Who knew that summer reading programs would spark a controversy? Surely not Christopher Pascale, the author of Kids Win Summer Prizes Through Library Reading Programs who recently told readers that "Most libraries in the US host programs where prizes are given out to children who read, or are read to."
Unschooling Examiner Sara McGrath recently shocked readers when she announced that she specifically avoids summer reading programs with her children in Why My Children Don't Participate in Summer Reading Programs.
Her reasons were very much in line with psychological research on motivation and learning. She said, quite simply; "I don't support incentive programs for reading" and elaborated with the following: "Why do we want children to have good reading skills? So they can use the tool of reading for gaining information and for enjoyment, right? However, when we offer them an incentive, we give the impression that reading is work rather than an enjoyable activity, and that the check off matters more than the process of reading."
Alfie Kohn, author of Punished By Rewards
An Examiner.com reader and mother points out that "libraries are dependent on circulation statistics to prove our worth to our funding agencies (city/county/state, federal grants, Friends of the Library members, our patrons, etc). The higher the statistics, the greater likelihood we receive our funding or get an increase. That directly relates to the materials we can offer year-round, not just the prizes for the SRP. Getting more kids signed up and using the library during the SRP translates into higher check-out rates, helping our funding in the long run. The prizes, programs, and other incentives help draw in the crowd."
So, from the library's perspective, as an institution, the Summer Reading Programs exist to help justify funding through increased use of the library during the summer months.
But, are they counter-productive? Are children who focus their attention on "reaching 20 minutes" or "finishing the book" or "getting the prize" losing sight of the indisputable fact that reading, itself, provides natural rewards, of simply knowing a story, seeing what happens, getting a glimpse into another world, another time or learning something new? Are there negative consequences to reading MORE books simply to add them to "the list?"
Is there a difference between reading programs that focus on quantity rather than quality? At one of our local libraries, teens who sign up for the summer reading program are given a book to read (This year it was Percy Jackson) and are invited back each week to discuss it with one another, with the only "prizes" being a slice of pizza every 2 weeks, a lively literary discussion with their peers and of course, the free book.
Sound off: Where do YOU stand on summer reading programs? If you could invent the perfect SRP, how would it look?
Homeschool Summer Reading Programs
Comments
I avoid them. There are a billion reasons but they include:
1. They get my kids focused on reading quick, small books in order to fill lists.
2. They give the impression that you have to be paid to read, and that reading is not intrinsically worthwhile.
3. They typically give away cheap, plastic crap from China that clutters our house and fills the landfills.
There are more, but those are the biggies. My kids read voraciously and we keep our library circulation numbers big all year round. This time of year, though, we spend more time outside the library. :)
~Alicia
magicandmayhem.homeschooljournal.net
www.examiner.com/x-28900-Mankato-Homeschooling-Examiner
I'm not a fan of extrinsic motivation, my kid participates. He loves to read anyway, so he is just getting something "free" for doing what he would do anyway. In our local program, kids have to sit down with a librarian and talk about the book in order to get credit for it, which I think has value as narration practice. There are parties to kick off and close the program, which my son really enjoys. There are carnival games with books as prizes, and he has a blast.
Honestly, the way reading is taught in the schools is so badly broken, that summer reading programs, while perhaps not ideal, are far from the biggest issue to be concerned with. If the schools didn't teach kids to hate reading, there would be no need to bribe them into doing it. Over all, I'm glad these programs exist exist, hope they do help some kids discover that reading can be fun and that libraries are good places, but I am thankful they aren't compulsory.
~Chele (www.homeschoolingonhudson.blogspot.com)
I like the idea of a free book given at the beginning and book discussions. That sounds fun. My kids love the library. The librarian knows them. They attend storytimes and other library events. I just know my particular kids well enough that the competition of an incentive program would get in the way, especially with my youngest beginning reader.
I've always loved reading. When I was a kid, I thought it was great to get prizes for something I enjoyed -- the library was one of my favorite places to go.
My son is still learning to read by himself, but he loves books, takes good care of them (we gave him his own bookshelves, which helped), and loves being read to. The library has made such an impression on him that he once told me, "When you are an old lady, I am going to take you to a beautiful place."
I asked, "What place is that?"
"The library!"
It's been my experience that parents who complain about their kids not wanting to read watch a lot of TV themselves, or do other activities that never include reading a book, like surfing the internet or playing adult video games.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!