summer library reading program
[email protected]
I took the kids to the library today and unfortunately, it was packed with
kids trading in their reading points for prizes. My 6 yo daughter kept asking
why she couldn't get any prizes. We were busy enough that I told her we
would talk about it when we left.
Do I go ahead and sign her up, now that she has seen all the glorious
prizes? Does anyone else have any experience with these, when they are something
the child wants to do?
(And after I told the librarian that I don't believe in giving awards for
reading :) ).
Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
kids trading in their reading points for prizes. My 6 yo daughter kept asking
why she couldn't get any prizes. We were busy enough that I told her we
would talk about it when we left.
Do I go ahead and sign her up, now that she has seen all the glorious
prizes? Does anyone else have any experience with these, when they are something
the child wants to do?
(And after I told the librarian that I don't believe in giving awards for
reading :) ).
Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Christy Putnam
My thought is that if they are reading the books anyway (not because of the
prizes) why not let them get the benefit of the prizes? You are not using
them to get her to read, just think of it as a perk not a reward.
Christy Putnam
<http://blog.myspace.com/personal_balance>
http://blog.myspace.com/personal_balance
Independent Executive
Discover a way to increase
your health and/or income! <http://practicalsolution.info/>
http://practicalsolution.info
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.
Live the life you have always imagined."
- Henry David Thoreau
_____
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Leslie530@...
Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 3:10 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] summer library reading program
I took the kids to the library today and unfortunately, it was packed with
kids trading in their reading points for prizes. My 6 yo daughter kept
asking
why she couldn't get any prizes. We were busy enough that I told her we
would talk about it when we left.
Do I go ahead and sign her up, now that she has seen all the glorious
prizes? Does anyone else have any experience with these, when they are
something
the child wants to do?
(And after I told the librarian that I don't believe in giving awards for
reading :) ).
Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
prizes) why not let them get the benefit of the prizes? You are not using
them to get her to read, just think of it as a perk not a reward.
Christy Putnam
<http://blog.myspace.com/personal_balance>
http://blog.myspace.com/personal_balance
Independent Executive
Discover a way to increase
your health and/or income! <http://practicalsolution.info/>
http://practicalsolution.info
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.
Live the life you have always imagined."
- Henry David Thoreau
_____
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Leslie530@...
Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 3:10 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] summer library reading program
I took the kids to the library today and unfortunately, it was packed with
kids trading in their reading points for prizes. My 6 yo daughter kept
asking
why she couldn't get any prizes. We were busy enough that I told her we
would talk about it when we left.
Do I go ahead and sign her up, now that she has seen all the glorious
prizes? Does anyone else have any experience with these, when they are
something
the child wants to do?
(And after I told the librarian that I don't believe in giving awards for
reading :) ).
Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
D Smith
i sign my son up. Not to reward him so much for us
reading together, but because he likes the prizes. and
we participate in the programs offered by the library.
if you want to think of it another way, by signing up
you are granting your library more money. the more
people they have participate, the more money they get
for next year. i know most of us don't think of the
library as marketing, but that's kinda what they are
doing by offering programs and reading rewards. and
that money they get just doesn't go for next years
summer reading program, it goes for books in the
children's department. (i'm a former page who worked
closely with the children's director)
danie
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reading together, but because he likes the prizes. and
we participate in the programs offered by the library.
if you want to think of it another way, by signing up
you are granting your library more money. the more
people they have participate, the more money they get
for next year. i know most of us don't think of the
library as marketing, but that's kinda what they are
doing by offering programs and reading rewards. and
that money they get just doesn't go for next years
summer reading program, it goes for books in the
children's department. (i'm a former page who worked
closely with the children's director)
danie
__________________________________________________
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Jess Holland
I sign my sons up too. Our library gives simple prizes like pencils,
erasers and book marks. THey have weekly drawings for free books. My boys
won twice last summer. They loved getting books! : )
Jess
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
erasers and book marks. THey have weekly drawings for free books. My boys
won twice last summer. They loved getting books! : )
Jess
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Jill Parmer
<<<Do I go ahead and sign her up, now that she has seen all the glorious
prizes?>>>
The prizes at our library are not glorious at all. They are lightweight plastic toys that fall apart right away. The prize books are not titles my kids enjoy.
A couple years ago when considering the summer reading program, I asked my kids if the prizes were what they were after, and if so, did they want to get them this way (tallying reading minutes)? They decided against it. This partly had to do with the crowdedness of the children's part of the library in the summer, and all of us are are repelled by crowds.
