events. At a later date, RIF will post additional online resources to help you publicize your events.
Try to provide incentives for children and community members to participate by offering prizes and recognition. Invite local businesses to donate prizes, food, or services.
Record activities and tally the number of participants
Fill out the Activity Log to record each of the completed events, percentage of RIF children that participated and completed the sustained reading, and total number of family and community members involved. A short Summary Statement, describing the Community Reading Celebration and the overall scope of the challenge, should also be completed.
Submit your Activity Log and Summary Statement
After you've concluded your challenge, submit these documents online to RIF as soon as possible. RIF must receive your submission by April 13, 2007 in order for you to be eligible for an award. Don't forget to send in pictures and notes from children, as this will help with judging.
Wait to see if you've won
Winners will be notified by phone, announced on www.rif.org, and in RIF's print and electronic newsletter. Winners will receive a champion kit with awards for their RIF site and materials to celebrate their achievement.
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