Every year, educators look for proven ways to motivate reluctant readers, build consistent reading habits, and create that spark—the moment students see themselves as capable, confident readers. Learning Ally’s Great Reading Games (GRG) are built for exactly that moment.
Now entering its 11th year, this national literacy challenge continues to deliver powerful outcomes for schools and students of all abilities. Last year alone, more than 212,000 students from 10,000+ schools participated, collectively reading 42.5 million pages—all while accelerating skills, confidence, and joy.
This winter, the Games return with even more ways to win, engage, and unite your reading community.
Competition + Choice = Engagement
The Great Reading Games leverage two powerful motivators: reader choice and friendly competition. Students earn points by reading with the Learning Ally Audiobook Solution through duration, consistency, and pages read while competing in grade-banded brackets against schools nationwide.
Educators see measurable gains. Students feel seen as readers. Families feel connected through shared goals and activities. And every participating school has a real chance to win.
What’s New for This Year’s Great Reading Games
We evolved the Great Reading Games to make participation more inclusive, engaging, and rewarding. Here’s what’s new for this year:
A Superhero Theme
For the first time in Great Reading Games history, we’re introducing a theme: Superheroes. Not all superheroes wear capes. Through the Great Reading Games, students and educators will unite their reading superpowers, one page at a time. The theme is woven throughout our curated booklists, classroom materials, and celebratory events.
Clear Engagement Paths for Every School
In this game, everyone can win big with reading. New recommended engagement paths help every campus and reader succeed, whether this is your first Great Reading Games or your tenth. These pathways are designed to support participation, growth, and confidence at every level.
Household Participation
We’re expanding the fun beyond the classroom by including household members. Families and individual readers can engage at home, participate in events, and earn opportunities to win prizes—helping extend reading momentum beyond the school day.
First-Ever Power-Up Week
Introducing Power-Up Week, happening January 26–30, 2026. During this special week, campuses can earn extra points through targeted actions on social media and within Learning Ally communities, giving every school another chance to boost their standing on the leaderboard.
Program Timeline: A Season of Reading Momentum
Competition Window: January 5–February 27, 2026
The full Games begin in the New Year! As students read, your school climbs the leaderboard alongside institutions with similar size and grade bands.
🎉 New this year: There is now expanded participation for household members who will receive support through resources to foster motivation and reading habits at home. There will also be opportunities for five household students in each grade band to win prizes—making this a literacy celebration for students in every environment.
Great Reading Games Awards & Recognition
Schools nationwide are eager to get involved, so the Great Reading Games feature different pathways designed to ensure every school can succeed—rewarding participation, growth, and achievement at every level.
Reading Rangers (New GRG Participants)
Schools build foundational reading habits by:
- Adding eligible students to the Learning Ally Audiobook Solution
- Setting up bookshelves and getting students logged in
- Encourage at least 10 minutes of daily reading
- Celebrating milestones with certificates
Master Page Defenders
Schools deepen engagement by:
- Extending reading into the home with parent packets
- Using the Bulletin Board Kit to build schoolwide excitement
- Participating in the March celebration event
- Engaging with the Sound Strategies Community
Grand Literacy Guardians (GRG All-Stars)
Schools model and share best practices by:
- Showcasing their success using #GRG26
- Sharing tips and encouragement with other educators
- Inspiring the broader GRG community
Power-Up Week: January 26–30, 2026
A special mid-competition boost for all schools—especially those who missed Boost Up. Earn:
- 2,000 points for joining and posting in Sound Strategies
- 2,000 points for sharing student excitement using #GRG26
Awards & Ways to Win
The program includes weekly recognition to keep momentum high and celebrate progress along the way. Schools and students are recognized as Tier-Based Achievers, spotlighting top participants across defined levels, while those showing strong week-over-week growth are honored through Improvement Recognition. A Newcomer Spotlight highlights new or previously unranked participants who quickly rise on the leaderboard. Recognition may include certificates, public acknowledgments, and social media features.
In addition to weekly awards, the program offers ad hoc and special recognition to encourage key behaviors. An optional Activation Incentive rewards schools that activate and begin participating during the Games, with prize types varying based on availability. An Excellence in Strategy/Idea Sharing award recognizes individuals or teams who contribute high-quality, innovative, or creative ideas related to the program. The number of recipients and specific prizes for these special awards are determined by the organizers.
Bracket Winners: School-Level Awards
Elementary, Middle, and High School brackets (Purple, Blue, Green, Orange):
- 1st Place: $500 digital gift card + certificate
- 2nd & 3rd Place: $100 digital gift card + certificate
Student Awards: Literacy Avengers
Top 25 students in each grade band (Elementary, Middle, High School):
- Each receives a $25 gift card + certificate
- Recognized as this year’s Student Champions
The Games Support Reading at School and Home
Educators
Turnkey booklists, grade-banded materials, reflection tools, and detailed leaderboards make it easy to integrate Great Reading Games into daily routines. Each action you take builds your score and fuels student momentum.
Students
Whether reading at, below, or above grade level, students get a level playing field—earning points at their pace while experiencing success, independence, and pride.
Families
With the addition of household participation, families can encourage reading at home, celebrate milestones, and keep students motivated outside the classroom.
A Program That Delivers Transformational Results
In Florida, Learning Ally partnered with juvenile justice facilities to bring audiobooks and the Great Reading Games to students who needed them most—helping to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline and ignite a love of reading.
One student shared:
“While reading books on Learning Ally, I discovered some words I never knew. I’m reading faster and understanding more, and it has made me a better reader.”
This is what makes the Games more than a competition—they’re a pathway to confidence and connection.
Part of a Full Year of Reading Engagement
The Great Reading Games are a centerpiece of Learning Ally’s year-round reading ecosystem:
- Race to Read (Aug.–Oct.): Build early habits
- Fall Into Literacy (Nov.): Seasonal choice and curiosity
- Great Reading Games (Dec.–Feb.): Competition and consistency
- Spring Into Reading (March–April): Classroom events + Read Across America
- Summer Reading Together (May–Aug.): Prevent the summer slide
Each program reinforces the others—keeping students reading all year long.
Ready to Power Up Your School’s Reading?
The Great Reading Games are free for Learning Ally members, simple to launch, and proven to drive engagement at every level.
Sign up today and receive everything you need to get started:
- Leaderboards
- Booklists
- Boost Up tasks
- Family resources
- Student incentives
- Access to educator training webinars