READ!!

That’s right, it’s time to dust off those pompoms, brush up on your cheers, and get ready to use an excessive amount of exclamation points!!

What does it mean to be a cheerleader?

Cheerleaders offer encouragement and support to the readers by leaving comments and cheers on the readers’ blogs, Twitter and Facebook accounts. If you’ve participated in the Read-A-Thon you know that cheerleaders are some of the most important and valued participants of the Read-A-Thon.

Even readers can be cheerleaders!

Anyone can sign up to be a cheerleader! There are some who act solely as cheerleaders during the event, but if you’re a reader you can also be a cheerleader. Many readers take an hour or two during the Read-A-Thon to focus on cheering. While the main focus of the Read-A-Thon is reading, it is the interaction with other participants that makes this event so special.

How much time do I need to devote?

You can devote as much as 12+ hours or as little as an hour to cheerleading. Time spent cheering can be consecutive or non-consecutive and we need cheerleaders of all hours during the Read-A-Thon. Cheering provides a nice break from reading or a way to participate if your schedule is too full the day of the Read-A-Thon to be a reader.

How will this cheer thing work?

There will be hundreds of readers to visit during the Read-A-Thon, but don’t worry—you won’t be responsible for visiting them all! A few days before the Read-A-Thon starts, you will be assigned to a cheerleading squad based on the hours you can cheer and your level of commitment. Each squad will be then be assigned a group of readers to visit during the event. Of course you’re welcome to visit more than just those readers!

Rah Rah Sis Boom Bah! Now what?

Sign up in the Google form below to volunteer as a cheerleader. We’ll be in touch! In the meantime, you can brush up on more information, tips, and tricks on the Readathon Cheerleading HQ website.

Questions?

Erin of Erin Reads and Trish of Love, Laughter, and a Touch of Insanity are your fearless and overly enthusiastic cheer coaches. Please feel free to email us if you have any additional questions or concerns: readathoncheer {at} gmail {dot} com.

So what is this cheerleading gig that you speak of?

Cheerleaders offer support to all of the readers during the read-a-thon by leaving comments on blogs. It’s lots of fun (and kind of addicting). You can read more about it at Read-a-Thon Cheerleading Headquarters.

Do I have to stay up and cheer for the entire read-a-thon?

Nope. You can sign-up to cheerlead for 1 hour, 3 hours, 6 hours, 9 hours or 12 (or more!) hours. Also, your cheering time does not have to be consecutive…you can spread it out over the course of the read-a-thon.

But I want to read during the read-a-thon.

Good news! You can do both! Many readers take an hour or two out of their day (or night) to visit blogs and leave comments. It makes for a nice break, and gives you a chance to interact with other readers.

Pom-poms just aren’t my thing.

That’s okay. Short skirts aren’t mine. I (and all the readers) will be thrilled if you volunteer. Everyone has different cheerleading styles. You can leave an encouraging comment, a silly cheer, a virtual cup of coffee, or even a hug. You can even cheer on Twitter (using the hashtag #readathon). Whatever floats your boat. The most important thing is to encourage and support the readers!

Do I have to visit all of the readers?

Heck no! Because, holy moly, have you seen the sign-up list?!? You will be assigned to a cheer squad, and each squad will be assigned to cheer for a particular group of readers. We ask that you focus your efforts on those readers, so that everyone is being cheered on. Of course, you are always free to overachieve and visit more blogs. And your buddies, of course.

Okay, you’ve convinced me. Now what?

Woo-hoo! Please sign up using the Google form below. The Monday before the read-a-thon we will contact everyone by email with their assigned cheer squad and further details. In the meantime, practice your overuse of exclamation marks.

Dude. I’m confused.

That’s okay, I usually am, too. Please email me (Jill) if you have questions: fizzybeverage at gmail dot com.

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It’s almost time!

Are you all getting excited for the read-a-thon? Do you have your books waiting in a pile? Do you have your snacks made or set out (or do you have a special read-a-thon grocery list)? Do you have a plan for posting? Do you have a ginormous Do Not Disturb sign ready to hang on your door? Are you going to hibernate at a favorite coffee shop?

Or, are you just going with the flow, letting the day play out as it will?

Readers approach the read-a-thon with a variety of plans, snacks and attitudes. There is certainly no right or wrong way to ‘thon, but if you’ve posted about your intentions, we’d love to read about it. Share your pre-read-a-thon words and pictures here:

Are you ready for the read-a-thon? Your cheerleaders are!

This year we have four cheerleading squads…Keats, Byron, Shelley and Wordsworth (that’s our little way of acknowledging National Poetry Month). Each squad has been assigned to a group of readers and I know they’re all excited to start waving their pom-poms and yelling (er, posting) their cheers.

If you’re interested in more cheerleading details, we have a blog set up this year…24 Hour Readathon Cheerleading HQ. It’s also not too late to sign up to be a cheerleader!

While you all are busy creating your reading piles and snacks, I’d like you to take a few seconds to do one teensy, weensy little favor for your cheerleaders. Please, please, please, please, please…turn OFF the word verification. Your cheerleaders will love you forever. You can turn it back on afterwards, but I can’t tell you how much easier you’ll make it for us all if you turn it off for the read-a-thon. And if you get visited by those pesky spam-bots? Just pretend they’re saying Happy Reading!

See you at the read-a-thon!

If you are interested in joining our peppy team, please fill out the Google form below…after which, you can proudly display this (or one from prior years) cheerleading badge on your blog:

After you sign up, you will then be assigned to a cheer squad and your head cheerleader will be in touch with the details of who all you will be cheering for and a link to a top secret cheerleading blog that will contain lots of cheerleading info. Okay, not really on the top secret part, but we’re still working on the blog. If you have any questions before you sign up, please email Jill: fizzybeverage at gmail dot com.