S/O (sorta) - Children's Summer Reading Program & What I Overheard at the Library

[eaglei]

Just wanted to mark this thread so I can find it again . . .

 

Please carry on with the topic!!!  :-)

[PachiSusan]

Even if said 5th grader reads at a 2nd grade level? 1st grade level? K level? There are upper elementary kids stuck at that point of barely being able to read. Why should a summer time incentive be a chore for them?

 

K-2 is considered a young child according to the librarian, and K-2 could be read to. ANY level book counts however, so said 5th grader in your question would be allowed to read at their level or even look at a picture book with some words on it. I don't see how asking a 5th grader to read at his or her own level would be a chore for them? 

[PachiSusan]

Actually being read to, I believe, does help increase literacy.  Think of all the reading we did to our children before they were reading.  Or the fact we continue to do so.  We often read more difficult books than they may be able to read themselves.  Why do we do that if it does nothing?  It does.  Being exposed to the richer vocabulary does help with reading.

 

Being read to is not comparable to watching television.  You still need to focus on the words and create the images in your mind as well as interpret the meaning. 

 

I am not comparing listening to a book to watching television, however they are both a more passive way of information exchange. With TV you get fed with your eyes but you're not doing anything to get the information. With listening to a book, your ears are doing the work and you're being fed information from another source. Both are a more passive than active activity. Not wrong, just different. 

 

Yes, of course being read to at a young age can increase literacy. I didn't say it "does nothing".  I'm not denying that. I just think *in this instance*, at least for the library *we* are involved with - that's not what they are looking for with this summer reading program. It's not just about familiarity. It's about the actual mechanics of reading. It sounds like many other people's libraries are NOT doing / focusing on that, and I'm obviously not the majority opinion here. I have a different perspective. 

[PachiSusan]

Even TWTM recommends having kids listen to audio books regularly. 

 

I think it's fine to insist your own child do it the way you want, but if a library has a wider definition of reading, I don't see the big deal.  It is not the same as saying a kid gets credit for reading if he watches the movie version of the book. 

 

And you know, not all people love to read.  Some people quite hate it.  I would think an audio book would be a very good compromise.

 

To be perfectly clear: I never said anywhere that audio books were wrong, or that being read to was not efficacious. What I said was I don't believe they should count in a summer "READING" program, and our library, for older children, does not count them. 

 

Any more than that is assuming how I feel about audio books - and one would be wrong. I ADORE them and use them all the time. I just don't count them as reading for my daughter, nor do they count them in the library program we are involved in.  :thumbup1:

[PachiSusan]

I don't think listening to a book is a passive activity at all.  In fact, I have a tough time listening to audio books.  My mind wanders.  I prefer to read it to myself.  But there are many instances in our life where we are given information through means other than the written word.  It's a skill to be able to focus on that delivery of information (think lectures, for examples). 

 

I agree. It's definitely a very important skill. I just believe it's different from the actual mechanics of reading it for oneself. :)

[SJ.]

Thanks everyone, it was interesting to hear about the different programs out there.

[mmeblue]

Our library's summer reading program is kind of pathetic. The ONLY prizes are stickers in your reading log. You get one new sticker each week, whether you've added books to your list or not. If you miss any weeks, they will give you all the stickers you need up to the current week. They record your first name when you get your reading log, but that's it. There are weekly programs that go along with the summer reading theme; we happened to be at the library at the right time today, so DD#1 got to learn about ants from a professor, which she enjoyed. But the programs have zero to do with whether the child has actually done any reading. (Please note that I *LOVE* our library for many reasons. I just think the summer reading program could be much better than it is!)

 

They also don't specify what "counts" as reading. I am on the "it counts if you encounter the material" bench, though I would not want my own kids to have ONLY audiobooks when they're old enough to do plenty of their own reading. I might set some personal limits. But if another parent is fine with only audiobooks for their kids, I don't see an issue with it. I do count audiobooks for reading challenges on Goodreads, myself! :)

[Jen in PA]

After reading about other summer reading programs, I am starting to realize just how lucky we are. We count books read, not time, and younger kids can count books read to them. At five books you get a stuffed animal and a certificate for a fast food snack, at ten books you get an inflatable toy and a certificate worth $10 to spend at the book fair. With more than ten books you get another small item - I think it is a geode this summer - and a certificate for a free meal at Applebee's. There are special programs weekly, things like visiting shows from a local zoo, the science center, and the children's museum, a magic show, a play, etc. There is also a bin of tokens that is hidden in a new spot each week, and the kids can exchange them for little trinkets. The librarian told me that the entire purpose of this is to get the kids looking through parts of the library they don't usually visit. There is a craft table with a new activity each week, too.

