Summer Reading Challenges?

I *strongly* disagree with summer reading challenges.

A few days ago we went to the library here so that Zac could load up on books. When we got to the desk, she asked -- of course -- if we were part of the summer reading challenge. I said, we are not interested in the summer reading challenge. She said, would you like a coupon for a free ice cream?

So, what am I supposed to do? I hate summer reading challenges, because research shows that external rewards decrease intrinsic motivation. If we want children to read for fun, counting up points or giving them treats is the exact WRONG way to do it. But I looked at Zac, who had such a pile of thick chapter books that he could hardly hold them all, and decided that he obviously already had the intrinsic motivation. So I reluctantly told her yes.

Punished By Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes
by Alfie Kohn

When I was a kid, well before I ever read a word by Alfie Kohn, I had already decided that those challenges were stupid. In the 80s, they were around (although not as common as they are today, in this age of gameification and patronizing children by treating them like they won't learn unless they are paid to do it) and I remember some paper that I had to fill out to prove I read 100 books. Of course, I just read lots of short easy ones.

When I wasn't being subjected to a reading challenge, I read War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. In middle school. Just because I wanted to.

As new children come to my school, I can immediately judge their relationship with books by asking one simple question: "What are you reading at home for fun right now?" Children who don't read for fun have no answer to this question. Children who do will immediately begin to list titles and authors of their favorite series.

my little school group in 2017 during SSR

I got probably the biggest compliment of my entire teaching career a few months ago, when my co-teacher said to me, "Children at your school love reading more than any other place I've ever taught." That got me to thinking about what kind of environment helps a child learn to love reading.

What I do is this:

I protect their time to read -- 20 minutes at the start of every school day

the room is completely quiet and everyone around them is also reading

I do one-on-one Reading Meetings with children and make personal recommendations of books I think they will like

if they don't like a book, they can stop reading it at any time and request a new Reading Meeting

I do not quiz them on their understanding of the text

they never ever have to do a book report on the book

when we are putting the old book away, I only ask them, "Did you like it?" or "Would you recommend this book to someone else?"

I myself love books

I read aloud to the children constantly

Reading challenges encourage indiscriminate consumption. Do you like it?? Is it well written?? Are you drawn into the story?? Who cares, you just turn pages and get to the end. This is how you end up reading Sweet Valley Twins instead of War and Peace.

For more on this, check out my post from last summer Spoof Assignment - Reading Comprehension

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