Summer Reading program Archives

Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge: Zoe & Miles #SummerReading

June 4, 2014 by Momstart 1 Comment

This is a partnered post with Scholastic

My kids are already so excited about summer reading and want so many different Scholastic books. They love looking at the Scholastic website at books that they can read and I’m so proud of them. They aren’t quite out of school yet so they are still being tested for the end of the year. Miles and Zoe came home with their results on the same day and I have to brag. Zoe is at a reading level N, and Miles is at a reading level of F. Scholastic has a chart of where these letters fit in and N is a high level third grade reader and a low level fourth grade reader. F is a second grade reading level. Zoe is going into 2nd grade and Miles is going into first. You know, I didn’t even know how to read in 1st grade. Zoe’s been reading since she was a baby!

This has put me on the responsible spot over the summer because it’s my job to make sure they maintain and not lose (the summer slide) any of that amazing reading ability. SO trips to the library and the Summer Reading Challenge will motivate us this summer.

Now in its 8th year, the Summer Reading Challenge program is dedicated to stopping the “Summer Slide” and getting kids to read throughout the summer months when school is out. My kids just want more books and if you are really busy have them read in the car.

Right Now kids can log their reading minutes (online and on smartphones) as they Read for the World Record, enter sweepstakes to win fabulous prizes, and earn digital rewards when they complete weekly reading challenges at Scholastic.com. There is also a free summer reading guide that will help us pick out our books with age-specific summer booklists and summer reading activities; a free Scholastic Reading Timer app to track kids’ reading minutes; daily tips and a chance to win prizes on the Scholastic Facebook Summer Calendar; and a live Google+ hangout with parenting bloggers Amy Mascot of Teach Mama and Allie McDonald of No Time for Flashcards on June 19. That’s a lot of resources at your disposal.

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge theme is "Reading Under the Stars" (powered by Eveready®). Throughout the summer, kids will read around the galaxy and unlock star constellations as they log reading minutes.

In 2013, Scholastic inspired more than 130,000 kids from 4,200 schools in all 50 States and 31 countries to set a new record for summer reading of 176 million-plus minutes!

Keep Track of Scholastic Socially:

Like Scholastic Parents on Facebook
Follow Scholastic on Twitter and Instagram
Follow the Summer Reading Challenge Pinterest Board
Like the Summer Reading Challenge YouTube Playlist

And Be sure to Download the Reading Timer App.

The Scholastic Reading Timer app encourages reading every day and most importantly, makes it fun! The app allows users to time reading minutes with an interactive stopwatch and track minutes on a weekly log. Plus, parents can check children’s reading activity in addition to browsing daily tips, articles and book lists.

Free Book at Borders

July 10, 2010 by Momstart 3 Comments

The Double Dog Dare you to read program is still going on at Borders.

Read 10 books

Fill Out the Form

Take it in to Borders to redeem your free book.

Here is the last tip from HarperCollins:

Summer is a great time to be outdoors. Why not take a Friday or Saturday night and camp out under the stars – in your own backyard! Use this opportunity to unplug from TV, computers and other distractions and connect as a family by sharing some of your own childhood favorite books with your own kids by camp light.

Borders and HarperCollins teamed to provided me a Borders gift card in exchange for my posts about the Double-Dog Dare Summer Reading Challenge. It does not affect the fact that I believe in reading to my kids.

Borders Summer Reading Challenge Giveaway

June 11, 2010 by Momstart 1,157 Comments

I have always had a love for reading and I think it had to do with my dad. He read to me every night before we said our prayers. Then as our family grew, he read to all of us. It was amazing that no matter how tired he was he always did this with us until we were old enough to read on our own. Then we went to bed and read on our own, I came to love reading so much that I always had a book in my hands, I love to read on the bus, in the bath tub and sometimes while I’m walking. My husband reads and walks too!

Now that we have kids of our own we’re trying to encourage that love of reading in them. We seem to have it easy so far, which makes me think that kids follow by example. At least our kids do, and I’m not naive I understand that it could change any day now.

Borders wants to encourage reading by giving away free books. Double Dog Dare Summer Reading Program at Borders is going on now. Read 10 books, fill out the Reading Participation Form and run in to borders and pick out a book from their list of free books.

To help you get your children reading we are providing tips every week. Last weeks tip was from Jon Scieszka, author of Robot Zot and Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Almost True Stories of Growing up Scieszka. This week you have me and HarperCollins.

Tips From Me:

Be an example to your children, read your own books in front of them.

Read out loud to your kids often, at least one book a day.

Tip From HarperCollins:

“Encourage your children to read books about people and who are different from them. In fact, Katherine Paterson, recently named National Ambassador for Children’s Literature by the Library Of Congress and author of many award-winning books for children, including Bridge to Terabithia says, “I began reading on my own very early because I knew the magic that books held, and when I came to the United States and was regarded as alien by my classmates, books provided me with friends who helped me to understand myself and to have compassion for other people. So I urge everyone to read for your life–for enjoyment and knowledge and as a member of a family and a citizen not only of your community but of the world.”

Enter to Win:

2 readers will each receive 100.00 Gift Card to spend at Borders

To Enter:

Tell me how you would encourage a child to read

Tweet or use Facebook (once a day only please)

Borders Summer Reading Challenge #Giveaway http://bit.ly/d6c0uv Enter to win 1 of 2 100.00 GC to Borders.

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site, your blog, and tell me where you advertised it or Use any of the share options below, digg, stumble (1 entry each)

The contest will run until July 1st 11:59 pm Pacific. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

I Double Dog Dare You

June 5, 2010 by Momstart 5 Comments

School is out for summer in many/most locations. Those of us on the West coast have school for a little bit longer but Summer reading programs are already starting. If you have a child 12 and under then you should participate in the Double Dog Dare Summer Reading Program at Borders.

How your child can participate

Read 10 books

Fill out Reading Participation Form

Get one book Free (choose from a provided list)

Reading Tips:

I will be sharing a reading tip every week for four weeks. Here is the first reading tip from Jon Scieszka, author of Robot Zot and Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Almost True Stories of Growing up Scieszka

“If you want to inspire your boy reader, expand your definition of reading to include non-fiction, graphic novels, funny books, wordless books, audio books and magazines. Summer reading is a great time to explore texts that aren’t covered/allowed in school reading.”

Half – Price Books encouraging Summer Reading

May 20, 2009 by MomStart 2 Comments

One of my friends, (Summer, Thank you for the blog fodder), mentioned to me that Half Price books is offering sale to help encourage summer reading. So Half Price Books is offering a 3.00 GC to kids who participate in the Summer Reading Program.

My friend Summer is a teacher and a mother and is passionate about reading. She’s also passionate about helping others, and is constantly working in projects to help those less fortunate than us. I’m with her as much and as often as I can be.

Discover what you like.
Look for stories that are interesting to you or
are about things you like to do.

Help with mealtime.
Read the recipe in the cookbook or the
instructions on the box.

Be your family’s tour guide.
Find a book or a magazine about the place you and
your family are going on vacation.

Map out the news.
Read newspapers and then find the places on
a map that you have seen in news stories.

Ask to stay up late.
Your folks might let you stay up 15 minutes later
if you spend the time reading!

You can download a form to keep track of the reading progress.