 

My dd is sort of annoyed that audiobooks do not count because she has gotten hooked on listening to them while she works on craft projects. On the other hand, she still has plenty of time for real books since the program runs for two months.

[Mommyof4ks]

Audiobooks count for our reading program too, and I am overjoyed, because my dyslexic son can participate without feeling shamed. He is going into the 4th grade, but he still struggles to read easy books. Her son might have similar challenges.

[PachiSusan]

After reading about other summer reading programs, I am starting to realize just how lucky we are. We count books read, not time, and younger kids can count books read to them. At five books you get a stuffed animal and a certificate for a fast food snack, at ten books you get an inflatable toy and a certificate worth $10 to spend at the book fair. With more than ten books you get another small item - I think it is a geode this summer - and a certificate for a free meal at Applebee's. There are special programs weekly, things like visiting shows from a local zoo, the science center, and the children's museum, a magic show, a play, etc. There is also a bin of tokens that is hidden in a new spot each week, and the kids can exchange them for little trinkets. The librarian told me that the entire purpose of this is to get the kids looking through parts of the library they don't usually visit. There is a craft table with a new activity each week, too.

 

My dd is sort of annoyed that audiobooks do not count because she has gotten hooked on listening to them while she works on craft projects. On the other hand, she still has plenty of time for real books since the program runs for two months.

 

I read this to Melissa and she said she wishes she went to YOUR library!!! Our prizes are you read 5 books, you get to choose one from the discarded book cart. Yeah. Books that the library are done with. Blech.

[Jen in PA]

I read this to Melissa and she said she wishes she went to YOUR library!!! Our prizes are you read 5 books, you get to choose one from the discarded book cart. Yeah. Books that the library are done with. Blech.

If it makes you feel any better, the library I described is actually 15 miles away, in our county seat. 'Our' library in the nearest town has a tiny summer reading program limited to a dozen students, and ends in 3rd grade. We get a little sticker on the back of our cards for that library that gives us access to other library systems in the state.

[Jen in PA]

Duplicate post.

[Elfknitter.#]

I'm curious, do those who say nay to audiobooks find a parent reading aloud acceptable... Say even for a 6th grader who could read the text on their own?

[PachiSusan]

I'm curious, do those who say nay to audiobooks find a parent reading aloud acceptable... Say even for a 6th grader who could read the text on their own?

 

Of course it's acceptable. I just don't think it should count for a book read in a summer reading program. I read out loud to my daughter (rising 5th grader) a lot. We just don't count it as a book she has read for a summer reading program.  :thumbup1:

[Elfknitter.#]

But why not? Why is that less of a book than if she had read it herself? In Austen's time, reading aloud was a way to experience a book as well as pass time. Why is it suddenly just an exercise in listening and not experiencing and comprehending? Where does this leave auditory learners?

[PachiSusan]

But why not? Why is that less of a book than if she had read it herself? In Austen's time, reading aloud was a way to experience a book as well as pass time. Why is it suddenly just an exercise in listening and not experiencing and comprehending? Where does this leave auditory learners?

I don't know how else I can say this.

 

I am NOT dissing audio books or their place on learning. I do not think it counts as a book READ as in decoding the letters with their own eyes and practicing the skill of reading in a program designed to track reading skills, not listening skills.

 

I VALUE auditory learning, audio books, and read alouds. What else do you want me to say?

[Elfknitter.#]

Hmm, I guess that's where we differ. I don't think of reading as solely decoding and tracking skills. Gotcha. :)

[PachiSusan]

Hmm, I guess that's where we differ. I don't think of reading as solely decoding and tracking skills. Gotcha. :)

I don't think so either, but I do for a summer reading program. :)

[Elfknitter.#]

I don't think so either, but I do for a summer reading program. :)

Ok, so why does it differ for an SRP? Because the librarian said so?

