summer reading plan

I loved to read when I was a kid…I still do!  Summer reading was and still is more enjoyable to me.  There is nothing like taking a good book and curling up in the hammock while reading.  Unfortunately, two of my daughters have struggled with reading over the years.  They are dyslexic learners, which makes the written word much harder for them to read and process.  Therefore, reading is not as enjoyable.

My youngest daughter needs the repetition of reading on a daily basis, and I have tried various ways to make it fun for her.  I have come up with a summer reading plan that includes some fun rewards along with some different reading options for her.

The first thing I did was visit the book store to stock up on some new books.  I purchased books with topics that I thought would interest her.  Of course, we will spend time picking out books at the library…our local library has a great selection of children’s literature.

So here’s the plan…

After choosing a book, C will also choose a place to read for the day.  I wrote some fun reading locations on wood craft sticks, and she will pick out one each day.  By changing locations, I hope to keep her interested.  With it being summer, the locations are more fun…our gazebo, spreading out a blanket in the yard, the trampoline.  Much more exciting than the living room sofa!

After choosing the book and location, it is time to read.  My goal is to have her read 15 minutes a day.  She has this great timer (click here to purchase) which also serves as a bookmark.  It keeps her on track with her 15 minute goal each day.

For every 15 minutes C reads, she colors in a circle on a chart.  After five circles are colored in, C can choose a reward.  Once again, it is a surprise.  She never knows which reward she will pull out of the container.  I listed some incentives (some involve money, some are activities that we can do together) on slips of paper from which she can choose.

Or she can accumulate her colored circles and choose a bigger reward once she has ten circles filled in.  These rewards are similar, but may involve more time and/or money.

I keep all her reading supplies together in this metal container, which makes it convenient to take along if we are going out for the day.

We just started this week, and she seems pretty excited about it!  The Nancy Clancy book was her first pick for summer reading, and she “chose” the gazebo as her location for the first day.

I’ll keep you posted as the summer progresses…hopefully this reading plan for my daughter is a success, but I’m prepared to make adjustments if necessary.