By Jordan Ramos
Teachers are always striving to make reading enjoyable for students, fostering a lifelong love of books. What better way to make reading fun than by having school faculty members put on a ridiculous mask and read a book while students formulate guesses on which beloved staff member is hidden beneath it?
Inspired by the show “The Masked Singer,” Masked Reader is an event that Franklin Township School students have been raving about. An event that has the whole school asking, “Are you under the mask?”
What is Masked Reader
The concept is simple yet brilliant. Eight staff members are selected to record themselves reading a picture book while wearing a mask and altering their voice. At the end of the recording, the Masked Reader provides three carefully crafted clues to help the students guess their identity, creating an exciting mystery that every student wants to solve. Students eagerly analyze the hints, formulating theories about which teacher, administrator or staff member could be under the disguise.
Bringing the idea to life
The idea of implementing Masked Reader at Franklin Township School in Hunterdon County came from a mindless scroll on social media, but it made an instant impression. However, taking the idea and making it into a large-scale event that would captivate students, presented challenges, specifically logistical and financial ones.
The solution to these challenges included reaching out to Franklin Township School’s PTA, who generously donated masks for this event. Hairdressing capes were decided as an affordable solution that provided full body coverage.
As for making this event feel like a “Masked Singer” episode, an AI-generated custom logo was used and the theme song “Who Are You,” the song used in “The Masked Singer,” was incorporated to enhance the authenticity of the experience.
Building excitement
To set the stage, I produced a trailer that included the logo and theme song as well as glimpses of the masked readers selecting their books in the school library, revealing the masks while inciting excitement. Flyers including a picture of each masked reader with the question, “Who is under the mask?!” were posted throughout the school, sparking curiosity and generating anticipation.
Making the videos
After staff members are recruited to participate in the event, masks are assigned and books are selected. The selected books are put into a slide presentation. Using a screen recording device, the masked readers capture themselves reading, allowing students to both see the masked reader in action while being able to follow along with the book.
A movie editing program is used to elevate the event, transforming the simple recording into a mock “Masked Singer” episode by incorporating the logo and theme song, altering the voice for an extra layer of mystery, and presenting clues in an interview-style format.
Finishing touch? A closing credit sequence, acknowledging the PTA’s contribution and providing credit to myself for organizing and creating this event for Franklin Township School. Twice a week, a new video is released to PK-5 homerooms, sparking schoolwide discussions.
The big reveal
The grand finale of the Masked Reader event takes place at a highly anticipated school assembly. A last-minute special masked reader is presented to read a book. One by one, clues are reviewed and guesses from the grade levels are announced. Then, the dramatic reveal. Readers feign having difficulty taking off their masks before unmasking their identities to cheers, shouts and gasps.
Beyond the mask
While the Masked Reader event is undeniably fun, its impact extends beyond the entertainment. At its core, the event fosters a love of books while building and strengthening the bonds between students, staff and community. To extend the engagement, the videos and the big unmasking event are shared in the school’s weekly newsletter, inviting parents to join in on the guessing game alongside their children.
By weaving mystery and storytelling into one immersive experience, Masked Reader has not only made reading thrilling but has also strengthened connections within the school community, fostering meaningful bonds through a shared love of stories, one masked story at a time.
Jordan Ramos is a second-grade teacher at Franklin Township School in Hunterdon County. She can be reached at jordanmichelle444@gmail.com.