 

I understand if a library says no audiobooks will be credited on reading logs, but other libraries do allow them (yes, I am aware that your local program does not.) If your library allowed them, would you feel differently? And if you wouldn't, why not?

[PachiSusan]

Ok, so why does it differ for an SRP? Because the librarian said so?

 

I understand if a library says no audiobooks will be credited on reading logs, but other libraries do allow them (yes, I am aware that your local program does not.) If your library allowed them, would you feel differently? And if you wouldn't, why not?

I believe they don't count for me and my daughter because I believe it, not because a librarian said so. I fully realize you disagree with me, so lets just get to the end, shake hands, say "good discussion- I agree to disagree" and move on. That is what I am doing now. :)

[Elfknitter.#]

Because I believe it so is a cop out, not an end to an argument.

[Melissa in Australia]

here the library has a reading competition each summer. The child gets a sheet from the library and needs to read the books themselves, record the book and author on the sheet. Once they have read 5 books they can go to the library and get a sticker, once they have read 10 books they take the sheet into the library and it goes into a draw for a $50 voucher second pries is a $20 book voucher. The children have to read the books themselves, Children younger than school age ( under 5) can "read" picture books that have no words. School age children need to read books that have words. You can enter as many sheets as you like, as long as you have read the books.

[PachiSusan]

Because I believe it so is a cop out, not an end to an argument.

Seriously? You can't just agree to disagree and move on? I have posted my reasons in the thread for all to see. Why don't you go back and read it? Also , I wasn't aware we were having an argument. I thought we were discussing a difference of opinion.

 

Peace out.

[happypamama]

Our library program is too easy. You get to pick the amount of books, no minimum. It seems to just get easier and easier every year. It makes me sad.

See, done properly, I think that could be a good thing.  If it were "you and a parent set the goal that is right for you," that would be the ideal, IMO.  Maybe one kid is a new reader, and his goal is to complete one book that is over 100 pages (because when your stamina is only about 5 pages at a time, 100 pages takes a while).  Maybe other kid is a very fluent reader and needs encouragement to read something harder, so he chooses his goal as "read the LOTR trilogy" -- only three books but not easy ones, and a lot of pages  Maybe a younger child is easily overlooked in a large family, and so his goal is "have someone read to me for 20 minutes a day."  Or maybe all of the children in the family share one common goal: listen to a series such as Percy Jackson or Little House together as a family.  IMO, there is a time and place for calculating things in various ways, but I don't really like the one-size-fits-all approach, so I'm not too wild about library summer reading programs.

 

(As for audio books, I'm a big fan of them and think they fill a very good purpose.  I do think kids should have print exposure as well, and I would not allow my children to count audio books as their sole summer reading, regardless of what the library said, although I would allow a few of them to be included on a SRP's list, particularly ones listened to in the car or while doing crafts, or other times when print reading wouldn't be likely to happen.  Then again, when we have done the summer library programs, I have been picky about what I allow my children to count.  My big kids, currently 8 and 11, can read all the picture books they want, and I think there is value in them, but for something that will garner a reward, I want them to have more of a challenge, so I only allow chapter books of certain levels to count for rewards.)

[happypamama]

 (& also setting the child up for a very hard time when he/she reaches a university level education).

 

Actually, in some ways, it might be helpful, if a student has listened to a lot of audio books, because he/she may be better able to follow lectures and discussions.  I am very much not an audio learner; I find audio books hard to follow without my mind wandering, and listening to a seminar or lecture is really hard for me.  I needed notes and outlines for college lectures.  Give me print any day!  Otoh, my DH could follow a lecture just fine without taking notes.  He reads (print) a lot but also listens to a ton of audio books because of his commute (and while doing dishes for me), and there's no question that he is learning the material and is able to discuss books intelligently.

 

I'm not discounting your post; I think you are right that they need exposure to print, but I do think there could be some advantages to being used to a lot of audio books.  

[Χά�ων]

Audiobooks count for our reading program too, and I am overjoyed, because my dyslexic son can participate without feeling shamed. He is going into the 4th grade, but he still struggles to read easy books. Her son might have similar challenges.

