Write On With Reading Award

Deadline: Due to Council Presidents by March 31st.
Due to Area Director by May 1st. Nomination Form (PDF)

Purpose

As part of making love of reading more visible and to provide a positive view of reading, students, classrooms, and teachers, the California Reading Association recognizes students for their love of reading and their commitment to reading books.

Eligibility

Students in grades K-12 who have written an essay on "Why I Love to Read."  Participation is voluntary; the entire class does not have to submit essays.

Criteria

Each student may submit an essay on "Why I Love to Read."   Each essay must be the student's voluntary, individual work.  It must reflect the student's actual attitude toward reading.

K-2 and 3-5 papers are limited to one page, maximum 250 words, handwritten or typed. Grades 6-8 and 9-12 papers are limited to two pages, maximum 500 words, handwritten or typed. Papers are to be the individual work of the student.  It is mandatory that each entry needs to have the nomination form attached.  No entries will be returned nor will evaluations be provided.

Award

Awards are given in four categories with one overall winner and three additional honorable mentions in each of the following category levels; K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. The winning and runner-up essays will be published in The California Reader.  Each honorable mention will receive a special certificate (participation certificates are not provided for other entrants by CRA). The overall winners are invited to read their papers at various conference events.  The travel of the four overall winners to the conference will be supported by the program budget.  A press release with the essay will be provided by CRA to the winner’s school district and hometown newspaper.

Procedure

1. The teacher attaches a nomination form to each essay entry and sends it to the local reading council president by March 31st.
2. The councils form a committee to read the essays and submit two nominees for each level category for consideration of the state award by May 1st.
3. Councils may choose to participate in any or all of the four categories.
4. The CRA Citations and Awards Committee will read the essays and select the winners and honorable mentions.
5. The winners and honorable mentions and their teachers will be notified by August 30th.

Additional Information

Mail completed Nomination Form to CRA