Each year, we strive to improve the Reading Fair. With this in mind, we have made the following clarifications:
Size: Storyboards will be constructed on a tri-fold project board. The board should be full-sized, at least 30” H x 40” W, and not to exceed 36” H x 48” W. The total height of the project cannot exceed 36”. A tri-fold board that is already 36” in height should not have anything added to the top. The total project should not exceed the width or depth of the standing display board (approxiamately 36” W x 14” D of table space). No items should hang over the edge of the table or be placed on the floor. However, students may hold or wear items that coordinate with the project, if desired. Safety: Electrical cords will not be allowed due to the danger they create in the aisles. Continuation of New Category Divisions: Parent involvement in a child’s education can be a valuable part of student development. Completing a project together can be an enjoyable time for students and their parents or other adults. Two age divisions of family projects are being continued this year. A project entered in one of these divisions should be completed by one or more students with the assistance of one or more adults. (If there are two or more students involved in one family project, it should be placed in the division of the oldest child.) The individual and regular group categories will be judged more closely on whether the project shows work appropriate for the age level of the student as was done last year with the addition of these categories.
This year’s students will be judged in the following divisions:
Individual Categories
Grade Division
Kindergarten Division A
Grade 1 Division B
Grade 2 Division C
Grade 3 Division D
Grades 4-5 Division E
Grades 6-8 Division F
Grades 9-12 Division G

Group Project Categories
Grade Division
Grades K-3 Division H
Grades 4-8 Division I
Grades 9-12 Division J

Family Project Categories
Grade Division
Grades K-3 Division K
Grades 4-8 Division L Each school district may be represented by only one project from each division at the Regional Reading Fair. The guidelines for the competition and a scoring rubric are attached. Please share this information with your teachers, students, and parents.
• Storyboards will be constructed on a tri-fold project board, the same type that are traditionally used for science fairs, measuring at least
30” H x 40” W and not exceeding 36” H x 48” W. This year’s boards are to be full-sized and boards are not to exceed the approved height, width, and depth guidelines. Boards that do not meet the size requirements will be disqualified, even if they make it to the state reading fair.

• Storyboards should be colorful and interesting. Models, shadowboxes, and illustrations that fit in the middle of the display are allowed. The total project should not exceed the width or depth of the standing display board (approximately 36” W x 14” D of table space). No items should hang over the edge of the table or be placed on the floor. However, students may hold or wear items that coordinate with the project, if desired. Items used for the project are not to be alive, valuable, or dangerous. Electrical cords may not be used due to danger they create in the aisles. The family division projects should portray a book appropriate to the age of the child(ren).
The child should be very knowledgeable about the book’s story elements and should have an active part in the construction of the display. (If a group or family project has students in various grades, the project should be placed in the division of the oldest student.)
• Identifying information (name of the student(s), category division, student’s grade level in school, homeroom teacher’s name, school, and district name) should be labeled on the back of the storyboard. If this identifying information is on the front, the project is disqualified.
• The story or book chosen by the child should be a fictional one.
• We encourage students and teachers to accompany their projects throughout the competitions; however, it is not required. Attendance at the local, regional or state Reading Fair is encouraged because judges may wish to question students about their projects. Only students may represent the projects during the judging, even for the group and family projects. Adults are not allowed to sit with students while judging is occurring.
• Kindergarten and first grade students may select a book for their project that they have listened to or read. Questions may be simplified for young students. For example: What is the title of the book? Who are the main characters? Who wrote the book? Where and when did the story happen? What happens in the book? Was there a problem in the story? How was the problem solved? Why do you think the author wrote the book? How did the book make you feel?
• Items on the boards may be handwritten or computer printed. Kindergarten students and other young students may require assistance in writing, typing, spelling, cutting, etc. This is permissible and part of the learning process; however, if a student of any age has extensive assistance, please enter the project in the family category grades K-3 or 4-8.
• The first place winner of each category division at the local level will advance to the district level. District Reading Fair winners in each division will advance to one of the Regional Reading Fairs at a location to be determined by the Mississippi Department of Education. The regional winner in each category will advance to the State Reading Fair.


Photograph/ Video/Website Permission Slip*
School: _________________________________________________District: _________________________________________________
Name of individual(s) presenting storyboard at the Reading Fair:
_________________________________, _________________________________, _________________________________, _________________________________
_________________________________, _________________________________
Title of Book: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Category: Individual Group Family • Division: A B C D E F G H I J K L

____I give permission for the above named individual(s) who is presenting at the Reading Fair to be photographed and/or videotaped. I also will allow these photographs to be placed on a website which may wish to highlight the Reading Fair.

____I do not give permission for the above named individual(s) who is presenting at the Reading Fair to be photographed and/or videotaped. I also will not allow these photographs to be placed on a website which may wish to highlight the Reading Fair.

________________________________________________
Name (Please Print)
________________________________________________ __________________
Signature Date

*Please fill out a separate form for a student who is competing in more than one category.