DR> I'd like to hear about other reading incentives for kids, besides the 
 DR> above two ideas and book reports. My kids' school 
 DR> has gotten "stuck" on "RAD READING" for the past 
 DR> few years for K-4. This involves keeping track of 
 DR> the books read (ugh) or the minutes (better). Then 
 DR> they sit thru a half-hour assembly and get rewarded 
 DR> with a pencil or some such thing. (boring....the 
 DR> assembly, not the pencil....)
Simple, let a computer manage the whole reading project.  Accelerated Reader 
is one program that is great at doing that.  Kids read books, take a test on 
the computer, the computer gives them a percentage for their test, kids get 
points depending upon the difficulty or the book and their score, kids go to 
reading store to spend points, and the librarian goes crazy keeping enough 
books for the kids to read.
 
That is the simplistic view of the program, however I have found it to be one 
of the best uses for a computer ever.  The tests measured my student's 
comprehension adequately and the students were motivated to read.  We have 
installed it on our network at school and will have the student body 
registered, all of our reading teachers are ordering library books for the 
basic set of disks we have.
 
When I was in elementary, the 5th grade used it extensively. My students were 
required to read one book every six weeks and take a test.  Using oral, 
group, and silent reading plus vocabulary work, and comprehension review, 
everyone except the special ed students could pass the test. (sometimes they 
would-but they weren't required to take it).  I also encouraged the use of 
the lists for the average to advanced reader, they would often either pick a 
book above grade level or read more books on grade level.  I was surprized 
when one of my students asked to take a test on "To Kill a Mockingbird".  She 
said that she had read it when her mom saw it on the reading list and bought 
the book for her.
 
It is a great program, if you want more information, let me know.
--- Maximus 2.02
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