Reading Incentives
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Holy Apostles School values our students independent reading. To this end, we have a number of different programs throughout the school year which recognize and support our student reading.
Battle of the Books
Every year, every 5th and 6th grade student participates in the battle of the books. The list of books is updated each year and distributed in November. Students read books and come together to demonstrate their abilities and test their knowledge of the books they have read.
5th Grade Battle of the Books 2011/2012
6th Grade Battle of the Books 2011/2012
Library-Sponsored Reading Incentives
Read Aloud Christmas Tree - In an effort to affirm our families' habits of reading aloud to their children, the Fr. Edward Wieland Library recognizes that reading through our Read Aloud Christmas Tree in the window of the library. All the details are included on this link.
2nd Grade Caldecott Challenge - Every year, after the time the American Library Association announces the award winners (February), our second grade students participate in a challenge to read Caldecott award winning books. This award for the best illustrations goes to a picture book each year. Is your child way past picture books and reading chapter books? Is this challenge too easy for a second grader? No - of course not. Picture books are written a wide range of readers; many middle and high school teachers use picture books in their classroom all the time. Moreover, the reading level of picture books ranges from wordless to 4th grade or older! Encourage your child to find books which interest him/her and are appropriate to their reading level.
3rd Grade Series Club - Third grade is a wonderful year for reading. Many of our students can read almost anything and they do! Authors for this age group have created a multitude of series books. To celebrate this trend and encourage our children to discuss character, plot, etc. the library sponsors a series club for third grade students each year. Details will be given directly to the students and their teachers and are linked to the title of this paragraph.
4th and 5th Grade Poster Challenge - After the book fair, the library gets to keep all the posters that were displayed in the windows - that's a lot of posters! Fourth and fifth grade students can "earn" these posters by reading books in a variety of genres according to a book log which is given to each students. The books need to be new to the reader and each student must be prepared to tell me about the book - basic plot structure, characters, etc.
Marquette Golden Eagles Reading Challenge - To encourage all our students to read over Christmas vacation, Holy Apostles participates in this program. Even if you cannot make it to the basketball game with your free tickets, we hope that each student will still keep track of their vacation reading. Every year since this program's inception, Holy Apostles has been one of the top schools. This year we won first place in the entire Archdiocese!
Book Clubs
For our oldest readers, the library coordinates book clubs for 7th and 8th grade students. Students may choose to participate as each book is announced. Book club discussions separate boys and girls. Generally speaking, the book club offerings correspond to genre assignments. Mrs. Wildner makes special arrangements with the public library to obtain enough copies for the group and hosts the book club discussions during lunch/recess. 7th grade students contribute $2 toward snacks and beverages; 8th grade students contribute $5 toward pizza, snacks and beverages. Past book club selections have included:
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (science fiction for boys) - watch the video book trailer!
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (realistic fiction for girls)
Maximum Ride by James Patterson (science fiction for boys)
Peak by Roland Smith (realistic fiction/adventure for boys)
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (historical fiction for girls)
Public Library Programs
The New Berlin Public Library sponsors a number of different programs throughout the year to encourage children to become excited about reading. Please refer to their resources for youth web page for the most current information.
Classroom Reading Incentives
Many of our classrooms participate in the Pizza Hut BOOK IT! program throughout the school year. Reading to earn free pizza! What could be better?
Teachers also participate in the Scholastic Book Order programs. Related to these programs are incentives to read which involve sending books to underprivileged children and earning points for the classroom.
