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Reading Challenges

January 10, 2012 by Ami 16 Comments

Reading Challenge Free Printable Forms to Inspire Your Reader from Walking by the Way

Elijah wasn't born a bibliovore, but he quickly became one after his first reading challenge. I remember reading the first chapter or two of The Boxcar Children to Elijah and conveniently leaving the book out for him to snag, if he wanted. I spied him peeking at the next chapter and remember him finishing off the entire read with speed that surpassed my own. That was his first chapter book.

Shortly after the first taste of Boxcar, I gave Elijah his first reading challenge–to read through the nineteen original Boxcar Books. He was thrilled when he realized that these books already had a home on our shelves. He gobbled them.


you can download the reading log by clicking on the image

A few months later I challenged him to read 100 books. They could be picture books, chapter books, or anything between. I still have his list–written with wobbly handwriting. It's sweet to remember the little boy who accomplished such a big task.


you can download the reading log by clicking on the image 

A year or so later, he was stuck on one genre–mystery. I decided to mix it up by presenting him with a challenge to read one book from each genre on the chart below. Fantasy became a new genre love.


you can download the reading log by clicking on the image

And now, four and a half years since that first challenge, I've presented him with yet another reading venture. I've asked him to read, record, and narrate 300 chapter books! 


you can download the reading log by clicking on the image

He's excited. I'm excited for him. I would've eaten this alive when I was 10-years-old. I actually got in trouble in school for reading Just So Stories. My teacher couldn't afford to let me read when there were textbooks to scan and fill-in-the-blanks to be filled. Elijah knows of no such thing. He is free to read, and read he will.

Maybe you can inspire your kids to read, too, by challenging them with these printable reading logs!

He that loves reading has everything within his reach. -Seth Goodwin

He that loves reading has everything within his reach.

Follow my Read! Board on Pinterest where I pin the best book lists and reading incentives I can find.

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Filed Under: destination...delight directed, living books, printable power Tagged With: printable power, printables, read, reading challenges, reading log

Comments

  1. Kyla says

    January 10, 2012 at 8:59 am

    This is such an awesome idea! Can I ask how old Elijah was when you started giving him reading challenges? I think this would be a great thing for Emily (she’s almost 6). Thanks for sharing this!

  2. Ami says

    January 10, 2012 at 9:28 am

    Hi Kyla! šŸ™‚

    Elijah was 6 also. šŸ™‚

  3. Deann says

    January 10, 2012 at 10:00 am

    Great idea šŸ™‚
    Wonder if it would inspire my twins to read… Nothing else has yet šŸ™
    Very frustrating to me, since I have always loved reading!

  4. Shannon C says

    January 10, 2012 at 4:19 pm

    Thanks! I have one reader(girl 9 1/2) that will read series books ONLY before bed and an almost 8 year old boy that is still struggling to learn to read, but I think he’d be all over this once he reads on his own. He loves to be read to.

  5. Jennifer Unsell says

    January 11, 2012 at 12:53 pm

    Love it! Thanks for the printables, Ami! Always appreciate your resources. Our Annie is reading Boxcar Children right now. šŸ™‚

  6. SusanH says

    January 13, 2012 at 8:06 am

    Thanks for the printables, Ami! Hoping the 100 Challenge will inspire mine – particularly the ‘I CAN read very well but hate to’ child.

  7. Kayla Arrowood says

    January 14, 2012 at 11:40 pm

    I love these! Thanks so much Ami ♄

  8. Marti Haslauer says

    April 9, 2012 at 8:16 am

    Did you motivate your Son with a promised reward of any kind?
    I love the idea of the reading challenge. This would make a great summer activity.

  9. Kylie says

    April 9, 2012 at 5:07 pm

    Fabulous! I’ll be using all of these challenges, thank you šŸ™‚

  10. Mindy says

    March 3, 2013 at 12:24 am

    I can’t believe I came upon this blog. The Boxcar Children are the first Chapter books I had ever read also. I never go anywhere without a book. When I was in my teens, I would bring a book into the movie theatre and read until the lights went out. However, when I bring up the Boxcar Children to my friends, they have never heard of it or the series. Those books are what turned me onto reading and my love of books. I love your idea of a reading challenge. I am going to start this tradition with my 5 year old. Thank you! What a wonderful idea.

Trackbacks

  1. Monthly Reading Lists | Walking by the Way says:
    April 9, 2012 at 8:10 am

    […] the end of the month, he can add all of the books to his 300 Book Challenge […]

  2. A Day in the Life at Our Homeschool | Gricefully Homeschooling says:
    June 28, 2013 at 5:11 pm

    […] that need to watched… from the library or Netflix. And my 9 year old is working on the 300 Book Challenge {thanks to Walking by the Way}… so he sticks his head in a book BEFORE he gets on the […]

  3. Free Boxcar Children Resources: Lapbooks, Printables, Activities, and More! | Free Homeschool Deals Ā© says:
    August 6, 2013 at 12:09 am

    […] issue your own Boxcar Children reading challenge […]

  4. A Day in the Life at Our Homeschool says:
    January 21, 2015 at 5:50 pm

    […] that need to watched… from the library or Netflix. And my 9 year old is working on the 300 Book Challenge {thanks to Walking by the Way}… so he sticks his head in a book BEFORE he gets on the […]

  5. Reading Challenge Bookmarks - Walking by the Way says:
    May 3, 2019 at 2:13 pm

    […] Reading Challenges Biography Bingo […]

  6. Reading Challenge - Walking by the Way says:
    March 19, 2020 at 4:25 pm

    […] have several posted here as well as a Biography BINGO Challenge and the Reading Punch Card […]

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Welcome! I’m a big believer in inspiring kids, cultivating curiosity, delight directed learning, living books, field trip adventures, and keeping your sanity while homeschooling. I hope you find something encouraging here today! You can learn a bit more about me here.

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