Keep Kids Busy with the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge
I remember reading during the summer when I was a kid. I participated in the summer reading program with our local library. We had a list of book titles for our age category (just ideas), a reading log and a bookmark. At the end of the summer, we could go and redeem a prize if we met our reading goal. That prize was in the form of a brand new book. I remember being so excited to get my brand new book.
When my kids were of reading age, I was disappointed to not find a similar reading program with our local library. It was shortly after that I was introduced to the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge – yes!!! Now in it’s 9th year, the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge is a free online reading program dedicated to stopping the “summer slide” by encouraging kids to read throughout the summer months when school is out. This year’s challenge theme is “Power Up & Read,” powered by ENERGIZER®.
Why should kids read during the summer?
1 – Avoid the “Summer Slide.” Kids fall prey to the “summer slide,” the common loss of skills due to being out of school, when they do not read over the summer.
2 – Avoid having to re-teach material. Research shows Teachers spend four to six weeks re-teaching materials to students because of the “summer slide”—the learning losses which can occur when school is not in session. (Alexander et. al, 2007)
3 – Discover the power of choice. Summer is the perfect time for our children to discover the power of choice. According to the Kids & Family Reading Report, 5th edition, 91% of kids (ages 6-17) say that their favorite books are the ones they pick out themselves.
How does the Summer Reading Challenge work?
- Through September 4th, 2015, kids can log their reading minutes (online and via mobile) as they read to break last year’s world record of 304,749,861 minutes.
- Parents can sign-up their kids at www.scholastic.com/summer. It’s FREE!
- Kids can also enter monthly sweepstakes to win fabulous prizes, and earn digital rewards when they complete weekly reading challenges.
What’s new with this year’s Summer Reading Challenge?
- Kids can unlock 12 original short stories (exclusively for this year’s challenge) from favorite children’s authors and access never-before-seen videos from the authors! Each of the authors has written a unique short story using the same opening sentence, which is, “I glanced over my shoulder to make sure that no one had followed me into the shadowy library, then took a deep breath and opened the glowing book…”
- The authors include Blue Balliett, Patrik Henry Bass, Varian Johnson, Gordon Korman, Michael Northtrop, Maggie Stiefvater and Jackson Pierce, Roland Smith, R.L. Stine, Tui T. Sutherland, Lauren Tarshis, Wendy Wan-Long Shang and Jude Watson.
- Each story has a “read along” audio component, inviting kids of all ages and reading levels to enjoy these highly engaging stories.
- They can play the new “innovation machine” game, an interactive creative writing game, and enter its contest to win prizes.
- Kids can log minutes on-the-go to earn digital rewards and badges as they hit reading milestones.
What’s new this year for parents?
The parents site features new, daily tips for parents called “The Daily Digest.”
Parents can enter weekly sweepstakes to win a “Power Up & Read Kit” and watch videos about summer reading activities to keep you “innovative” all summer long. The prize pack includes: Scholastic tote bag, water bottle, a copy of Reading Unbound by Jeffrey Wilhelm and Michael Smith, $10 gift certificate to Scholastic Store Online, Energizer® brand batteries, Scholastic books, and more.
Parents can download free resources, including printables and booklists for kids of all ages.
Be sure to sign up for the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge. Find more Scholastic Resources to keep your kids reading all summer long! Learn more about the Energizer® Instant Win Game and be sure to Follow @Scholastic on Twitter and Like the Energizer® Bunny on Facebook (#SummerReading).
Is your child participating in the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge?
What is their favorite book?
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This is awesome. It is so important to keep kids reading over the summer 🙂
I think the summer reading program is a great idea. We never entered our kids, but we’ve always made sure they read over the summer.
Scholastic is a great company and I love the summer reading program. My kids are big readers and I know Scholastic had a lot to do with that.
Reading programs are a great way to make learning fun! Our girls LOVE to read! Thankfully I don’t have to beg them… they do it all on their own.
My kids are not thrilled about it but we are incorporating a lot of reading and summer learning activities throughout this vacation period. I refuse to allow them to fall behind and this challenge looks like an excellent motivator!
This would definitely encourage my kids to keep reading. I love how there are games and rewards available to them!
my kids always participate in scholastic summer reading. I love finding ways to encourage my kids to read!
When the kids were younger, we were all about summer reading. I wish they did something like it for adults haha!
I think the Scholastic challenge is so great! I like that they even offer suggestions for reluctant readers to try to get them interested in reading too!
What a great challenge.my youngest needs motivation to read more.
We love taking summer reading challenges. It’s a great way to encourage kids to keep reading all summer long!
I love that Scholastic has this Summer Reading Challenge! Reading is so important for a child’s development, especially when they are out of school for summer.
My daughter’s favorite book right now is Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs! She loves to talk about food falling from the sky!
I love Scholastic, and am happy to hear they think about summer too (I know they are a school program as well). We go to the library in the summer but we haven’t joined a reading challenge or program (yet!).
I love summer reading programs. I didn’t do any this summer but I have a workbook that I am doing with my son to help him with his handwriting.
My kids have always loved to read. It is a great way to get your kids to keep their brains active in the summer.
I’ve always loved to read. Really wish I still had the time for it!
This is such a good idea. My kids love to read so I would love to keep them reading all summer long!
We have our little Energizer Bunny ready to get reading with the kids. I look forward to keeping up with your Scholastic posts this summer too!
I am all for summer reading! I was a summer reader kid and I love books even as an adult now!