Comments on: Read-a-thon strategies:Crazy competitive or clever?

By: Kathy P

Kathy P — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:08:43 +0000

I work as a paraeducator in an elementary school. When we have a read-a-thon, our students decide (with a teacher’s help), what their individual goal is. For some students it is a certain number of books, for others a quantity of pages, and for still others, a set number of chapters. By having each child set their own goal, they are able to challenge themselves according to their own abilities. Each child has the opportunity to succeed.

By: Sherla

Sherla — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:22:25 +0000

We aren’t having a read-a-thon, but my son’s school does AR program (accelerated reading). He earns points. He is supposed to read books within certain levels (not too low for him and not too high: a broad range). We go to http://www.arbookfind.com and look at books that he knows about or topics that he likes and look for things. We certainly try to get the most bang for the buck. He looks at number of pages, points he can earn, and reading level. He enjoys doing that, but then he gets to read a 498 page book and earn 30 points. The whole time I am thinking that is way too much for him and almost feel like I’m nagging him about making sure he gets it done by the deadline. However, he always assures me he is reading it. Then 2 days before the deadline he comes home and tells me he took the test at school to get his points on the book and he earned all 30!!!! I was so proud. Yes, it’s ok to think about points and levels and pages, but most importantly, let your child pick out the books THEY will read!!!! I enjoy this blog!

By: catlady

catlady — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:52 +0000

Two words :back off.

By: Becky

Becky — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:34:08 +0000

I agree that this type of competition is counterproductive... I would much rather see schools focus on bigger issues such as teaching children to grow up to be responsible people, along with knowledge of math, science, reading, writing (you know... a well rounded education. Rick Posner, author of a great book titled, "Lives of Passion, School of Hope" teaches this very concept (that self-empowerment and responsibility should be taught first), and has proof that this type of education does lead to students becoming responsible adults. As a parent, I am more proud of the fact that my child is a good responsible person, rather than the fact that they read 100 pages in a book. Silly.

By: JATL

JATL — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:04:15 +0000

@FCM -I do understand that schools need all the parental help they can get, and I really support it. I’m talking about the certain parents (moms and dads) who step in to “help” but really want to run the show, make everything on their terms, and flip out if their kid isn’t at the top of said activity. Case in point: I think a read-a-thon is great if the competitive spirit comes from the KIDS; I think it’s sad when a few parents start freaking out and creating this crazy-competitive attitude over something that should actually be very relaxing. You’re right about schools needing all the money they can get from fundraisers and extra programs and lots of help from parents. After attending a small private school and teaching at a woefully underbudgeted metro county school, I feel like I should have some type of professional fundraising certificate!

By: FCM

FCM — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:33:31 +0000

We read about 30 min a night weekdays, except Fridays. We read 45 min or more on weekends. Fridays are too busy and even a bookworm deserves a break. We fit the time in easily by reading to me while in the car. Reading in line, reading at church before services begin. I even count reading a cereal box outloud toward their time. To me it is not so much what you read as that you read.

My eldest doesn’t have AR requirements any longer. They have to read 25 books in the school year. That is if she reads at her grade level. If she reads at her ability level she can read less books but then its about pages. NOTHING is about points and she loves reading more than ever, she is finally looking at books that she used to think she couldn’t do because they wouldn’t count on AR — right now she is reading New Moon (if she finishes it while the movie is out she gets to go see the show, if not only Mom gets to see it in the theatre!).

All of these contests (Sally Foster, Box Tops, etc) are for the parents even if the “prize’ is for the kid. I refuse to get into it.

JATL I can understand where your coming from. However with budget cuts and so forth, the schools really need the crazy helicopter parents in doing these things. They need the money of the programs like I mentioned above and all the other fundraisers to be able to get anything decent for the schools.

It just bites all the way around.

If the parent really wants a reader though, they should let the child catch them reading. I turn the TV off and declare DEAR several times a week. I did not stop reading for my pleasure just because I had kids (though friends said I would have too). I just pointed at their book and said yours and then to my book “Momma’s”. I would read a book or two to them then hand it to them and say your turn while I read mine.

I also made sure their books where everywhere (car, tub, rooms, kitchen). They knew they were there books. Why is it there is such power in owning your own book?

Youngest child is a slower reader, but she is very excited to have the highest points in AR in her class. I encourage her in this as it is the only thing she is competitive about thus far. I do not pick her books though, she does.

By: justmy2cents

justmy2cents — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:43:12 +0000

Again, as a lowly tech working in schools…I can tell you AR is overrated. The latest, greatest is READ 180 (Scholastic software). My kids have to read 15 min a night (1st grader) and 30 min a night (5th grader) already as part of their standards. I LOVED to read as a child. Kids these days…really aren’t that motivated…it is just more of status quo. The competition aspect is more for parents from what I have seen…most kids could care less (unless they get ice cream or pizza)

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:57:17 +0000

We have the AR program at my kid’s school as well. The only thing I don’t like about it is that they will not allow the kids to check out or read any books unless they fall into the points set for their grade. The kids are too busy checking out the little numbers on the side of the books that they don’t even know what they are reading sometimes. Also when they go to the public library, there are no numbers on the side of the books so the kids don’t know what to pick. I would rather the kids just pick books that they WANT to read, and not have to worry about the points assigned to them, or number of pages ect.

By: Worn out in the Fall

Worn out in the Fall — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:21:38 +0000

Actually, the active ATL Junior League membership is over 75% working members & the majority of whom are young professional women without children. Just saying, at least in Atlanta anyway, it’s no longer your mother’s or grandmother’s Jr. League anymore.

Also, there is a huge initiative among the Georgia Jr. Leagues this year to help elementary children with reading. http://www.jlatlanta.org/community/million-minutes.aspx

By: RRR

RRR — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:43:45 +0000

what is Junior League?