Give Summer Reading a Boost with Printable Vocabulary Words Scavenger Hunt Bookmarks

We're a week and a half into summer vacation.  I always make sure that I plan daily learning activities for my children in addition to the summer reading required by their schools.

Two of our three children love to read books.  Although I usually concentrate on coming up with activities for our child who struggles a bit with reading, this one is to help challenge the two bookworms instead!

Our 9 year old daughter could sound out big words since she was 5 or 6 years old.  She can read almost any word at 9 years, but does she know what those words mean?

One of the items on our daughter's 4th grade summer reading list is the Ulysses Moore book series.  I just started her with Book 1 to see if she likes it.  Once I printed the bookmark sheet and cut one bookmark out, I went through the book in search of words my daughter might not be familiar with.  I then listed these words on the bookmark so she can have a list on-hand to reference.  When she finds one of the words, I'll ask her to let me know what she thinks the definition of the word is based on the context in the book.

TIP: Be sure to write the title of the book on the space provided on each bookmark if you're doing this for more than one book at a time in your household.

TO PRINT: Check that your printer is on and ready to go.  Click on the image below to enlarge.  Then right-click and select print.

Want to make these bookmarks more fun?
I did make these bookmarks to be disposable, but if you'd like to jazz them up, here are some easy ideas . . .

1.  Print the bookmarks on colored paper or cardstock.  Paper with a lightly-colored pattern would be fun too!
2. Have your child draw the cover of the book in the empty box instead of just writing in the book title.
3. Use a hole puncher to punch out the black circles.  Then use ribbon or yarn to add streamers to the top of the bookmarks on the left and right sides of the printable.
4. Use a sticker or several small stickers to decorate the top of the bookmark in the center of the printable.
5.  Turn the bookmark over to the blank side and personalize the bookmark with your child's name.
6.  Turn the bookmark over to the blank side and write the prize your child will earn if he or she finds all the words and can tell you what they mean.

If you like this idea, be sure to Pin It for later!

Which books are your children loving this summer? Tell us in a comment here. 

Encourage Your Child to Read More with This Easy DIY Laminated Bookmark Craft

Thank you to Fellowes for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I bought my first laminator years ago and it had served me well for years. Recently, it broke and I had been in the market for a new one when I was offered the Fellowes Saturn2 95 Laminator. This laminator is of much better quality than my previous one and I have loved using it for many things, such as photos, important documents, cards, and much more. One of my favorite recent projects has been helping my kids create fun bookmarks they can use while reading.

Today's Project:  DIY Laminated Bookmarks for Kids

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

laminator (We used the Fellowes Saturn2 95)

laminating pouches

white or colored

colored markers

single hole puncher

scissors

yarn

Step 1.  Turn on the Fellowes laminator to preheat, which takes about 5 minutes. (I select the 3 mil setting per instructions on the laminating pouches I was planning to use.)

Step 2.  Print a free bookmark template. I used colored paper per my children's request, just for added flair. (You don’t have to use a template, but I did just so they’d know their constraints.)

Step 3.  Have your child decorate the bookmark with magic markers.  You could also use some fun stickers.  (My kids had a blast using their imaginations and designing their bookmarks. Avery, 11 years old, went with clever phrases and minimal decorations, while Quinn, 6 years old, went for a more artistic approach.)

Step 4.  Help your child cut out their bookmark.  Then punch a hole centered at the top approximately 1/2" from the edge. (Each of my kids then cut out their own bookmark and I punched a hole at the top for the tassel.)

Step 5.  Carefully placed each bookmark into the laminating pouch, making sure there is enough room on each side to cut them out later, and then closed the pouch.

Step 6.  Place the pouches into the laminator one at a time with the closed side going into the machine first and the open side going through last. The laminator has rollers which move the pouch through on their own, so there is no need to manipulate them once they have been properly placed.

Step 7.  When the entire pouch makes it through the machine, you may then remove it to let it cool before cutting. It is important to wait until it is completely cool and to not cut too close to your pictures. If you make these mistakes, the pouches will no longer be sealed.

Step 8.  After cutting, re-punched the hole for the tassel at the top and thread colored yarn into the holes.

The finished products are really nice and work perfectly as reusable bookmarks for their many reading adventures.

The Fellowes Saturn2 95 Laminator features HeatGuard Technology so it’s safe to use in homes because it is always cool to the touch and never could burn anyone nearby. This laminator is also unique because it offers both hot and cold lamination and it has a release lever to help prevent jams.  See how easy-to-use the Fellowes Saturn2 95 really is in this brief video demo.

The Fellowes Saturn2 95 Laminator is available at Staples.com for a suggested retail of $159.99. You can also find Fellowes products at WalMart and Amazon.com.  Visit Fellowes Idea Center, Fellowes on Facebook, and on Pinterest for more fun ways to utilize your Fellowes laminator.

