Summer 2010

"Research shows that children lose one to three months of learning every summer. Reading just four or five books during the summer months, though, can prevent this loss." (otoh, according to Dee Mascle at buzzle.com: "While reading is the least effected, the most impacted subjects are spelling and math.")

Summer Reading Programs for 2010:

• NJ Public libraries Summer Reading Club 2010 - Make a Splash - Read!, Make Waves at your Library, Water your Mind - Read! Registration is usually starts at your local library in June.
  
  
• RIF Reading Planet
  
  
• Feed Your Brain: For kids 14 & under, June 1st - July 30th, half price books (halfpricebooks.com) have a program to earn coupons. More information off-site.
  
  
• Barnes & Noble has their summer reading program out (for 5/25 - 9/7/2010). Earn a FREE BOOK when you read 8 books. Based on past years, those who finish earlier have a better choice of books. For children x - 12 y.o
  
  
• Scholastic Summer Reading Program starts 4/30/2010 with a webinar. Theme: "read for the world record" : This year's summer challenge unites students to read in an attempt to set a new world record for summer reading! The overall record set for 2009 among all schools was 35,846,094 minutes logged and the top school logged 683,057 minutes! (children 8 & up can register on line - with parental permission...) not sure if a school name is needed.
  
  
• For reading 10 books & listing them on their form, TD Bank will deposit $10 into a new or existing Young Saver account once per customer May 3, 2010 through September 30, 2010. Must be 18 years of age or younger to participate. Bring form of ID for child for new account opening.
  
  
• Sylvan has a "book adventure" where kids read for points. Not quite sure how enrollment works.Book Adventure is a FREE reading motivation program for children in grades K-8. Children create their own book lists from over 7,000 recommended titles, take multiple choice quizzes on the books they've read, and earn points and prizes for their literary successes. Book Adventure was created by and is maintained by Sylvan Learning. Click here to find a book or to download the whole book list.
  
  
• Pizza Hut Book It! program also aims to encourage summer reading. (enter March - May 2nd, random draw of entries on May 3rd)
  

Possible programs - run in past years:

• Don't know if About.com will run a 12th annual summer reading program for homeschoolers - but I hope so.
• I also don't know about "showcase cinemas" bookworm Wednesdays - no 2010 schedule is up yet. The nearest theatre to me may be in Edgewater?
  

HS Summer Acting

TYRO Acting Program for children aged 6­-12 years at Centenary College

This great program is offered over two weeks by Maria Brodeur, a great friend, actress and drama teacher. A high-school homeschooler is one of the assistants. The dates are June 28th ­July 9th and to find out more please contact Lorna who will pass on your information to Maria.

Morris Museum

Morris Museum (Morristown) . See the new wing they've finished. Click for directions.

2008 - 09 "On School Time" shows include: Usually at 11 am & 1:30, For $10.00 for non-members, $8.00 for groups of 20 or more. (They also have discussions with Holocaust survivors every spring - different sessions for middle and high schoolers.)

• Dr. Doolittle : Signstage On Tour, Monday, February 16, 2009, Ages 5-13, Probably 11 am & 1:30 pm. The classic doctor who talks to the animals told in a unique way. The stage is filled with the movement of hands and bodies yet every word is spoken to make sure all audience members, both deaf and hearing, don't miss a thing.
  
  
• A Dancing Storybook Adventure : Dance Innovations, Saturday, March 21, 2009, Perfect for the Entire Family!, Probably 11 am & 1:30 pm, probably $10
  This magical dance journey revisits three beloved children's stories, THE LION KING, HAPPY FEET, and THE WIZARD OF Oz as they "Ease On Down The Road" through jungles and ice. Artistry, numerous dance styles (from Tap to Ballet to Modern) and performers of all ages make this show Perfect for the Entire Family!
  
  
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe : Marionette Players, $7/seat, Pre-K - 4th grade. Tuesday, March 31, 2009, 10 & 12:30; Wednesday, April 1, 2009,10 & 12:30; Thursday, April 2, 2009, 10 & 12:30; Friday, April 3, 2009, 10 am only.
  Also (for $10/seat) Friday, April 3, 2009 4:00pm, Saturday, April 4, 2009, Ages 4-10
  Live actors and marionettes perform this endearing and exciting C. S. Lewis classic. Three children discover an old wardrobe in an ancient house that transports them to the bewitched land of Narnia. Only the children can break the spell with some help from Mr. & Mrs. Beaver and Aslan the Lion.
  

• DANCIN’ WITH THE HONEY BEES,Clifford Wright-Sunflower, $7/seat,
  Thursday, May 21, 2009, 10 am & 12:30, Grades: 1-6. Clifford Wright-Sunflower is a master beekeeper and environmentalist. Aided by an eager volunteer from the audience dressed in beekeeping equipment, Clifford demonstrates the precision of a beekeeper working a beehive. He transforms the entire audience into a working hive. With bodies busily buzzing about in the functional dance of the beehive, children learn first-hand about the delicate and complex balance of the bee colony. After the honeybee dance, children are divided into smaller groups to visit with an observation hive of bees, to make a beeswax candle and, most importantly, to share bee fears, experiences and questions.

Summer 2008 Shows were mostly in July, and mostly for the under 12 year old crowd. They sell out fast.

Other 2008 - 2009 shows were:

• The Kazoobie Kazoo Show : Rick Hubbard Producers, Inc., Friday, November 7, 2008, Ages 3-13, Probably 11 am & 1:30 pm. Exceptional fun with music, laughter, and of course…kazoos. The finale features the entire audience as members of the grand kazoo band!! Everyone leaves the show humming with their own personal kazoo.
  
