Help motivate my 3rd grade reader please.

MamaKct

My DS1 is 7, soon to be 8 and in 3rd grade.  He has always liked to read and now it's a struggle to get him to do his daily required reading.  I've tried simply letting him pick his own books and that hasn't even made a difference.  He will do it only after I threaten not letting him go to football practice and I hate to have to punish him to get him to read.  Any ideas?  

notkateanymore

I don't know about motivation, but since it's homework, he just has to do it. Have you tried letting him get in trouble for it at school? That would be enough motivation for my daughter. We do homework {except reading actually} before any other activities in the afternoon. So another way you can go is that until he does the homework, there is not other activity {fun, football, etc.} 

notkateanymore

I think it helps for it just to be something he does, not really a punishment. I know that's easier said than done. Good Luck!

MamaKct

KateMW said:

I think it helps for it just to be something he does, not really a punishment. I know that's easier said than done. Good Luck!

This is my goal.  To get to this point.  I just want to find something to try to help him get there.  Thanks!  

hokies94

KateMW said:

I don't know about motivation, but since it's homework, he just has to do it. Have you tried letting him get in trouble for it at school? That would be enough motivation for my daughter.  

This.  Last year (2nd grade) DD refused to do her homework.  After trying to get her to do it we just let her get it trouble at school (not that she really got in trouble, but comments from the teacher).  She's done it willingly ever since.  

May not work for all kids but it was a huge motivation factor for DD. 

alli2672

Does it have to be a book?  I remember my brother hated reading as a kid, but he always read through his Boys Life and Nintendo Power magazines. 

mandymack

I know it doesn't work for every child but I do the opposite as AG: we come home and play. No talk about school or homework or any issues, just easy, thoughtless play time. Emily just needs to burn off steam and have FUN at the end of the school day so, we do homework and prepare for the next day AFTER our play time/activities.

Maybe he just needs a break in between school and homework?!? Just a thought. Good luck!

pitterpatter129

My sister has a tally chart with my nephew.  For every 10 books read he gets some little rewards and at 100 he got something big.  I think it was a trip to our local water park.  He got that and now I think he wanted new Skylander things this time.

 

notkateanymore

10 times or 10 books? What size books are we talking about here?

pitterpatter129

KateMW said:

10 times or 10 books? What size books are we talking about here?

10 books, chapter books.  He's going into first grade this year, but he's a good reader, so they do the little Junie B Jones or on level longer books.  And the reward might be like 10 extra min of TV time or something, not always an actual "thing".

 

notkateanymore

Wow, that's a lot of work for a little reward. I should have started smaller all those years ago. LOL

Of course, the book DD is currently reading is 500+ pages, so it's a bit different. 

pitterpatter129

Always start young!   I can get a class of first graders to do just about anything for a dumdum pop!

 

notkateanymore

LOL