Hi! Does anyone have a tried and true system for having students keep track of summer reading? An incentive program, a form, anything? I have about twenty students (I am a reading specialist) who made such awesome gains this year, and I am afraid they'll lose some ground during the summer. I want to put together a form for them to fill out, maybe with a parent signature, for every book they read during the summer. Then I want to give each kid a prize if they read more than 5 books. Any thoughts?
Could you get them interested in maybe a local libraries reading program?!?! I know we are going to sign up next week with our local library. They have contest, get to put up something in the library. The more books they read in a week the more chances they have to win the prize for the week!!! I really like that they are doing a weekly prize drawing!!!
I live in Philadelphia, and I have not been able to find information on programs that the libraries have. I know that their hours are limited. I want to give my kids something from me, because I think that will be more incentive to do it. I think the idea of having a contest between them, though, could work. I have a few weeks to develop it, as the kids are in school till the 24th!
http://freebies.about.com/od/familyfreestuff/tp/summer-reading.htm This is a list of different summer reading incentive programs
http://www.bookadventure.com/ I forgot about this as well. It's free...kinda like AR testing... You could set up an account with your kiddos!!!
We just had our Kindergarten field trip to the library this morning. There we learned about the summer reading program (for every 5 books they read they earn a prize, and can be entered into a drawing for pizza or ice cream). There's even a program for adults too. Book stores also have summer reading programs. Borders has a "Double Dog Dare" reading program where any 10 books read, the child will receive a FREE book. Type up a memo about programs in your area to entice them to read. Maybe include somthing about having a reading celebrations party when they return to school where they get ice cream or something like that. Our school librarian does that and gets a huge response.
Parents Just remember that some parents will sign off on reading forms even when they know their child hasn't read the books claimed, especially if there is a prize involved.
