Monday, May 30, 2022

Grandma's Summer Reading Program

 Coming back from the grocery store, I made a quick stop into the Goodwill to look at their kids' books. William was suspicious. He's a good reader...he just doesn't do enough of it. 

I said, "I think it is a good idea with summer coming up that you have a few books tucked away to read." 

I found a ghost story, a deadly animal book, some mysteries, The Tale of Beedle the Bard, and a funny book. He agreed that they looked interesting and that he'd be willing to read them. If he had time. 

On the way to the register, I said, "Well, grandpa and I will pay you a dollar for every book that you read this summer." 

Wide eyed look. A woman passing by was very enthusiastic. "A dollar a book?!! That is a great deal! If you read a hundred books, you would earn a hundred dollars!" 

(God bless her!)

William stared at me. "What would happen if I read a hundred books?" 

"You'd make a hundred dollars." 

He was a bit dumbfounded by this. To be a 'hundred-aire' at the age of 11 was almost beyond his wildest dreams. 

He read on the way home from the store. He read while I was fixing lunch. By the next day, he had earned his first dollar. He's now three chapters into his next book. 

26 comments:

  1. I love this. Can we send William a book all the way from Australia? If yes you can use the contact form on my blog to get in touch and I'll have a look for something very Aussie. ;)

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    1. What a wonderful offer. It seems that he will be spending a lot of time with us this summer (how lucky are we?) and it would make a bit of excitement. E-mail sent.

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  2. You may have started something good. Our grands don’t read even though Danica was a very early reader.

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    1. William was really caught up in reading for a while, but he's drifted back to passively watching a screen too much of the time. Hopefully, this will turn things around.

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  3. Will he have to undergo a test to prove he actually read them all through???

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    1. The interesting thing is that he is a chatterbox. So when he's reading a book, he's constantly telling you all about it. No worries there.

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  4. He may send you into poverty.

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  5. He is going to be very knowledgeable and a keen reader.

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  6. That's a good incentive to get someone reading!! Arilx

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  7. That's a great idea! Make sure he has a library card so he can keep adding to his reading pile all summer long. My library has a summer reading program where children (and adults too) get prizes for reading books and keeping track of what they have read. It's very popular!

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    1. It was a huge deal to him to learn to write his name. As soon as he could sign for his library card, he was taken there to get one. It was a big moment. That's a good idea, Ellen. I know that there are summer reading programs here, as well.

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  8. I wish my kids were back to that stage again. But it stuck and they both have their noses in books as I type this.

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    1. Ed, you don't know how encouraging that is to me!

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  9. You're a great briber! Reading is one of the best tings kids can do.

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    1. I solemnly swear to always use my powers for good, not evil

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  10. Excellent incentive! My dad used to give us money for our report cards -- the higher the grades, the more we'd get. He said school was our "job" and we should be compensated for it.

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  11. Remember the reading program through Pizza Hut where you could earn individual pan pizzas? My kids loved that!! My oldest grand, who is 20, was always a reader. Her younger siblings (9 and 10) not so much. I have high hopes for the almost 3-year-old. -Kelly

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    1. I think they still have the book-it program. Going to good look right now.

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  12. Money talks. I was thinking the same thing as I was reading this post. Good for him.

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  13. Mercenaries, both of you! 😃

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  14. Next time you're at the goodwill make sure you buy some loooong books. Otherwise he may well send you broke!

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  15. I am pleased to pay the dollar. 2 or 3 books a week, 4 if he gets ambitious. It sounds like a lot to an 11 year old.

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