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Summer Reading: Sylvan Book Adventure

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Summer Reading: Sylvan Book Adventure

Photograph Credit: Sylvan Book Adventure

Highlighting 14 summer reading programs in these two weeks, I hope you are finding ways to keep your reader learning and exploring this summer. These programs encourage life-long learners with rewards for meeting a goal.

Our summer reading series:

  1. Barnes & Noble Imagination’s Destination
  2. Chuck E. Cheese
  3. Half Price Books Feed Your Brain
  4. H-E-Buddy Summer Reading Club
  5. H-E-Buddy 321 for Summer Fun Challenge
  6. iVillage Summer Reading Challenge
  7. Pizza Hut Book It Summer Reading
  8. PBK Summer Reading Challenge
  9. Public Library Summer Reading Programs
  10. Scholastic Summer Challenge
  11. Showcase Cinemas Bookworm Wednesdays
  12. Simon Kidgits Club
  13. Sylvan Book Adventure

Sylvan Book Adventure

Participants

Readers in Kindergarten to Grade 8 who register and are assigned to either a teacher or parent account are eligible. Both parents and students need to register for recording and prize redemption purposes.

Program Length

As this program is on-going, the resources are not limited to this summer.

Goal

Help kids learn to love reading through interactive tools, games, and motivational rewards.

Requirements

Children read books they choose on Book Adventure and take a quiz at Quiz-O-Matic to test their knowledge and comprehension of the story. Each quiz contains either five (grades K-2) or ten (grades 3-8) questions.

Readers earn points toward great prizes based on the number of questions answered correctly. Because children must score at least a 90% (80% for K-2 grade level books) to earn points, they can take a quiz more than once. We record and reward points based on the highest score your child earns on each quiz.

Redemption

When a student has earned enough points for the prize of their choice, they request the prize by clicking on the “I want to get this prize” button located on the prize description page. Once a prize is requested, the child’s parent or teacher will be notified via email so the prize can be approved. Parents and teachers can approve or deny any of these requests.

Once approved, a student can claim their prize by logging in to their Book Adventure account and viewing the prize status page. Depending on the prize, the student will be able to either directly print the prize, or print a prize certificate that must be mailed away to the prize sponsor.

Reward

All prizes are generously provided by Book Adventure’s sponsors. Within the Prize Library, prizes vary by points as well as types of prizes.

The Sylvan Book Adventure program is great for those students who prefer to read online. The tricky part to this program is to monitor students to see that they are reading.

If I had used this program as a student, I would have quickly figured out how to skip the reading, jump to the quiz, figure out the answers, and win points. Of course, I don’t recommend this approach. However, the opportunity is there, and kids will figure it out.

In winding down our summer reading series, I will bring you the last installment tomorrow. Happy summer reading!

Summer Reading: Simon Kidgits Club

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Summer Reading: Simon Kidgits Club

Photograph Credit: Simon Kidgits Club

Highlighting 14 summer reading programs in these two weeks, I hope you are finding ways to keep your reader learning and exploring this summer. These programs encourage life-long learners with rewards for meeting a goal.

Our summer reading series:

  1. Barnes & Noble Imagination’s Destination
  2. Chuck E. Cheese
  3. Half Price Books Feed Your Brain
  4. H-E-Buddy Summer Reading Club
  5. H-E-Buddy 321 for Summer Fun Challenge
  6. iVillage Summer Reading Challenge
  7. Pizza Hut Book It Summer Reading
  8. PBK Summer Reading Challenge
  9. Public Library Summer Reading Programs
  10. Scholastic Summer Challenge
  11. Showcase Cinemas Bookworm Wednesdays
  12. Simon Kidgits Club

Simon Kidgits Club

Participants

No age specifications given. We have seen upper elementary age children at these events, but the activities are geared toward younger children.

Program Length

Varies by location.

Goal

Encourage children to read this summer.

