Reading is even more exciting when there’s something fun to look forward to!
This October, students across Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) participated in a special October Reading Challenge. Created in partnership with the Epic School Plus team, this four-week district-wide initiative was designed to encourage daily reading habits and help students discover the joy of books.
The challenge ended with a special Halloween surprise: a visit from Cat Ninja! Winning classrooms received hand-delivered prizes and had the opportunity to celebrate their reading accomplishments with the feline superhero while dressed in their Halloween costumes.
Building Reading Habits, 20 Minutes at a Time
Developing a love of reading often starts with small, consistent habits. Spending time with a favorite book each day can help children build confidence, explore new interests and become more comfortable reading independently.
That’s exactly what the October Reading Challenge encouraged students to do.
The goal was simple: Read for 20 minutes each school day, Monday through Friday, for four weeks, using Epic School Plus.
Whether students were following an action-packed adventure, learning something new or enjoying a funny graphic novel, each reading session helped make books part of their daily routines.
Over the four weeks, students were challenged to complete 400 minutes of reading!
A Halloween Celebration With Cat Ninja!
After four weeks of reading, it was time to recognize the classrooms that rose to the challenge.
Congratulations to Madison Elementary in Pasadena, California, and Sierra Madre in Sierra Madre, California, our winning schools!
On Halloween, Cat Ninja made a special appearance to hand-deliver prizes to the first-, second-, third- and fourth-place classrooms.
With students dressed in their Halloween costumes, the visits brought together favorite characters, creative costumes and a shared love of reading. It was a fun way to recognize the hard work students had put in throughout October!
The winning classrooms also got Cat Ninja figurines and Epic pencils and stickers.
For students who spent the month working toward their reading goals, celebrating alongside Cat Ninja made Halloween even more memorable.
Celebrating the Joy of Reading Together
Reading challenges give students a shared goal while encouraging them to explore books that match their interests.
They also create opportunities for teachers to recognize progress and help children feel proud of their accomplishments.
The October Reading Challenge brought these ideas together through daily reading, a little friendly competition and a Halloween celebration inspired by a favorite book character.
While the prizes and Cat Ninja visits made the experience especially fun, the reading habits students practiced throughout the month can continue long after Halloween.
Congratulations to Our Epic Readers!
A big congratulations to the students and teachers at Madison Elementary, Sierra Madre and all the classrooms that participated in the Epic School Plus October Reading Challenge!
We’re grateful to PUSD for helping make this celebration possible and encouraging students to discover books they love.
Want to create exciting reading experiences for your students? Schools and districts with an Epic School Plus subscription can partner with the Epic School Plus team to bring engaging reading challenges, teacher trainings and more to their school community!
Reach out to us anytime to learn more and get a quote at epicschoolplus@getepic.com to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
▶ What is the Epic Educator Certification Program?
The Epic Educator Certification Program is a self-paced professional learning program that helps educators build their Epic skills, apply what they learn in the classroom and share their knowledge with fellow educators.
▶ Do I need to pay for the program?
No, the program is completely free! To get started, submit a request form here: https://go.getepic.com/EDUCertification
▶ What does it mean to become Epic certified?
Epic Certification recognizes the skills educators build through the program, from understanding core Epic features to applying the platform in classroom instruction and sharing what they’ve learned with other educators. Each level builds on the one before it, giving educators opportunities to grow their skills and put them into practice.
▶ What do I get when I complete the program?
Each level includes a digital badge and certificate recognizing your progress, with additional recognition and rewards available as you advance through the program.
