Finding the Right "Reward"

During the 2023-2024 school year, I would ask Dominic if he would like to read a book from time-to-time. The answer was always a "no." I didn't want to put any pressure on him, since he got on the bus about 7:20 a.m. and didn't get home from school until close to 3 p.m. He also had art therapy, speech therapy and music therapy! This summer, I tried a different approach. The Capital Area District Library System has a summer reading program. You could log in reading times online, but with Dominic being such a "visual" learner, I opted to print out the sheet. We also worked with his private speech therapist to have him ask me, "Mommy, can we read a book?" He would have to do that first, me not ask him. The sheet from the library had two sets of circles that you could check off or put an "x" on. Each one had 30 circles, for a total of 60 circles. Each "circle" represents 20 minutes of reading. When he reached 30 circles, I told him he could get a prize from the library. He said he didn't want to. Just being able to cross off a circle on the reading log was enough of a reward to him. When he reached 60 circles, since the summer reading program was over, I asked him if he wanted to stop reading or keep going. He said he wanted to keep going!! I went to the Capital Area District Library System's summer reading program website and printed out another reading log. We love the "Who Was?" or "Who Is?" books! It is just about at his reading level, so it's a perfect series for him. We have run into words occasionally that he doesn't know or doesn't know how to pronounce. I use it as a "teaching moment" for him. We have read about George Washington, Helen Keller, Willie Wonka, the Wright Brothers and Mozart. We are currently reading about Dr. Seuss!

Dominic started back to school last Wednesday. When he got home from school, I was VERY curious as to whether he would stop asking to read. I was pleasantly surprised when he asked to read!! I am hopeful that the 2024-2025 school year will be one of reading every day!! So far, so good!

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