Advanced Reading Program - How to get in

[tarana]

My 7 yr old are extemely intrested in reading, so much so I had to restrict reading during summer & sometimes I had to hide books.

How do I get them to register in a Advanced Reading program at school?
Is it something the teacher decides or can you request them to add you child?
How advanced should the child be to qualify for the program?
Those who have children in this kind of progarm, will it affect their activities i.e. Is it too time consuming?

[Truscifi]

Why did you restrict reading?

[Hillary in KS]

Tarana, is your child a public school student? If so, these are questions for their teacher, not something that can be answered on a message board. The program and its qualifications are likely specific to the school.

If your child is homeschooled, I'd recommend NOT involving them in the public school. Just surround them with good, quality literature.

If you really feel the need for a *program*, look at some reading lists (many are online) for inspiration and create your own reading list for 2009-2010. Have you read the Well-Trained Mind? There are some excellent reading lists in that book.

HTH!

[Elisa]

Could you mean Accelerated Reader typically called AR? That is a program used at many schools to encourage reading and improve reading comprehension. Here's the link for more details: http://www.renlearn.com/
If you google specific books you can find AR questions for any book.

I have two kids in public school and one in private. I agree with the advice already given to talk to the teacher and/or principal about any program you think would be a good fit for your child. They can explain how the program is run, any requirements, etc.

How about joining a book club?

[KristenS]

LOL, my worst childhood punishment was to be grounded from books. Otherwise, though, I had no restrictions. That was back in the good old days before AR and reading levels became so important to grades.

www.bookadventure.com (http://www.bookadventure.com) is a free sort of imitation AR. You can make your own rewards for it too.

[tarana]

Thanks for all your replies.
I am looking at Book Adventure. This is exactly what I was looking for. This will help me understand how good their comprehension is.
I will check if there is a local book club.

Reason I had to restict reading was, if they have books they will not eat, play or sleep. One of them read continously for 5 hrs while we were driving to Vegas. She tries to read the novels I keep near my treadmill. I want them to have some physical activity during the course of the day.

[zaichiki]

I had to restrict reading today when we drove up to the park. (We had just been to the library.) Ds wanted to bring a book with him. I told him to put the book back in the car: he could read it on the way home. I wanted him to play!

I try REALLY hard not to restrict reading at all, but I know what you mean about those crazy kids choosing to read above all else. I remember BEING that kid.

Dh made a rule: no books at the table. So, when he's home and we're all eating together -- no reading while eating. When he's a work, I let the kids read while they eat. (He knows that. He thinks I'm too permissive...)

I have to admit that I STILL read for hours straight. Usually it's when I'm SUPPOSED to be sleeping. :)

[Truscifi]

Ok, I understand the reading restriction now. I was like that too, and was not allowed to read when other things were scheduled, but was never restricted on reading during free time. DS is only 5 but already likes to read - I don't know if he'll get to the point where he would rather read than play, but we'll see.