Ahhh, E&E days. Whether your focus is on Enrichment (sleeping in can be very enriching!) or Education (like working on Math Mania projects), it’s always nice to have a couple of days off from the normal routine to catch up or branch out. And speaking of “branching out,” today we want to suggest a possible E&E activity, which need not be restricted to days off – reading great books and adding them to our reading tree.
Remember the Novel Adventures reading tree? We are greeted by its beautiful branches each time we walk into the school office. Every leaf on the tree represents a book read independently by one of our students (or parents). We want to encourage and celebrate the reading of great literature for pleasure, and beyond what is assigned. We know that filling out the form can feel like “one more thing to do,” but we hope you and your kids will take a few minutes to add a leaf to the tree whenever you finish a book.
To recap how it works, when a book has been read all you need to do is:
1. Fill out and hand in the Novel Adventures Book Form for the appropriate level. LMS, UMS and High School students have the option of receiving credit in their classes for writing a “Book Blurb” to be logged and shared with the school community. There is a description for that assignment on a separate sheet of paper. Adults, no extra credit for you, but we’d love to have your book reviews!
2. NOL will give participant the appropriate leaf – each level will have a certain color/shape leaf.
3. Participant will write his or her name on one side of the leaf, book title and author on the other.
4. Leave leaf with the NOL to be hung up on our tree!
Now, perhaps you’ve been busy this year and it’s slipped your mind… it happens! Here are a couple of suggestions and links to help simplify the process and make our reading tree part of your routine:
• Rather than wait to fill out the short Novel Adventures form in the office, print a small stack at home and have them ready to go whenever one of your children finishes a book. Click here for the form (and complete information about the reading program – print just page 2 for the form).
• Try filling out most of the form when your child starts a new book, and then use the form as a bookmark. When the book is finished, the only thing left to do is rate it and take it to the NOL at school.
• Because we want to choose well written books that are good for the heart, mind, and soul, find the approved reading lists on our Password Protected Parent Resources page.
“Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all.”
~ Henry David Thoreau
“No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.”
~ Confucius
“Be awesome! Be a book nut!”
~ Dr. Seuss
Happy reading… let’s see our tree bursting with leaves this spring!
Do you have any tips for remembering to add to the reading tree, or to streamline the process at home? Please leave a comment below and let’s encourage each other to keep up this fun and worthwhile program!