This. My DS is going into 4th grade and can not read at all despite 2 years of instruction and a solid year of 12 hours a week of VT, IM, auditory processing therapy and working with a reading specialist. I did not ask is audiobooks count and I frankly would count them no matter what the policy, just as I would not for any other disability.

[EKS]

Imo, listening to audiobooks vs. reading a print version of a book are two different things & require different skill sets. Sure, the skill sets are complementary, but still different.

 

You're right, of course, but the reason the library allows audiobooks and read alouds in place of reading with one's eyes (or fingers, in the case of braille books), is so they are not violating ADA laws.  As a public entity, the library must make all programs available to everyone regardless of disability.  Instead of making a big deal about it and requiring people to prove that they are disabled enough to need to use audiobooks, the library just lets everyone count them as reading.

[Χά�ων]

I believe they don't count for me and my daughter because I believe it, not because a librarian said so. I fully realize you disagree with me, so lets just get to the end, shake hands, say "good discussion- I agree to disagree" and move on. That is what I am doing now. :)

There are many parents who lurk or have joined the forums looking for help for their child with dyslexia and reading posts like yours on this thread (and other peoples posts in other threads) are very discouraging to them in their quest to help their child learn and enjoy reading. If I made DS sit and try and read even the simplest books in ordr to meet the 1,000 minute requirement before he got any prize he would cry. He cannot handle sitting with a book and trying to decode it for more than a few minutes at a time no matter how much he wants to read and no matter how cool the prize is.

 

I have enough experience to know that you are not coming from a reasonable place and have no real grasp on this concept that upper elementary children, despite receiving the best instruction with the best methods may not be able to read, but not all parents have reach this point. I would hate for them to find these types of posts on a desperate Google search only to see posts that say they are harming their child by allowing them to listen to audio books instead of forcing them to sit and decode. Try viewing recorded books as assistive technology. Would you deny a blind person audiobooks? Have you ever seen a braille pamphlet? DS, in his desperation to read decided to try to learn braille. The library had trifold pamphlets in both standard and braille, the braille pamphlets were massive. I cannot imagine how large a braille novel would be.

[emzhengjiu]

My 16 year old is dyslexic.  While she is a strong reader now, that hasn't always been so.  When I first enrolled her in our library's summer reading program a long time ago, the library only counted the number of books read, not minutes read.  She would have had to read pre-schooler books to get the number required.  After talking to the head librarian and writing a letter, the policy was changed for the following year.  It now allows the child to count either number of books or mintues read.  Read alouds and audio books count.  To me, the summer reading program is to get kids excited about books and gets them into the library.  It should be fun and not discouraging to kids with learning differences.

 

Edited for spelling.

[Word Nerd]

Our library program is too easy. You get to pick the amount of books, no minimum. It seems to just get easier and easier every year. It makes me sad.

I don't get why that's "too easy," since the kids/parents can also make the goal as difficult as they like. Everyone who does the Goodreads reading challenge sets the number of books required to reach a goal, and I don't think it's sad that Goodreads doesn't set the goal.

[kwg]

 

So with that said i am curious what your children's reading program is like at your local library and if your family participates...?

 

Ds 10 will read with or without a reading program. I make him do it for the prize (a ticket to a museum that is $$$, lol).  It is leveled so after every 10 hours you get something and the museum ticket is after 30.   I count 1 hour for shorter books like A Tale Dark and Grimm and 2 hours for longer ones like Shadow of the Hawk.  It is completely arbitrary.   The second one looks thicker, lol.  He told me he thought it was taking longer than that to read and I said he was welcome to enter them in himself.  It ends sometime in August and he has 8 more hours to go.  I will not let him count books he has read multiple times and I recently reorganized the bookshelf so he has rediscovered many oldies. If it looks like it is getting close I will prob ask him to pick a few new books and read those already!  But that is him.  He reads like he breathes- all.the. time.  It actually gets kind of annoying.

 

ds6 is not fluent.  To get 30 hours for him I am allowing audio books (this is allowed in the rules for all participants).  It would be miserable otherwise.  Even 20 min of Bob-type books is  torturous. He does it :-) and I am not worried since my older one did not start reading until first grade either.

 

I just gear it towards the needs of each child.

