Getting Kids Reading - Reading Challenges that Work

Most young people love a challenge, whether they are competing with their class-mates, or just reaching goals for themselves. Just like with computer games, where you strive to earn lots of points and get to the next level, and then the one after that, reading challenges can provide a real incentive to get kids reading. Here's an example from over the ditch.

Premier’s Reading Challenge
This is a literacy initiative carried out in several Australian states. The aim of the Challenge is to promote a love of reading. It is a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely.

Students have to read a certain number of books, usually from leveled lists provided, and keep an online record of their reading. Those (in their thousands) who have completed the challenge get a certificate from the State Premier. A combination of factors - a list of great books, the online component of the challenge, and the recognition from the Premier him/herself, helps to make this challenge a great success in getting kids reading.

The challenge works best in schools where teachers and librarians get behind it, displaying and promoting books from the list, and encouraging kids to take part. Parental support is also important. Each state's Premier's Challenge website includes teaching hints. Have a look here for an example from the NSW Challenge, and here for the Queensland Challenge's hints. On this Queensland page, I found a link to an excellent article by James Maloney on getting boys reading.

How about having a Principal's Reading Challenge at your school next year? Its the perfect time to start planning this (those school reports can wait!). Or, get together with other schools in your area, and approach your local mayor for a Mayor's Reading Challenge. As a starter for your booklist, have a look at the Whitcoull's list, for the 50 books that 40,000 Kiwi children have chosen as their favourites. Like the lists of Books Boys Buy on this blog here and here, we know that these books are the ones that children themselves are choosing.

Return soon, dear reader to find out about a homegrown Reading Rewards programme that is making a real difference in local schools.

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