If you’ve ever sent your students off at the end of the day {or for summer} hoping they’d keep up their reading habits at home, you’re not alone. We all work hard to build strong readers in the classroom, but we know that reading at home makes a HUGE difference too.
The challenge? Getting kids excited to read outside of school when they’re surrounded by distractions like video games, TV shows, and busy family schedules. That’s where this simple, low-prep idea comes in—a free reading door hanger that students can take home and use as a fun reading reminder.
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Why Home Reading Habits Matter
We know that reading at home helps students grow their vocabulary, build fluency, and develop comprehension skills. Even just 10 to 15 minutes a day can have a big impact. But many kids don’t have a set routine for reading when they’re not at school.
By sending home small reminders and tools that encourage reading, you’re helping families create that routine. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy or time-consuming—just a quick and fun way to keep reading top of mind.
Make It Fun, Not a Chore
One of the easiest ways to help kids stay engaged is to make reading feel special. Maybe it’s having a cozy spot at home, a specific time of day, or setting up a Family Bookshelf that says, “Hey, I’m going to read now.”
But my favorite new tool to motivate reading at home are fun reading door hangers!
It gives kids a fun way to signal to their family that they’re having reading time. Plus, it gives them a little sense of ownership over their reading routine.
Reading Door Hanger
How fun will it be for kids to hang this cute door hanger onto their bedroom or playroom door?
Want me to send you this post?
I’ve created two fun sayings to pick from!
You can grab the free design by signing up for the Lucky List. You’ll receive the printable instantly, and from there, you can either print it on cardstock or upload it to VistaPrint for a professional-looking classroom gift.
VistaPrint made it SO easy, and I was able to select the quantity I needed
You can use this as:
- An end-of-year reading gift
- A reward during reading week
- A take-home from a family literacy night
- A back-to-school reading incentive
It’s flexible, fun, and most importantly, effective in keeping reading alive beyond your classroom.
What Do You Do to Encourage Reading at Home?
I’d love to hear from you! Do you have a go-to strategy or favorite take-home activity that helps keep your students reading outside of school? Drop a comment below or share this idea with a teammate who would love it.
Grab Your Free Reading Door Hanger
Ready to try it with your class? Sign up below to grab the free printable reading door hanger. It’s perfect for end-of-year gifts, reading celebrations, or anytime you want to help your students build a reading habit at home.
Once you open up the file, you can either print the door hangers out onto heavy-duty cardstock or upload the designs to VistaPrint and save yourself a little work!
👉 Get your FREE reading door hanger and encourage your students to show “I’m reading!” with pride.
Don’t forget to pin this post for later!
