The Adventures of Julie and Bella 2025

Ok, for those of you following my Read-tober Challenge with my 54 fabulous 5th graders — the results are in!

First, let me just say that the month of October was bursting with excitement. I loved every single minute of watching my students get so enthusiastic about reading! Seeing their joy reminded me why I love what I do. Honestly, I was just as inspired by my students as I was trying to inspire them! 💕

If you remember, I even gave myself a new challenge along the way. I hit my personal book goal for the year with two months to spare, so I decided to raise the bar and aim for 60 books by the end of the year. I’m working hard to make it happen!

Now… for the news I’m sure you’ve been waiting for 😉

I finished October with a total of 6,595 minutes of reading! I have to admit — I’m pretty proud of that number! But my students? They absolutely crushed it! Together, they read a combined total of 12,585 minutes! 🎉

Yes, they beat me — and I couldn’t be happier about it! What made me proudest wasn’t just the total minutes, but the teamwork, motivation, and dedication behind them. Even though a few reading calendars didn’t get turned in, the ones that did were more than enough to take the win. Some of those individual totals absolutely amazed me!

This morning, the results were announced over the PA system, and since my office is in the 5th-grade wing, I could hear the cheers echoing through the halls when they heard they’d won. It made my heart just about burst. 🥰

Of course, I couldn’t resist giving them another challenge — to keep reading and beat their total next month! I know they can do it!

Now, it’s time for me to start planning their reward… and let’s just say, they all know I love to bake! 🍪💖

“The more that you read, the more things you will know.
The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” — Dr. Seuss



Here’s to another month of growing, imagining, and exploring through books — one page at a time. 📖💫