 

After 10 hours- coupon to paint your own pott studio

After 20 hours- Free book

After 30 hours-mini golf, free ticket to a museum and a chance to win the raffle (prizes are a kindle fire or a ticket to visit a farm {this cracks me up})

 

Maybe the op child just doesn't like keeping track of stuff lol.    Doesn't mean the child wont read the rest of the summer :-)

[nmoira]

Our library program has three tracks of 12 increments, with a prize after each track. There used to be a bonus tier that allowed a child to place a book plate in their favourite library book (our children's librarian has leftover plates and will continue until they run out). Reading aloud and audiobooks count. For ages 0–4, each increment is 15 minutes; 5–11yo is 30 minutes; and 12–18 yo is 60 minutes. These are recommended times, and kids are encouraged to adjust if and as necessary.

 

Prizes include theatre tickets, books, local museums and attractions, laser tag, roller skating, bakery treats, bowling, and more. Plus everyone who finishes gets a T-shirt. There's also a grand prize draw for a trip to Great Wolf Lodge.

 

I don't see the point of getting worked up about how other people do summer reading, since I am entirely ignorant of their situation and challenges. If you saw my kids checking off their boxes, you might think they were cheating because we don't keep track. They both read far more than they mark off for each level, and they mark off the entire track right before we go to the library.

 

[ThisIsTheDay]

You're right, of course, but the reason the library allows audiobooks and read alouds in place of reading with one's eyes (or fingers, in the case of braille books), is so they are not violating ADA laws.  As a public entity, the library must make all programs available to everyone regardless of disability.  Instead of making a big deal about it and requiring people to prove that they are disabled enough to need to use audiobooks, the library just lets everyone count them as reading.

 

I can say that my library allows audiobooks because the goal is to expose the children to the books, whether it's visual or auditory. 

ADA has never come into play.  (That's not to say that it wouldn't if we decided to stop allowing audio books and someone objected.)

 

Frankly, I'm just happy that some parents finally check out a couple of books, instead of the max 3 DVDs allowed and nothing else.

 

 

(I realize I may sound abrupt here, but that's not how I sound in my head!)

[Jen in NY]

Just wanted to say that I heart our library so much for so many reasons... not the least of which is the summer reading program. (I am not going to weigh in on the audiobook debate... but I did think of linking the thread in an e-mail to the library so my librarians could get a serious kick out of how seriously people take their summer reading programs....)

 

My absolute *favorite* part of the summer reading program is watching the parade of happy kids come in and out of the library. Seriously. It is the cutest thing ever! Our library decorates the kids' room every year in the theme... this year it's "Dig into Reading" so the Children's Room is decked out - Egyptian Style - and the whole thing has an archeological dig vibe. (It's amazing what a talented librarian can do with a roll of brown butcher paper and a sharpie.) The BEST thing ever is to watch the kids' faces as *another adult* ---not their mom or dad, but a *librarian* or a volunteer teen gives them a huge smile and a stamp or a sticker, and undivided attention while the child tells them all about the books they read or listened to that week. I LOVE it! And you can tell the kids really love it, too. It is not really about the minutes/hours/difficulty etc. It is about the kids getting that fantastic positive feedback loop going about reading and the library in general. Awesome.

[*Michelle*]

I don't think listening to a book is a passive activity at all.  In fact, I have a tough time listening to audio books.  My mind wanders.  I prefer to read it to myself.  But there are many instances in our life where we are given information through means other than the written word.  It's a skill to be able to focus on that delivery of information (think lectures, for examples). 

 

I can only listen to audiobooks if I'm 1) taking a bath or 2) reading along while listening.  Which seems like it misses the point, but for things like plays it's nice to hear the performance and see the words at the same time.

[Caroline]

Just wanted to say that I heart our library so much for so many reasons... not the least of which is the summer reading program. (I am not going to weigh in on the audiobook debate... but I did think of linking the thread in an e-mail to the library so my librarians could get a serious kick out of how seriously people take their summer reading programs....)