I also offered some other options for the prize toys: a dollar store, a store that sells all kinds of cool Japanese things, etc. My son loves going to the dollar store and spending his money, so that satisfied his need for "prizes". My dd is just not interested in prize trinkets.
<<<Does anyone else have any experience with these, when they are something
the child wants to do?>>>
If my kids wanted to do it, I would help them.
~Jill
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
prizes?>>>
The prizes at our library are not glorious at all. They are lightweight plastic toys that fall apart right away. The prize books are not titles my kids enjoy.
A couple years ago when considering the summer reading program, I asked my kids if the prizes were what they were after, and if so, did they want to get them this way (tallying reading minutes)? They decided against it. This partly had to do with the crowdedness of the children's part of the library in the summer, and all of us are are repelled by crowds.
I also offered some other options for the prize toys: a dollar store, a store that sells all kinds of cool Japanese things, etc. My son loves going to the dollar store and spending his money, so that satisfied his need for "prizes". My dd is just not interested in prize trinkets.
<<<Does anyone else have any experience with these, when they are something
the child wants to do?>>>
If my kids wanted to do it, I would help them.
~Jill
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
freepsgal
I do not like rewards for reading either. I signed my book-loving
kids up for the Pizza Hut Book-it program and also the Book
Adventure website (free to join, read and earn prizes). They became
prize hungry and started reading really easy books just so they
could write down the titles or take the little quizzes. They no
longer read just for enjoyment, but for what it would get them. I
dropped Book Adventure and have never gone back to the Book-It
program either.
My dd8 was in 2nd grade in public school this past year from
November to February. They made her participate in the Accelerated
Reader program and I hated that too. She hated reading the books
because she could never choose books of her own choosing, but was
forced to pick from a certain set of books. When I took her out of
school, she wouldn't read anything other than Dr. Seuss, Berenstain
Bears and Amelia Bedelia because she was not allowed to read those
in school. (Her AR level at school was 4th-6th grades.) I told her
that when people are forced to read even by receiving incentives, it
takes the joy away. It becomes a means to an end rather than just a
pleasant way to spend time.
I guess if your dd really wants to participate, you should let her
follow her interest. I'd be honest though and tell her that the
Reading program at libraries is to keep children reading during the
summer because they are out of school. They were forced to read
things during the school year so the only way to get kids to read
for 'fun' is to offer them incentives.
I did not know that libraries received funding for number of
participants. That's weird. I actually donate books to the library
on a regular basis and would be happy to donate cash as well. I
guess I should ask someone about that the next time I'm there.
Beth M.
kids up for the Pizza Hut Book-it program and also the Book
Adventure website (free to join, read and earn prizes). They became
prize hungry and started reading really easy books just so they
could write down the titles or take the little quizzes. They no
longer read just for enjoyment, but for what it would get them. I
dropped Book Adventure and have never gone back to the Book-It
program either.
My dd8 was in 2nd grade in public school this past year from
November to February. They made her participate in the Accelerated
Reader program and I hated that too. She hated reading the books
because she could never choose books of her own choosing, but was
forced to pick from a certain set of books. When I took her out of
school, she wouldn't read anything other than Dr. Seuss, Berenstain
Bears and Amelia Bedelia because she was not allowed to read those
in school. (Her AR level at school was 4th-6th grades.) I told her
that when people are forced to read even by receiving incentives, it
takes the joy away. It becomes a means to an end rather than just a
pleasant way to spend time.
I guess if your dd really wants to participate, you should let her
follow her interest. I'd be honest though and tell her that the
Reading program at libraries is to keep children reading during the
summer because they are out of school. They were forced to read
things during the school year so the only way to get kids to read
for 'fun' is to offer them incentives.
I did not know that libraries received funding for number of
participants. That's weird. I actually donate books to the library
on a regular basis and would be happy to donate cash as well. I
guess I should ask someone about that the next time I'm there.
Beth M.
Michelle/Melbrigða
On 6/14/06, Christy Putnam <personal_balance@...> wrote:
Reading Program. The kids read 8 books and then can choose a free one
from a selection of books. I remember the first year we did it Mary
Elayne said, "I only have to read 8 books? Piece of cake." We were
there the next week with her completed form. The kids don't look at
it like they are getting something for reading, but that they are
reading and cool, just for reading they are going to give me
something. They would read regardless of having a prize. And I did
verify that for non-readers the parents reading to them counts.