Requirements

Valid Simon Kidgits membership is mandatory with other possible requirements. A Kidgits annual membership is $5 per child and includes admission to all events, a t-shirt, birthday gift, and more.

Some Simon Kidgits Clubs may not participate in a summer reading program.  When I called guest services at our Kidgits location, I was informed that a program had not been arranged. After asking a few other friends to call and ask, our Kidgits Club is creating a summer reading program.

Redemption

Check your local Kidgits Club for details.

Reward

Prizes are chosen by each Kidgits Club.

Two years ago, our summer reading program consisted of reading 3 books, recording the titles on the supplied-form, turning in the form at guest services, and receiving a coupon for a FREE Chick-fil-A ice dream.

The Simon Kidgits Club has been a great resource for our family. The $5 membership per child is worth the cost. My children have received plates, books, games, musical instruments, and more. Though not every club participates in summer reading, a simple call might get the ball rolling. Happy summer reading!

Summer Reading: Showcase Cinemas Bookworm Wednesdays

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Summer Reading: Showcase Cinemas Bookworm Wednesdays

Photograph Credit: Showcase Cinemas

Highlighting 14 summer reading programs in these two weeks, I hope you will find multiple ways to keep your reader learning and exploring this summer. These programs encourage life-long learners with rewards for meeting a goal.

Our summer reading series:

  1. Barnes & Noble Imagination’s Destination
  2. Chuck E. Cheese
  3. Half Price Books Feed Your Brain
  4. H-E-Buddy Summer Reading Club
  5. H-E-Buddy 321 for Summer Fun Challenge
  6. iVillage Summer Reading Challenge
  7. Pizza Hut Book It Summer Reading
  8. PBK Summer Reading Challenge
  9. Public Library Summer Reading Programs
  10. Scholastic Summer Challenge
  11. Showcase Cinemas Bookworm Wednesdays

Showcase Cinemas Bookworm Wednesdays

Participants

No age specifications given, so this program is great for both big and small children.

Program Length

This program begins on July 10, 2013, and ends on August 7, 2013.

Goal

Encourage children to keep on reading and to explain in writing what they read.

Requirements

Read a book and record the title, author, description, and participant’s name on the Official Book Report Entry Form.

Redemption

Bring the completed Official Book Report Entry Form to a participating Showcase Cinemas on a morning of the movie.

Reward

Submit your Official Book Report Entry Form at a participating Showcase Cinemas for FREE admission into a select 10:00 a.m. movie showing.

The Scheduled Movies – all are rated PG
    • July 10: Yogi Bear
    • July 17: Ice Age – Continental Drift
    • July 24: Madagascar 3
    • July 31: The Lorax
    • August 7: Hotel Transylvania

Each of these movies begins at 10:00 a.m. on the noted Wednesday morning. For adults and children ages 6 and younger, admission is FREE when accompanied by a Bookworm Wednesdays participant. Each participant can enter each of the five weeks with an official book report.

Showcase Cinemas are located in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Rhode Island. Check your local theater for participation.

The Showcase Cinemas Bookworm Wednesdays program offers children the opportunity to give back to parents. My children would love to know that they treated Mom and their 3-year-old sister to a movie.

Though we do not live near a Showcase Cinema, the book report form is simple and reasonable, even for my rising first grader. If you live in a tiny-town without access to many of these programs, consider using the printable resources to create your own reward program. Happy summer reading!

Summer Reading: Scholastic Summer Challenge

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Summer Reading: Scholastic Summer Challenge

Photograph Credit: Scholastic

Highlighting 14 summer reading programs in these two weeks, I hope you will find multiple ways to keep your reader learning and exploring this summer. These programs encourage life-long learners with rewards for meeting a goal.