 

My absolute *favorite* part of the summer reading program is watching the parade of happy kids come in and out of the library. Seriously. It is the cutest thing ever! Our library decorates the kids' room every year in the theme... this year it's "Dig into Reading" so the Children's Room is decked out - Egyptian Style - and the whole thing has an archeological dig vibe. (It's amazing what a talented librarian can do with a roll of brown butcher paper and a sharpie.) The BEST thing ever is to watch the kids' faces as *another adult* ---not their mom or dad, but a *librarian* or a volunteer teen gives them a huge smile and a stamp or a sticker, and undivided attention while the child tells them all about the books they read or listened to that week. I LOVE it! And you can tell the kids really love it, too. It is not really about the minutes/hours/difficulty etc. It is about the kids getting that fantastic positive feedback loop going about reading and the library in general. Awesome.

 

Thank you! 

[Reflections]

Our program, per the librarian, is to increase literacy and to see if reading over the summer increases literacy in the next school year. They keep records of who is involved and at which school. We didn't fill out full name and just said home schooled. I cannot speak for anyone else's program, but ours only allows reading to by a parent for the younger child.

 

I havent changed my opinion even though its quite theminority one, and I don't think "listening" is the same skill as reading.

 

Let's set aside how I feel about audiobooks and discuss the bolded.

 

Are you saying that the Librarian at your library told you that they are collecting records of child participants and are providing that information to the child's school so that they can evaluate whether that particular child's literacy has increased????   

 

There are usually laws in place to prevent that....

[PachiSusan]

Let's set aside how I feel about audiobooks and discuss the bolded.

 

Are you saying that the Librarian at your library told you that they are collecting records of child participants and are providing that information to the child's school so that they can evaluate whether that particular child's literacy has increased????   

 

There are usually laws in place to prevent that....

 

Personally, I agree with you but she said that it's a partnership between the library and the local schools. It's something that I dont' like at ALL, but it's part of it. You are fully informed that that's what they are doing *if you ask the question*, which I did.  I did not give any information but her first name. 

 

I would daresay though, that if one didn't ask the question as to WHY they needed full name and school that it wouldn't be disclosed. 

 

Thank you for the consideration of leaving the audio books out of this because I have bowed out of that discussion and won't be addressing it again anyway. :)

[Reflections]

Personally, I agree with you but she said that it's a partnership between the library and the local schools. It's something that I dont' like at ALL, but it's part of it. You are fully informed that that's what they are doing *if you ask the question*, which I did.  I did not give any information but her first name. 

 

I would daresay though, that if one didn't ask the question as to WHY they needed full name and school that it wouldn't be disclosed. 

 

Thank you for the consideration of leaving the audio books out of this because I have bowed out of that discussion and won't be addressing it again anyway. :)

  

I think that the ALA just let out an annoyed huff  -  

 

http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=otherpolicies&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=13084

[PachiSusan]

I think that the ALA just let out an annoyed huff  -  

 

http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=otherpolicies&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=13084

 

Wow. We go to the library pretty regularly. I will ask the librarian about it next time I go. If they are breaking the law - this is NOT good. I'm hoping now that she misunderstood something about the program. 

[Reflections]

Wow. We go to the library pretty regularly. I will ask the librarian about it next time I go. If they are breaking the law - this is NOT good. I'm hoping now that she misunderstood something about the program. 

 

The ALA guidelines in the link are just suggestions....each state is responsible for setting up their own laws.  You can search out your own state law through their site though...

 

If it were *me* I would ask the librarian an open ended question of:  "Do you also keep my records?  Can I have a printout of all the books I've ever checked out from here?"

 

I asked our local librarian that once (innocently, I was trying to remember the author of a book I had liked and couldn't even remember the title) and she and the woman behind her both noisily sucked in air and then started shaking their heads and declaring that no way, no how did they have access nor kept any of those records except for fine purposes.  Your state may vary.

[Reflections]

Oh, and LOTS of libraries collect summer reading program info because they want more funding.  They are trying to prove to the state that the libraries and reading programs are important and beneficial.

[PachiSusan]

Oh, and LOTS of libraries collect summer reading program info because they want more funding.  They are trying to prove to the state that the libraries and reading programs are important and beneficial.

 

Yes. That was something else that she said. They are collecting information to prove that they are helping increase literacy. 

