Boom, Pop, Fizz

Today the kids turned in their paper filled with circles for the library’s reading program. This started in June and kids were encouraged to read a book or have a book read to them (young ones). At the end, you returned your paper. They would donate $1 to the humane society, the older kids got a button and pencil, and the younger one got stickers and a growth chart. Then they each got to pick out a book to keep.

I am extremely happy that my kids were able to participate in the summer reading program at our library. First all, two of them are able to read books confidently for the first time. Although I have always read to them and have been trying get them to read on their own—it has only started working.

My style of teaching is a bit lax and I let them guide me as to what they want to do. I have taught them phonics and have felt that one day it will all come together. We had been reading and I have had a lot of push back from them.

This summer reading program came at a perfect time because I felt Braedon was now becoming an independent reader. I still felt that he needed more guidance and assistance when he encountered words he could not pronounce. He would get frustrated and want to give up. The program is designed to have the parent keep track of the books the kids read. I would tell him every day that he needed to read a book in order to fill in his circle for the day.

We would go to the library and they could choose the books they wanted. I would also choose books I felt would help propel them to the next level. Both boys are gaining more confidence and well the little one just loves all books.

I am grateful for the helpful staff and the large assortment of books. Coming from Chicago, this library is a sanctuary for our homeschooling family.  In Chicago, I always felt like a criminal checking out books, you could only hold 3 books, when you requested a hold it took about a week or more, and often you could not find the books you went to get. I know that the Chicago was understaffed and probably underpaid. That is why I find our new library so refreshing.

I was super surprised my kids were so happy with the prizes they received. I told them they should be grateful for whatever they get because normally when they read books, they don’t get anything in return. They were thrilled and thanked the staff member.

I just might have to create my own reward system to continue the journey. They did still push back a bit, but I can push harder. I want to build strong confident readers and I know it will lead to strong-well-spoken children.