Summer Reading

Sorry that it has been about a week since I posted anything here.  My family took a much needed vacation last week and it was great to get away and spend time together doing nothing but playing.  We returned Sunday and yesterday I came down with the flu and spent the whole day in bed.  I HATE getting the flu (not that anyone enjoys it!), but the timing couldn't have been better...at least we were home.
Anyway, I hope you all had a great Father's Day and maybe even were able to find something useful on my blog to give?!?
I have come across some summer ideas and activities for you kids, but I thought I would start by featuring this great reading incentive that came from Brown Paper Packages. 

Basically, each child is given a bucket with their name on it.  {You could use another approach depending on what works best for you...a basket, bag, box, etc.}  Time is set aside each day for the family to sit down and read.  As each person attains their goal (either 20 minutes of reading or a book read), they earn a tag to place in their bucket.  Each week the kids are rewarded for their reading efforts and the prizes get larger as the weeks go on.  Kierste has even suggested a list of books broken down into two categories; 4-7 and 8+.  Check it out for all the details and for FREE downloads of the tags.
For my kids, I have enrolled them in our public library's reading program.  Once a week they have story time with various programs and activities throughout the summer.  The library set a goal for young kids to read/have read to 10 books a week, while the older kids (8-11) have to read 50 pages a week.  Kids 12 and older are asked to read 100 pages a week.  To get my older son excited about reading, I bought him the Percy Jackson series and told him he has to complete the series by the time school starts again.  He is excited to do this only because of the books he now has to read.
Barnes and Noble also has a summer reading program.  Your child has to read 8 books and write them down on the chart they give you and then they earn a free book.
As a teacher, I know how important it is for kids to continue reading over the summer.  Make it fun and exciting so they will want to read and then it won't seem like such a chore.

What are you doing with your kids to keep them reading over the summer??