[Elfknitter.#]

Wow. We go to the library pretty regularly. I will ask the librarian about it next time I go. If they are breaking the law - this is NOT good. I'm hoping now that she misunderstood something about the program.

I would be curious about the librarian's response. I have heard of some libraries who have partnerships with schools as a means to promote their programs and some who have used the collections of children's names to send as a list to the school's principal to inform them who participated. Are they specifically tracking each child's reading or is it merely a more generic form of data collection?

[PachiSusan]

I would be curious about the librarian's response. I have heard of some libraries who have partnerships with schools as a means to promote their programs and some who have used the collections of children's names to send as a list to the school's principal to inform them who participated. Are they specifically tracking each child's reading or is it merely a more generic form of data collection?

 

She said only that they would be sharing the information with the schools to see if those children who participated had improved literacy scores. That doesn't sound generic to me. 

[RootAnn]

We don't count audiobooks for our local summer reading program, but any book read aloud to the child can be counted. My dd#2 can read a book to dd#3 & ds#1 and all three get "credit" for it. (This is a bonus for dd#2 because the books ds#1 picks are generally pretty short and 'easy.' Her level of books take her a week or longer to read. If she just read ds#1 level books to herself, I would have a problem 'counting' them.) There is no top-age-range for listening to a book being read aloud vs. reading it to yourself.

 

I admit I'm amused at the responses to this thread. (Only on WTM can people get all up in arms over whether audiobooks should count for summer reading programs!) The read-aloud-to-your-children-to-increase-their-reading-ability voices are more muted on this thread than on the how-can-I-get-my-kid-to-read-better threads...  :patriot:

 

At the Big City Library, they have a specific (separate) program for those kids who need to listen to books. There is one program for Books Read & one for Time Read (or Listened To). Audiobooks count for the latter, but not the former. You can sign up for one program, not both. Dd#2 always did the former, but it would have been easier for her to do the latter since she is/was an audiobook-fiend. 

 

Anyway, I actually posted to comment on the record-keeping aspect. Our library keeps track of which books you've read. They can look up for you if you've checked out a particular book before. Every few years they change their library software & lose the list, but I know they have the record since their last software change. Local law enforcement can come in & with the proper legal documents, get a copy of your checkouts (and they'll hand over computer records the library keeps of who was sitting at which computer when if necessary). I think the state where we used to live made sure their library software didn't keep track of what you'd checked out once it was checked back in so they wouldn't have to hand it over. Obviously not the case in our current state.  :tongue_smilie:

[Guest submarines]

Summer reading programs, the ones with rewards and ipad draws, make me cringe more than a little, and it is not because audio books vs. "real" books.

 

However, the real question is, what is more important and what one wants to take care and cultivate in a child--the mechanics of reading or the love of literature? Even thought the skill of reading obviously plays an important part in learning to read, it is not the goal in itself. Reading is important precisely because of what the skill can potentially offer and lead to.

 

Do audio books cultivate one's love for literature? You bet they do. Do Summer Reading programs cultivate one's love for literature? This is highly debatable.

 

So what's the problem then?

 

Is the problem that the child and the mother wanted to be done with the program faster? Well, maybe they were assigned to complete the program by the school. Maybe the child resents needing to read for a "pencil" and wanted to mark it as "done". There are many ways to interpret their little conversation, and not all of them negative.

[Ann.without.an.e]

My kids stopped summer reading years and years ago. They read too much and too fast so it was too much work to keep up with it and track it. They considered it not worth it :)

[warneral]

While I love listening to Audio books (we listen to great literature in the car), the mother seemed to be giving the kid an "out" to not have to pick up a book daily and read.  Oh well, it could be worse, but still!

[Firefly]

I'm an avid reader and I love audio books-- they let me knit and read at the same time! :party:

 

However, it's a completely different experience for me.  Reading IS a sensory experience for me... holding the book, the sound of the pages turning, the smell of the paper and ink, all of those things make me become absorbed in the story the way no audiobook can.  Sometimes I want to be absorbed, sometimes I want to be able to knit, or clean up the kitchen, or whatever.  Both have value.

 

My two have long since left library reading programs behind, but when we did do them, the library allowed audio books.  I had the kids read actual print books though-- that was just my own personal preference and I wouldn't have cared one whit if someone else did it differently.