  
• Einstein Alive! (Marc Spiegel) : Tuesday, December 2, 2008, $7/seat, 10 am & 12:30 pm, Grades: K - 5. Marc Spiegel brings Albert Einstein to life! Professor Einstein talks about his life, his difficulties in school, and the "adventures" within his mind. He speaks about his fame and what it means to be a theoretical physicist. Professor Einstein uses song and audience participation to show what "strange" motion is and what the terms "relative" and "frame of reference" mean.
  
  
• Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble : by Unity Community Center, Saturday, December 27, 2008, Ages 4-adult, Probably 11 am & 1:30 pm. Unique drum beats and traditional African costumes and acrobatics celebrate the beginning of Kwanzaa, the annual festival of family, community, culture, and peace.

2007-2008 On school time SHOWS included
these which may be annual:

1. PSA - A Discussion with Holocaust Survivors(Morris Museum, Morristown), Middle School discussion - April 1,2,16 & May 7. High School Discussion April 15.
   
   
2. Organizing -Dancin' with the Honey Bees, Clifford Wright-Sunflower, Grades: 1-6, Morris Museum (Morristown), Tuesday, May 13, $6 per seat (museum tickets not included), 10 a.m show (or go to the 12:30 show on your own.)
   

Summer Reading 2008

Some summer reading programs started on June 1!

While I know that children will eat more peas if they are just on a plate than if they are paid/bribed to eat peas (no I don't have the citation for that research) -- I have no problem letting my kids get things for the reading they would do anyway.

1. About.com has a 2008 summer reading program just for homeschoolers! costs $1. . . for details, click.
   
   
2. From June 1 - July 31, children can participate in a "Pawsome" reading program with Build-a-Bear. Check out their booklet, complete the activities under reading, return the signed form to your local Build-A-Bear and receive a Pawsome Collectibear pin.http://www.buildabear.com/BABW/US/Pages/LP/BePawsome/Q4_booklet.pdf
   
   
3. Scholastic's Summer Reading Buzz is "Read for Service": Online registration for each student required - looks like through middle school? Read 4 books, log your books and a book will be donated to a child in need:
   http://www.scholastic.com/summerreading/index.asp
   
   
4. Click to go off-site to Enter today for a chance to win a copy of The Dangerous Alphabet and a Full color poster signed by Neil Gaiman and Gris Grimly! They will want your email & birthdate.
   
   
5. As usual, Barnes & Noble is running a program for elementary school children. The theme of the 2008 Summer Reading program is based on books by the popular children’s author, Andrew Clements. Click for a program brochure or more details. Click here for just the sheet to write their titles on.
   
   
6. Commerce Bank has been willing to give $10 to child-customers who read 10 books & write the titles down. It may be worth opening an account? Click to find their brochure. Offer valid through September 30, 2008.
   
   
7. Reading Planet's Summer 2008 Reading Olympics is coming. No prizes that I could see - but book suggestions and Olympic tie-ins.
   
   
8. I assume that there will be Summer Reading Thing from Callapidder Days. You'll need a blog or web entry to the list of books you plan/hope to read this season, and include a link back to the Callapidder Days Summer Reading Thing post. I have heard no promises, just assuming here. Reading other participants lists & writing reviews are optional. The winner has so far been selected randomly. At the end you'll also need to post about your challenge experience, saying whether you reached your goals and how the Summer Reading Thing went for you.
   
   
9. From about.com: From June 30- August 15 children ages 5-18 can participate in RIF's Summer Reading Contest for a chance to win cool prizes. Prize packages include a $20 gift card to be used towards the purchase of books, a DVD or VHS copy of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, a Riffington Frisbee, and a RIF book light. To participate, children should select a book from the summer reading booklist, categorized by age level, posted on the Reading Planet. After they read the book, children should submit a review. Children who submit a book review will be automatically entered into a weekly prize drawing. Each Friday during the contest, three children will be selected at random to receive prizes. or their ideas for Summer reading olympics and "the world's most athletic book list".
   
   
10. Check in with your local library! Sign-ups are usually at the end of June. All of Morris County shares the same theme each summer.
    
    
11. Pizza Hut Book It! has a drawing/contest for children who were in K - 6th in 2007 - 2008. I don't know how they view homeschoolers without grades. It looks like they are offering 10 prizes -- for the whole US. Click to go off-site for Entry form. Or click here for the full details.
    
    
12. Feed Your Brain: For kids 10 & under, June 1st - August 2nd, half price books (halfpricebooks.com) and Cici's pizza have a program. Click for more information off-site.
    
    
13. Sylvan Learning Book Adventures: check out the details yourself.
    

14. Autism Asperger Publishing Company: They have a log for keeping track of the books that the child completes. For early elementary and elementary students, submit the completed reading log at the end of the program with at least one photo of the child with his/her craft project or favorite book to receive a certificate of completion, AAPC Team Gear and a $25 AAPC gift certificate. For middle school and high school students, students should submit a completed reading log with at least two book reports to receive a certificate, AAPC Team Gear and a $25 AAPC gift certificate. Just click on the registration link to sign up!
    

15. National Amusements: Free movie for a book report (but only 2 locations in NJ): BOOKWORM WEDNESDAY is an annual fun and rewarding summer reading program developed to encourage young children to read during the summer months.

    BOOKWORM WEDNESDAYS entitles kids to free admission to a select children's film every Wednesday at 10:00 AM during the summer months when they present a book report at participating theatres. Children under six who accompany a participant and adults who accompany a participant receive free admission to the Bookworm Wednesdays movie and do not need to submit a book report.
    
    BookWorm Wednesdays, 10:00AM, June 25 - August 13, 2008. View BookWorm Film Schedule.

16. There seems to be NO Read to Fly! NJ contest his year. Sorry!
    

Their rules RULE over anything written here, no liability accepted, etc.