Winter break is a vacation from school. Children take a break from schoolwork while parents try to figure out how to keep them occupied. Some Mt. Laurel students might spend time with their noses in books rather than in front of the TV.
The Mt. Laurel Library and Mt. Laurel Fire Department joined forces to make winter break a literary breeze.
Get Fired Up For Literacy is in its fourth year of trying to get kids to pick up a book during winter break. The program is a contest for students in first to fourth grade where students document how many minutes they read during the break.
Mt. Laurel Library Special Projects manager Julie Binger said the contest began on Dec. 21. Each student was sent home with a letter about the program. On the back of the letter, a reading log was printed for the students to write the name of the book they read and how many minutes they read, Binger said.
Despite the differences in reading levels, the students pick their own book, she said.
Binger said most of the students read at their level or higher.
“We don’t count book titles. We just account for the minutes. We do something similar in the summer at the library. We organized this to [motivate the students] during winter break,” she said.
According to Binger, it is easier to get children to read during winter break.
The winter break period is less likely to involve longer periods of vacation time, camps and outdoor activities, she said.
Students are more likely to read during shorter breaks rather than during longer breaks like the summer. There is a lot less going on in the winter, she said.
“It’s a little harder to get them involved in the summer. This worked out great,” she said.
As for the minute log, Binger said it is based on the honor system. Parents also monitor their children. After the first year, parents became more aware of the contest and help keep track of their child’s reading.
Students also have the option of logging their books and times online on the Mt. Laurel Library’s webpage.
Getting some children to read during the break is easier said than done. But the library is giving students an incentive to read.
The contest ended on Wednesday, Jan. 9. When students submit their reading minutes, Binger said four students from each of the elementary schools — one student from each grade — are selected as a winner. Winners are determined by the most reading minutes. Each winner receives a backpack with the Mt. Laurel Fire Department badge. One student from each school is entered in a drawing for a ride to school on a fire truck.
She said the students entered are randomly selected to win the grand prize ride on the truck.
The fire truck arrives at the grand prizewinner’s house and drives him or her to school.
Binger said the students who participate in the contest are excited to hear the final results.
“You can definitely tell there are some kids who are motivated to get that ride,” Binger said, adding some read for hours and hours.
She said parents praised the contest, and they enjoy the motivation the library gives the children to push them to read.
According to Binger, the best part is seeing the winner’s face when he or she steps off the fire truck and onto school grounds.
“It’s so exciting to see their faces when they get off the truck. [The contest’s end] is the best part,” she said.
