I hope that this post can interest you in Using a Reading Tree to Encourage Reading and Book Reports. Our library has started a reading tree to get the kids excited about reading the books from cover to cover. They made a tree bulletin board as a reward system of leaves, flowers, and fruits.
The goal for the children, is to get their names on a many leaves, flowers and fruits as they can by reading. For each book that is read, the child has to fill out a form to answer a basic set of questions like: What is the title of the book? Who is the author of the book? Who are the characters in the story? What was your favorite part of the story? What did you love or hate about the story? These questions can be modified for different genres of books and for different reading levels of the students but you get the idea.
I love to find awesome classroom ideas. As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a commission for purchases using my links. The ideas and paid links below are based on Amazon finds that are great for making a reading tree to encourage reading and book reports.
How to Use a Reading Tree to Encourage Reading and Book Reports
The reward system is simple. For reading three books, students get to have their name printed on a leaf of the reading tree. For six books; a flower, and for ten books; a fruit. This tree is made from twisted up sheets of brown paper and hand-drawn cut-outs. Now here in Trinidad and Tobago we have Summer all year, but for those of you who have the four seasons, there are customisable tree templates that I found on Amazon that can work for you. To your large tree, you can add accents such as apples, acorns, flowers, bees, owls, snowflakes, and autumn leaves too.
Take a look at some close-up pictures:
The birds are a cute addition, aren’t they?
Free Book Report Templates
If you need some free templates of book reports for any book, check out the list below from TpT.
Free Book Report Writing Grades 2-5
Free Book Report Form
FREE Book Report Template For Any Fictional Story
Free Owl Themed Book Report Template for Word
As we are on the topic of books and reading, you can see my 10 Classroom Library Tips for helpful and creative ways to have the best library for your class.
More ideas for making a reading tree will be added as I find them. Have you discovered a new way to encourage reading and book reports with your students? If you have, please share about it in the comments. Teachers are the ones who innovate and think up the most creative solutions for their classrooms.
Here are related blog posts about reading in the classroom:
Hands-on Spelling and Reading Activities for Students
If you have any questions, you can ask me anything in the comments below.
There is this really strong double sided tape from Scotch called exterior mounting tape. It is usually gray or red.
Another silly q: How did you attach the paper?
Yes Kara, they used several large sheets, bunched up each then twisted them.
I love this! I have a silly question…did you twist several different sheets of paper to complete the trunk?