Celebrating March is Reading Month 

 

Reading Riddles
One of the most successful was a riddle contest I did in Middle School, although it could be easily adapted to any level. It was a great way to combine reading with technology use.
The Process:
1. I selected specific dates/days to conduct the contest (usually 2/3 times per week).
2. Each morning, the riddle was read during morning announcements, and I sent an email copy to each teacher.  If you use your Circulation program for announcements (Follett as an example) you could also post the riddle there.
3. I arranged with the district tech team to enable students to email me at my library account. 
4. Because each grade had SSR at specific times, students were allowed to email one (1) message to me, during SSR, if they thought they knew the answer.  This worked well, because it limited the time.  However, you could set a specific time (agreed on with teachers), and only allow emailing during that 30 - 40 minute time period.
5. The email feature was wonderful because the time the email was sent was recorded.
6. The timed feature was good because the kids who knew the answer were the ones who got access to the computer first.  The teachers could tell by the look on the student's face, although I really didn't care if kids searched the OPAC.

The Riddles:
I selected books which circulated a lot and created riddles from them.  My circulation system made that quite easy, although I knew what the kids were reading.
I used a variety of formats:
1. Characters:  I listed several characters; students identified the book, eg:
Jesse, Frank Lyle, Clifton (Running out of time)
2. Quotations: I selected a quotation that was fairly easy to figure out, if the book had been read.  This was more like detective work because you had to identify the clues and use your memory, eg:
"They say I'm wired bad, or wired sad, but there's no doubt about it - I'm wired."  (Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key)
Sometimes I asked for the character and the title.
The kids loved these.  They got a lot of respect from fellow students and teachers if they could remember the quotations.
3. Authors:  I asked for three titles written by popular authors.  Kids who were into series books got these, eg: Margaret Peterson Haddix; Lurlene McDaniel, C.S. Lewis, etc.
 
The Contest and Prizes:
The first person to answer correctly at each grade level received a huge, candy bar.  Not expensive and a great prize because we all know that Middle School students will do almost anything for candy.  The computer timed the responses for me, and it took me perhaps 10 minutes to find the winners.  Fifteen minutes before the final bell, the winners were announced and they came to the library to pick up their prizes.  They enjoyed their prizes on the way home, I am sure.
 
All-in-all we had a good time.  The students who knew the answers received recognition, and I enjoyed the conversations that ensued.  I even got a few suggestions for riddles from some of the students.
 ....Karen Becknell
Teacher Librarian Emeritus