Comments on: What do you think of read-a-thons?

By: Carnival of Parenting Podcast No.19 | Play-Activities.com

Carnival of Parenting Podcast No.19 | Play-Activities.com — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:05:07 +0000

[...] one more book: What do you think of read-a-thons? On this edition, we reflect on our own reading experiences as children and consider the impact of [...]

By: Heidi Estrin

Heidi Estrin — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:19:35 +0000

This is a topic that pushes my buttons. Years ago when I worked in the public library I really struggled with doing Summer Reading Club because I felt it cheapened the reading experience to pay kids off to engage in it (see Alfie Kohn’s book PUNISHED BY REWARDS:The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A’s, Praise, and Other Bribes for back-up on this concept). Also, Mark and Andrea are right that the red tape involved is enough hassle to turn anyone off. I agree that avid readers don’t need it, and reluctant readers won’t be engaged by it (though they may be engaged by the prizes, it won’t turn them into readers).

Selling kids on reading can be so easy, really – all it takes is a good amount of reading time spent with one or more enthusiastic adults — so it’s strange that we dream up all these complicated schemes to achieve those ends when it’s really not necessary.

btw, it surprised me to hear that M&A weren’t readers as kids, since both are so gung ho now! Personally, I was a big reader as a kid but I was also a little snob, so I never joined readathons or summer reading clubs because I looked down my nose at them – I knew they were meant to trick book-hating kids into reading, and I saw myself as above all that!

By: C. Steel

C. Steel — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:25:31 +0000

I’m in need of several ideas for great fun reading programs for students ages 10 – 13… can anyone offer any ideas? I like the “lunch bunch” but think it may be too “young” for this group of up-and-coming-almost-too-cool-to-be-caught-reading kids…

By: christine tripp

christine tripp — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:58:11 +0000

I think I grew up in that “lost generation” of readers, who’s parents read for entertainment, pre TV.
These parents, and teachers, would have never understood the need for bribing a child to read a book and I guess I still don’t. Books are (or should be) like every form of entertainment, you either like it, want to do it, or you don’t. If you don’t, you miss out on something very special but that is a choice a person (even a child makes) and perhaps they will change their minds at a later date. Meanwhile, I do not see a contest to read as a substitute for WANTING to read. I am really not a READER per say, though I love books and have gone through many of the classic kids literature at a later date then perhaps my parents did, but here I am, making my living illustrating children’s picture books.
Funny but sometimes just reading the Saturday Morning comics in the paper is enough to make a difference in the life of a child…me:)

By: Just One More Book!!

Just One More Book!! — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:43:22 +0000

How sad, Alkelda!

Terry, I love the “lunch bunch” idea — and that the name of the group doesn’t include the word “reading” or “book”.

I was thinking that it would be fabulous to have super-cool,action-packed & fun afterschool programs (not associated with a school or library, but with a community centre say with energetic, hip highschool student leaders) that would be based around reading and enjoying irreverent, wild&crazy books like Gantos, Sciezska & Pilkey. And, just as soccer afterschool activities aren’t called “exercise clubs” or “leg-strengthening” it seems a rowdy reading-strengthening afterschool program needs a kickin name that is welcoming (and not seen as being for ‘nerds’ or as remedial work groups).

By: Terry

Terry — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:25:36 +0000

I’m with you. I’m not a big fan of read-a-thons. Kids who struggle with reading need companionship (like your daughters reading with young children), not competition. When I was tutoring one-on-one, we would have goals, but I liken those to playing golf: you’re measuring your ability against yourself, not comparing yourself to others.

I wish schools would spend more energy on reading groups, either for a “lunch bunch” or as an enrichment activity. The last thing we want is for reading for pleasure to look like more homework.

By: Alkelda the Gleeful

Alkelda the Gleeful — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:00:33 +0000

My mom wouldn’t let me be part of the MS Read-A-Thon because she said it was to encourage children who didn’t like to read (though I was more than welcome to do the Math-A-Thon). I suspect she just didn’t want me going door to door asking for money to read. Sigh. I would have loved to have been paid to read. I still would.

By: Natasha @ Maw Books

Natasha @ Maw Books — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 02:09:02 +0000

I remember how much fun it was to fill in the little boxes over the summer with how many hours or books I read. The self-satisfaction was a huge motivator for me, and now as an adult I don’t think anything has changed. I still love to see the lists of books I’ve read.

By: Just One More Book!!

Just One More Book!! — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 01:48:53 +0000

Tweets:
#
loribourne: @JustOneMoreBook No, they don’t. Research shows that if you reward someone for doing something, and then take the reward away, …they almost never do it again. Reward kids for reading and they’ll read less when they’re older (if at all) This book does a great job explaining the dangers of rewards – even mentions readathons at one point: http://zi.ma/8cd450

Anyelday: @JustOneMoreBook in my experiences they only motivate kids who already like to read