Our summer reading series:

  1. Barnes & Noble Imagination’s Destination
  2. Chuck E. Cheese
  3. Half Price Books Feed Your Brain
  4. H-E-Buddy Summer Reading Club
  5. H-E-Buddy 321 for Summer Fun Challenge
  6. iVillage Summer Reading Challenge
  7. Pizza Hut Book It Summer Reading
  8. PBK Summer Reading Challenge
  9. Public Library Summer Reading Programs
  10. Scholastic Summer Challenge

Scholastic Summer Challenge

Participants

Readers ages 15 and younger may participate.

Program Length

This program ends on September 6, 2013. Access to your account will remain available until September 30, 2013.

Goal

To motivate students to practice reading all summer long.

Requirements

Register and log minutes read.

Redemption

Each day, students log the reading minutes online via their registered account or mobile app.

Reward

With weekly challenges, participants can earn digital rewards and enter sweepstakes for meeting reading goals.

The Scholastic Summer Challenge allows school to compete against each other. If your school does not participate, you can still register and read for prizes. With the reading timer mobile app, students can log minutes on the go.

In using time wisely this summer and encouraging reading, the Scholastic Summer Challenge includes a reading pledge, reading log, and certificate of achievement. These resources assist parents as we educate our children. Happy summer reading!

Summer Reading: Public Library Summer Reading Programs

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Summer Reading: Public library summer reading programs

Photograph Credit: Public Library

Highlighting 14 summer reading programs in these two weeks, I hope you will find multiple ways to keep your reader learning and exploring this summer. These programs encourage life-long learners with rewards for meeting a goal.

Our summer reading series:

  1. Barnes & Noble Imagination’s Destination
  2. Chuck E. Cheese
  3. Half Price Books Feed Your Brain
  4. H-E-Buddy Summer Reading Club
  5. H-E-Buddy 321 for Summer Fun Challenge
  6. iVillage Summer Reading Challenge
  7. Pizza Hut Book It Summer Reading
  8. PBK Summer Reading Challenge
  9. Public Library Summer Reading Programs

Public Library Summer Reading Programs

Participants

Possibly all readers – our local library has multiple programs: babies, children, teens, and adults. Something for everyone!

Program Length

Determined by each county – all four of our summer reading programs end on July 27, 2013.

Goal

Promote a love of learning by reading books.

Requirements

Varies from county to county, but our process is to register at our local branch, obtain a reading log, choose either set number of books or set number of hours, and log minutes read.

Redemption

Once the participant reaches a goal, bring the reading log to the branch where registered, and receive a reward.

Reward

Varies. The economy has definitely hit hard these last two years as we have seen a rapid decline in the prizes for summer reading through our public library. However, my children are challenged by the goals, and we press on to success.

Babies’ Rewards

This category is for children from birth to 35 months old with the following reward:

      • Receive a FREE board book after completing 40 spaces on the early literacy activities log.

Children’s Rewards

The prizes for my children consist of the following:

      • Safety light-up reflector when they read 40 books or 10 hours.
      • Reading medal, minor league baseball ticket voucher, and entry into two drawings when they have read a total of 80 books or 20 hours.

Teen Rewards

The prizes for rising 6th graders to 12th graders consist of the following:

      • Flashlight with pen and lanyard when they read or listen for 10 hours.
      • Minor league baseball ticket voucher, waterpark discount coupon, and entry into a bike drawing when they have read or listened to a total of 20 hours.

Adult Rewards

The prizes for adult reading is as follows:

      • Coupon for a FREE Starbucks beverage and entry into three drawings after reading 3 qualifying books.

Among the benefits for participating in our public library summer reading program, we gain admittance to fun performances throughout the summer. From puppet shows to best-selling authors to comedy acts, we enjoy FREE shows, practice our reading skills, and earn prizes.

Rather than comparing the prizes from year to year, we are grateful for the opportunity to win prizes including a trip to a baseball game. As you check your local library, you might find the prizes significantly down from previous years. Focus on the goal, encourage reading, and enjoy the FREE rewards. Happy summer reading!