Dash of This + Dash of That = {POW} The Perfect Incentive

Earlier this week I asked readers, “Would you pay your child to learn to read?“  Many people joined the conversation leaving comments on the post, expressing their opinions on Pinterest, and chatting on Facebook.  Check out some of their thought provoking responses.

I admit I was utterly turned off by this suggestion in The Read Aloud Handbook.  I actually physically set the book down and picked it up again to re-read the comment.  I am traditionally opposed to incentive plans, but what caught my attention was how appalled I was by this particular concept.  After all, is it really any different than paying a child for good grades?  So why is it so upsetting to people?

I want my girls to want to read simply for the joy of reading, not for a gold star from their teacher or any other incentive.  The Montessori argument suggests giving incentives steals the joy of learning away from the child and puts their focus on a prize instead.  Jim Trelease of The Read Aloud Handbook suggests the joy of reading is so strong that it inherently overcomes this argument.

The ability to read well is the key to a life long love of books and learning:  The research and findings of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development show reading is the single most important skill necessary for a happy, productive and successful life. A child that is an excellent reader is a confident child, has a high level of self esteem and is able to easily make the transition from learning to read to reading to learn.  {Source: Homework Help Secrets}

When I read this blog post I simply thought “ditto.”

I personally believe that reading is the most important skill a child can learn, alongside critical thinking. Once a child can read there is a whole world of opportunities out there for him. Encouraging the reading of good, well written books will expand his vocabulary and ability to communicate as well as expand his world of ideas.  The way reading is taught in far too many schools today actually puts children off the whole business of reading and teaches them that reading is boring and repetitive, or just too difficult to do.

Our girls are lucky to have a strong foundation: we read to them and with them everyday, they the know their letters, the phonic sounds, blends, Dolch sight words, we watch Leap Frog videos, play SuperWhy games, and enjoy The Electric Company.  STILL practicing reading out loud can be a frustrating task for them.  In the end learning to read is a unique experience for each child.  I want to ensure our ladies are smitten with the library.

So what is a book-lovin’, anti-incentive, Montessori Kool-Aid drinking mom supposed to do?  Stay Tuned.  Together Shad and I came up with a game plan.  A dash of this, a dash of that and {pow} an ingenious & acceptable incentive.

Read related posts:
You Want Me to PAY My Children to Read?
Growing Organic Bookworms

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