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You are here: Home / Archives for Summer reading

Summer Reading: Final Deadlines Approaching

August 23, 2013 by Tracy

Summer Reading: Final Deadlines Approaching
Summer Reading: Final Deadlines Approaching

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Back in June, I highlighted 14 summer reading programs. Some of those programs have ended while a few have final deadlines approaching.

As our young readers have pressed on this summer and finished those goals, help them achieve their prizes by submitting the requested information before the deadlines.

The following is a list of final deadlines for the remaining summer reading programs:

Saturday, August 31

  • H-E-Buddy 321 for Summer Fun Challenge
  • PBK Summer Reading Challenge

Sunday, September 1

  • H-E-Buddy Summer Reading Club

Tuesday, September 3

  • Barnes & Noble Imagination’s Destination

Friday, September 6

  • Scholastic Summer Challenge

Friday, September 30

  • TD Bank Summer Reading Program

On-going

  • Chuck E. Cheese
  • Sylvan Book Adventure

Varies by locations

  • Public Library Summer Reading Programs
  • Simon Kidgits Club

As summer comes to a close, we wait patiently for our rewards to arrive. We have submitted our reading logs, picked up our FREE books, and attended a baseball game.

Summer break was filled with lots of memories as we explored, discovered, and played while using time wisely. Now we move from summer reading to fall reading.

If you have not submitted all the reading logs, then check the deadlines. Your submissions must be postmarked by the final date. Happy celebrating!

Question: Did your family participate in summer reading? 

Filed Under: Rewards, Summer Reading, Family Activities Tagged With: Summer reading

Summer Reading: TD Bank Summer Reading Program

June 15, 2013 by Tracy

Summer Reading: TD Summer Reading Program
Summer Reading: TD Bank

Photograph Credit: TD Bank

Highlighting 14 summer reading programs in these two weeks, I hope you found some 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
  14. TD Bank Summer Reading Program
Summer Reading: TD Summer Reading Program

Photograph Credit: TD Bank

TD Bank Summer Reading Program

Participants

Must be 18 years of age or younger to participate.

Program Length

Valid May 6, 2013 through September 30, 2013.

Goal

Make reading fun while teaching young people the importance of saving money.

Requirements

Read 10 books this summer, print the Summer Reading Form, and record the titles read on the form.

Redemption

Take the completed Summer Reading Form to your nearest TD Bank.

Reward

Submit your form to receive a $10 deposit into a new or existing Young Saver account.

The TD Summer Reading Program is great for those who have or want a TD Bank account. If your child participates, you will need an account at TD as well.

Note: The Young Saver accounts are for minors and must be linked to a parent’s account. To open a new account, you will need, at the minimum, your driver’s license, Social Security card, and agree to have a credit check.

If you choose this program, the $10 deposit is a wonderful reward for completing 10 books. Teaching children how to manage money starts when they are young. Using a penny bank or jar teaches discipline as they watch their savings grow.

With all these summer reading programs, I hope you find some that work for your family. Whether you allow one book to count for multiple programs or have your child read separate books for each program, the goal is to keep on learning through the written text.

My children are reading, and I count the books they read for multiple programs. For example, the 10 books they read for the H-E-Buddy Summer Reading Club also counts toward their hours or books for our Public Library Summer Reading Programs.

We have our reading goals set for this summer, and our summer reading programs chosen. If you know of other summer reading programs, please leave a comment and include a link, if possible. Happy summer reading!

Filed Under: Rewards, Summer Reading, Family Activities Tagged With: Summer reading, awards

Summer Reading: Sylvan Book Adventure

June 14, 2013 by Tracy

Summer Reading: Sylvan Book Adventure
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!

Filed Under: Rewards, Summer Reading, Family Activities Tagged With: Summer reading, awards

Summer Reading: Simon Kidgits Club

June 13, 2013 by Tracy

Summer Reading: Simon Kidgits Club
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!

Filed Under: Rewards, Summer Reading, Family Activities Tagged With: Summer reading, rewards

Summer Reading: Showcase Cinemas Bookworm Wednesdays

June 12, 2013 by Tracy

Summer Reading: Showcase Cinemas Bookworm Wednesdays
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!

Filed Under: Rewards, Summer Reading, Family Activities Tagged With: Summer reading, rewards

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