Activity: Gold Star Reading Program

Grades: Kindergarten through 5th Grade

Sources:
Reading & Language Arts Committee, Centennial Lane ES, Ellicott City, MD
Ms. Doreen Gatz, Media Specialist, Leonardtown Elementary School, Leonardtown, MD
Skill Indicator:
4.1.4 Seek information for personal learning in a variety of formats and genres.
Benchmark:
Grade 2- Routinely select picture, fiction, and information books; try some books in other
genres.
Grade 5- Select books from favorite authors and genres; try new genres when suggested.
Dispositions In Action:
4.2.4 Show an appreciation for literature by electing to read for pleasure and expressing
an interest in various literary genres.
Responsibilities:
4.3.3 Seek opportunities for pursuing personal and aesthetic growth.
Self-Assessment Strategies:
4.41 Identify own areas of interest.
Connection to Common Core Standards CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of
view with reasons.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.10 By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature,
including stories, dramas, and poetry, at the high end of the grades 23 text complexity
band independently and proficiently.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.2 Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how
they are supported by key details; summarize the text.

Gold Star Reading Program is a school-wide reading promotion plan where each month, from
August to May, a different author, genre, or theme will be highlighted. Students will be
encouraged to read with their families. The library will have a designated shelf to display books
that are being highlighted each month, so they are easily accessible.
Program Display:
Each classroom will have a beacon (the school mascot) that can be decorated with stars. Each
color will represent a level of recognition. A special bulletin board in a prominent location can
have a beacon that holds the gold stars from all over the school. Each star will have the students
name and their grade. For Kindergartners-2nd graders, 25 pages = 1 book. For 3rd-5th graders, 50
pages = 1 book. If a student reads a book that is larger than 50 pages, they should divide the total
by 50. A 200 page book will count as 4. See the stars (Attachment B) and the form to be sent
home with students (Attachment D).
Recognition levels:
10 books = pink star
25 books = green star
50 books = yellow star
75 books = red star
100 books = gold star
Program Rewards:
Gold star winners get to submit a recommendation for a new book for the librarian to purchase
for the library, funded by the schools PTA. Each new book will be inscribed with the students
name and the year that they earned gold status. A list of the new books, the name of the student,
and their recommendation will be posted on the media center page on the school website. See the
Gold Star Inscription below (Attachment C).
Themes and Genres by Month:
August- Animals
September- Fantasy
October- Caldecott and Newberry Award Winners
November- Non-fiction books
December- Holidays around the world
January- Sports
February- Historical Fiction
March- Dr. Seuss / Poetry
April- Mystery
May- Authors we love (Teacher/Principal favorites on display)
Program Reinforcement throughout the Year:
At the beginning of each month, participants can be chosen to introduce the new theme/genre of
the month and also recommend a few books and authors that fit in that category. Students will
also be encouraged to fill out a recommendation form on books that they really enjoyed. These
will be uploaded to the media centers website and are included below (Attachment A).

Attachment A: Recommendation Form to be included on the Media Center/School

Website:
Title:
Author:
Book Summary:

Why you like this book:

Attachment B: Stars:

Name
:
Grade
:
Attachment C: Gold Status Book Inscription Example:
Rachel Harmon
Gold Star Reader
2013-2014

Attachment D: Gold Star Reading Program Book Form

Name: __________________________ Teacher: ______________________ Grade: ______
Title:
Author:
Page Count:
Parent Signature:
Title:
Author:
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Title:
Author:
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Parent Signature:

Book Point:

Date:
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Date: