Encourage Summer Reading

    My oldest daughter, Lulu, LOVES to read. She has always enjoyed being read to, was very eager to learn to read and continues to grow her reading skills. My son on the other hand is not as interested. He has expressed that he would like to read but doesn't really want to. 

  At his Kindergarten screening my son received a packet that encourages the students of the Elementary school he will be attending to read during the Summer. I LOVE this packet! It was a great boost for Summer reading when Lulu was starting. A perfect motivator for when that middle of the Summer wall starts to drag down momentum. 

   So whats in the packet??!!
                    

   The first is a Reading Log - it has 50 spaces to write either the book or chapter title down. That paper goes to school with them on the first day that get collected for a chance to win a ride to school on a fire truck with one winner per grade. How cool is that??!! 

   A Barnes and Noble Reading log. A great reading motivator!! Once eight books are read and reviewed take this log to any Barnes & Noble to receive a free book from the selected list. Lulu loved this and last year chose Sideways Stories from Wayside School. You can learn more about that program here.

   Chuck E. Cheese's Reading Rewards Calendar. Read each day for two weeks, marking the calendar with a sticker or doodle then take to any location to earn 10 free tokens. More information can be found here. 

    An Applebee's Reading Log. Kids can earn a free Kid's meal after reading ten books. Valid at participating upstate NY and CT locations and is valid for children under 10 years of age. Download card and information here. 

   There are a few other pages in the packet that are tips on how to keep up with the Summer reading and encouraging your children to read. 

   Another program is discovered last Summer was the Pizza Hut Book It! Summer Reading Challenge. Between June 22 - August 15 kids can earn chances at winning Book It! prizes. Log on for details and to keep track!

  Check out your local libraries to see if they offer a reading incentive program as well! Our library has different prizes - mostly crappy plastic toys BUT the kids have a ball standing at that cardboard treasure chest for what feels like eons to pick out that one piece of plastic that looks the coolest.

   There are many more reading incentive programs! Lots of them out there! These are just the handful that I was able to find available to us in the Northeast. You just have to ask around, maybe perhaps ask a teacher if they know of any local programs. 

   We'll be starting off our reading with some Lyle the Crocodile - that is his new favorite character (sorry Skippy Jon Jones)