I’m always amazed at how many people turn out for Fall Into Reading. In less than a week, we’re up to more than 200 participants! That’s fantastic! I just love seeing fellow readers and book-lovers sharing their reading goals. I won’t tell you how many books I’ve added to my wish list and my “think about it” list at Amazon.com — mostly because I’ve lost track! But trust me, it’s a lot.
I’ve managed to visit the first 100 participants, and there is such a variety — in the genres of books, the length of the lists, and the background of the bloggers. The posts have been fun to read! If you haven’t had a chance to visit around, I encourage you to do so. You just might make some new bloggy friends.
I’m also pleased to announce that Fall Into Reading 2009 is doing a good job of demolishing the reading slump I found myself in this summer. And when I say reading slump, I mean that I regularly went days and days without reading a single page in any book. Very out of character for me. With my Fall Into Reading List, I figured that I needed to read an average of 30 pages per day to get through every book, so I set that as my personal goal. I’ve had two days since the start of the challenge where I didn’t quite meet that goal, but I’ve also had a few days where I read well over 100 pages, so I’m definitely on track, and I’m enjoying all the reading I’ve been doing.
Finally, I wanted to share one quick Fall Into Reading story with you. Sandra, who blogs at Musings of a Book Addict, has taken Fall Into Reading to a whole new level. Yes, she’s participating in the challenge personally. But Sandra is a teacher, and so she shared about the challenge with her school students, and even invited them to help her decide how many books she would read for the challenge (it turned out to be 85!). Sandra then encouraged the students to also set some reading goals for this fall. The kids wondered if other teachers in the school would be participating, so Sandra spread the word. When all was said and done, Sandra had set up a school-wide reading challenge, providing encouragement, example, and even book giveaways! She told me that a school custodian was joining the reading fun, and that some parents who heard about it would be participating as well! How awesome is that? It just amazes me to see what a passionate love for reading can do!
I hope Fall Into Reading 2009 is off to as good a start for you as it is for me. Enjoy all your fall reading!
Do you think you could a post on two things you have done in your posts? How do you line out books that you’ve finished and how do you add pictures of the books you’re reading (all I could figure out was how to add links).
Hi Stacy –
See this post on Blogging Basics 101 for info on how to use strike-through on your posts.
As for including pictures of the books I’m reading, I use my Amazon.com Associates account to create picture links to books. However, if you use either Shelfari or GoodReads to track your books, they provide very easy ways to create widgets that you can include in your posts, containing pictures of the books you’re reading. Or if you’re looking for more general information about how to add pictures/graphics/photos to your blog, here’s a post from Blogging Basics 101 that can help.
Hi Katrina,
First of all, thanks for hosting this challenge. This will be the first time I’m joining so I’m really excited. I’ve been quite on a reading lull lately and after seeing your post inviting people to join, I already knew I want to join and grab a book immediately. The challenge had helped me to be motivated again. I’m challenging myself to finish at least 10 books during the fall. As of this time, I’m reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and loving it. I’m also doing some blog-hopping to see what the other participants will read and I found myself adding more books to my never-ending reading list. ^_^
Anyway, happy reading and have a nice day!
^Joyce
Awesome! What a great turnout! I’m excited to be participating. Sandra’s idea is incredible…good for her!
.-= Kara´s last post ..A Few Things I Can’t Live Without: Friend Makin’ Monday 9.28.09 =-.
Hmm sounds like a great idea! I home school, so perhaps I will have my own children set goals for reading and I can set some reading goals for my preschoolers as well — on me reading to them.
Then we can all keep a running list of the books we read and share them at the end of the challenge. What a great idea! Good for Sandra, that is was very awesome of her!
.-= Christin´s last post ..Lifting Some Burdens =-.
what a great idea Sandra had by sharing it with the school children. I wonder if I can get my girls involved.
Katrina,
I haven’t blog much lately, but was excited to see the Fall into Reading posts. I remember when you first started–how exciting to see how it has grown! I, too, am making out Chirstmas lists:)
Kelly
Katrina,
That’s amazing! Go teachers!!! I can’t wait to see how far I get; it’ll be tough, that’s for sure, as I’m in a full load of college work at the moment. But I”ll definitely be watching the site and joining in the fun!
I like that she chose to share the fun of a reading challenge with her students! I remember when I was teaching; I loved having my kids participate in BOOK IT through Pizza Hut. I set a reading goal of a number of books each month for them and if they completed it, they got to have their pizza. It motivated a lot of kids!
“Good work” to Sandra!! How neat that the inspiration to read spread so widely. I would just caution to urge the kids to set reasonable goals so it’s a challenge but isn’t too heavy. I’ve heard of avid readers who got “burned out” because of a school reading contest. I like that this is about personal goals and not a contest with others to see who has read the most.
.-= Barbara H.´s last post ..The Official Wedding Photos =-.
I love the idea of getting teachers and kids all involved. Maybe I should let my own competitive kiddos in on the fun (and have them tell their teachers about it too).
Thanks so much for the help on crossing out my completions and happily I’ve been able to cross out my first book today!! I’ve been trying to figure out how to do that for a LOOOOONNNNGGG time!! AND I had one other person ready my blog and go to yours to do the challenge. A 2 for 1 special!! Happy Days and Keep Reading!!
I love the idea of getting the kids involved. Definitely something I am going to remember for when I am a fully fledged teacher myself (a year and a half to go).
Thank you again for this fabulous challenge!
Wow, I remember when you first started this little ol’ reading challenge. It’s so exciting to hear that it has inspired someone to carry it through in another setting! Congratulations Katrina. It’s all from your idea to get us reading.
It’s so exciting to hear of so many people involved in your challenge, and sharing their love of reading with others around them. Even though I am just a few days into the challenge I love the idea of working on a goal. It seems to motivate me to pick up my books regularly instead of forgetting about them for days at a time (or longer).
Happy reading!
Here’s an interesting start to Fall into Reading…I’m almost through my conservative list.
Why how did that happen?
I’ve been plagued by a weird allergic reaction, have missed three days of work due to it, and when I’m not sleeping from the heavy doses of anti-histamines and when I’m not scratching, I’ve been reading.
I’m not sure if I’ll sign up for your next challenge!
Just kidding! At least I have good books ready for me to read, I’d be going nuts if I didn’t. So THANK YOU for getting me prepared for this itchy and scratchy and literary time!