--
Michelle
aka Melbrigða
http://eventualknitting.blogspot.com
[email protected] - Homeschooling for the Medieval Recreationist
> My thought is that if they are reading the books anyway (not because of theWe aren't doing the library one but we do the Barnes and Noble Summer
> prizes) why not let them get the benefit of the prizes? You are not using
> them to get her to read, just think of it as a perk not a reward.
>
Reading Program. The kids read 8 books and then can choose a free one
from a selection of books. I remember the first year we did it Mary
Elayne said, "I only have to read 8 books? Piece of cake." We were
there the next week with her completed form. The kids don't look at
it like they are getting something for reading, but that they are
reading and cool, just for reading they are going to give me
something. They would read regardless of having a prize. And I did
verify that for non-readers the parents reading to them counts.
--
Michelle
aka Melbrigða
http://eventualknitting.blogspot.com
[email protected] - Homeschooling for the Medieval Recreationist
[email protected]
-----Original Message-----
From: Leslie530@...
I took the kids to the library today and unfortunately, it was
packed with
kids trading in their reading points for prizes. My 6 yo daughter kept
asking
why she couldn't get any prizes. We were busy enough that I told her
we
would talk about it when we left.
Do I go ahead and sign her up, now that she has seen all the glorious
prizes? Does anyone else have any experience with these, when they are
something
the child wants to do?
(And after I told the librarian that I don't believe in giving awards
for
reading :) ).
-=-=-=-
Our librarians know very well how I feel about the reading
awards/rewards.
The same thing happened with Duncan a few years ago. Margaret, the main
librarian gave him the medal and goody bag when everyone was gone.
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://liveandlearnconference.org
"The hardest problem for the brain is not learning, but forgetting. No
matter how hard we try, we can't deliberately forget something we have
learned, and that is catastrophic if we learn that we can't learn."
~Frank Smith
________________________________________________________________________
Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email
and IM. All on demand. Always Free.
From: Leslie530@...
I took the kids to the library today and unfortunately, it was
packed with
kids trading in their reading points for prizes. My 6 yo daughter kept
asking
why she couldn't get any prizes. We were busy enough that I told her
we
would talk about it when we left.
Do I go ahead and sign her up, now that she has seen all the glorious
prizes? Does anyone else have any experience with these, when they are
something
the child wants to do?
(And after I told the librarian that I don't believe in giving awards
for
reading :) ).
-=-=-=-
Our librarians know very well how I feel about the reading
awards/rewards.
The same thing happened with Duncan a few years ago. Margaret, the main
librarian gave him the medal and goody bag when everyone was gone.
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://liveandlearnconference.org
"The hardest problem for the brain is not learning, but forgetting. No
matter how hard we try, we can't deliberately forget something we have
learned, and that is catastrophic if we learn that we can't learn."
~Frank Smith
________________________________________________________________________
Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email
and IM. All on demand. Always Free.
Maisha Khalfani
I signed my kids up for the program here in Baltimore. They like it and they think the prizes are cool. It's just a fun thing to do.
Maisha Khalfani
Khalfani Family Adventures
http://khalfanifamilyadventures.blogspot.com<http://khalfanifamilyadventures.blogspot.com/>
EarthSpirit Readings
http://www.geocities.com/maitai373/EarthSpirit.html<http://www.geocities.com/maitai373/EarthSpirit.html>
Maisha Khalfani
Khalfani Family Adventures
http://khalfanifamilyadventures.blogspot.com<http://khalfanifamilyadventures.blogspot.com/>
EarthSpirit Readings
http://www.geocities.com/maitai373/EarthSpirit.html<http://www.geocities.com/maitai373/EarthSpirit.html>
----- Original Message -----
From: Leslie530@...<mailto:Leslie530@...>
To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 4:10 PM
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] summer library reading program
I took the kids to the library today and unfortunately, it was packed with
kids trading in their reading points for prizes. My 6 yo daughter kept asking
why she couldn't get any prizes. We were busy enough that I told her we
would talk about it when we left.
Do I go ahead and sign her up, now that she has seen all the glorious
prizes? Does anyone else have any experience with these, when they are something
the child wants to do?
(And after I told the librarian that I don't believe in giving awards for
reading :) ).
Leslie in SC
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]