40 Books Reading Challenge

Somewhere in the last month I read an article about a 40 books reading challenge. A teacher had challenged her class to read 40 books for the school year. The theory is that this will foster a love of reading. It sounded like a good idea. I did a quick search so I could let you know where I first read about it and I discovered that this challenge has been around a long time.
Yak has reading assignments for school, but he does not really enjoy them, and he gets through them as quickly and minimally as possible.
There is much discussion and many variations on the 40 book challenge, but I kept ours simple. My goals are to get the boy reading for pleasure again, and expand his teenage mind beyond video games. With this in mind, we set some ground rules:
Yak will read:
4 books a month of his choice = 1 brand new book of his choice.
Books must be:
at least 200 pages (not including index, etc.)
over 300 pages = 2 books
must not be objectionable to mom
prize book not to exceed $20 unless mom okays it.
There will be a bigger prize at the 1/2 way mark (20 books read). This is not decided yet, but may involve pizza, a special dinner out, a trip to a trampoline park, or some other excursion.
There will be a grand prize when the goal of 40 books read is reached. Disneyland is a possibility, or maybe a water park. Not for sure there yet, either.
A journal must be kept, documenting:
name of book
author
date started
date finished
how well he liked it
main points he noticed
So far he is on track with a book a week, and well on the way to his first prize. I am enjoying our book discussions (I try to read what he is reading) and they also help me to determine whether he is actually reading!

 

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