Dear Editor Carol,

I am a teacher and runner in Allen, TX. I would really like to put together a fun run os some kind and tie it into reading. Do you have any advice?

Dear Sheryl,

This is a great question coming from a teacher/runner. There are many ways that you could do this.

First, let's assume that this fun run is just for your class. If so, you could have your kids earn the fun run by logging books read at home, instead of logging miles. The fun run itself could be named after reading. My class fun run is called, Run, Spot, Run!

If you want to get more involved with reading, you could couple the run with a reading activity.

My class will be putting on the Becky and Billy Holiday Running Plays for parents on Valentine's Day. Another year, I may decide to have a Becky and Billy Fun Run, on the weekend before or after our play. Here are some possible activities.
1. Have runners dress up as a character from the play.
2. Serve gingerbread cookies and hearts as treats.
3. Pass out Becky and Billy scripts to all the finishers of the fun runs.
3. Have a gingerbread, ribbon, medal, or t-shirt designed.
4. Pass out gingerbread books to finishers.
5. Have kids write individual or class fun run story books the week after the fun run.

Having the kids participate in making signs, notices, and fliers for the runs, does integrate reading and writing to a certain extent, so I would involve the kids to the fullest extent possible.

Perhaps you are thinking of putting on a fun run for your whole school or town. You may want to promote literacy by having a theme that goes with a popular book and then reward kids with a book at the finish line, along with their ribbon or medal. Another idea is to have the price of admission be a book to donate to a shelter for kids. You could also donate the proceeds from your fun run to your town library fund, a learning disabilities society, or another literacy organization.

Perhaps you know of an author/illustrator of kids' books, who'd like to attend for a book signing. Check with local running clubs to see if there is an author in your area.

Finally, you could have your kids design a bookmark with a few kid created running tips to put in running goody bags.

No matter what you decide to do, add something unique and child-friendly, to make this an event that the kids will not forget.

Do you have an idea for integrating reading and running? If you do, please share it with the visitors of KidsRunning.Com.

Do you have any questions about a child's running program? Feel free to email the kid's editor at carol.kids@rodale.com.