TKD Kid Review: "Beast Friends Forever" Book Series by Nate & Vince Evans

For some students in various parts of the country, there are still two or three weeks left of summer vacation.  If your child loves to read as much as my 7 year old son does, then he or she is probably asking for more books from his or her favorite book series.  My son loves to read books from the Wimpy Kid, Encyclopedia Brown, Jigsaw Jones, and Magic Tree House series.  Now he has added a new book series to his list of favorites . . . Beast Friends Forever.

The first book in this series by Nate Evans and Vince Evans, Beast Friends Forever:  Meet the Beast, was released  last fall and the most recent book Beast Friends Forever:  The Super Swap-O Surprise! was released earlier this month.  My son seemed to really love both books and I am hoping he does not have to wait nearly another year for Book 3 to come out.

Here's what my son thought about Book 1 and Book 2 . . . 

"I loved the books.  They were great!  In Book 1, Zeke and Hannah's father is in the army and he sent them a gift with candy in it.  A little green monster snuck into the box with an amazing power.  The monster ate all the candy in the box.  When they got the gift, all the candy was gone.  When Zeke and Hannah ripped the box apart by fighting over it, they didn't notice that Otto, the little green monster, popped out of the box and landed by the table.  Then he became their pet.


My favorite part in the first book was when the bully jumped in the trash can because he was being chased by hamsters.  My favorite part of Book 2 is when Otto, the little green monster, used his "swap-o" powers to make a tree switch into a fire-breathing T-Rex.  I wonder what Book 3 will be like . . . "


Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing complimentary copies of these books for us to base this review upon.

A portion of this review was written by:

Review: "The Butt Book" by Artie Bennett

If you are looking for a way to boost your children's enthusiasm about summer reading, why not throw a few fun and zany books into the mix?  I think I lucked out because our 7 year old son loves to read all kinds of books.  I often see him smiling while reading storybooks, but I rarely hear him laugh out loud.  The Butt Book by Artie Bennett is one of the few books that makes my son laugh again and again.

This book, whimsically illustrated by Mike Lester, is cleverly and tastefully written in easy-to-read rhyming text.  It tells children everything about butts, including the various shapes, names, uses for the butt, and much more.

My son had read this book previously on his own, but I had asked him to read it aloud to me.  He could not do so without laughing and giggling.  He also made sure to point out to me the most interesting looking butts in the book.  This book was so much fun to read out loud that I might inquire whether the twins' preschool teacher would like to have it read for a special guest story time.  Perhaps I can even have our 7 year old be the special guest reader?

To learn more about The Butt Book, visit ArtieBennett.com.  You can find this book at major book retailers, such as Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Borders.


Thank you to Artie Bennett for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

VTech’s Ultimate Tips for Encouraging Kids to Read

Do you remember the VTech V.Reader giveaway from last week where we asked you to give us your best tips for encouraging children to read? Well, with the help of all the VTech Voices Moms, VTech and TheMotherhood.com has sorted through all the best tips and have compiled an official list of top ten "Ultimate Tips for Encouraging Kids to Read" . . .

• Integrate Reading into Real Life: Show children that reading can be both practical and fun. Try reading recipes and creating goodies together, or read a story and then re-enact a favorite scene for other family members, complete with props and basic sets.
• Ask Your Pet to Lend an Ear: Encourage your children to read aloud to the family dog or a favorite stuffed animal. Your youngsters will get to practice their reading, and pets make great listeners.
• Create an Intimate Space: Make reading exciting with indoor “campouts.” Use sheets and chairs to help your kids make tents, pile blankets and pillows inside, and bring snacks and a stack of books. Reading with a flashlight will add novelty to the activity.
• Reward Reading Comprehension: Set aside one night each week for a “quiz night,” when you can read to your kids and give them rewards, such as money to set aside for more books, for answering comprehension questions correctly.
• Throw a Book Party: Make reading a social activity. Invite a few of your child’s friends to your house and ask them to bring a favorite book. Provide snacks and games that incorporate reading.
• Get Involved Locally: Check area libraries, bookstores and even bank branches. They will often host story hours or summer reading programs for kids, offering incentives for reading a certain number of books.
• Think Outside the Box – or Book: You don’t need to use books alone to encourage kids to read. Ask your child to read things like street signs and menus when you are out and about, or put closed captioning on the TV so he can see as well as hear the words of his favorite shows.
• Give Them a Choice: Set aside an hour or two of quiet time during the day, and tell your kids they can either read or take a nap during that period. Letting them choose to read will remind them that they can choose reading at other times, too.
• Write Stories Together: Reading and writing go hand in hand. Write stories with your kids one word at a time – you write one word, they read it and write one word of their own – until you have a story you created together.
• Play to Their Interests: Let your kids read about subjects they already enjoy. From Pokemon to ponies, if they are fascinated by a topic, they will love reading about it.

"VTech’s electronic learning toys are innovative and offer educational benefits for baby, infant, toddler,preschool and grade school ages. VTech is delighted to introduce the V.Reader, the first kids animated e-book for 3-7 year olds."

Thank you to VTech for providing the information shared in this post. This article was published as part of a paid campaign for TheMotherhood.com .

***One-Day*** V.Reader Giveaway: Tips For Encouraging Kids to Read [CLOSED]

Our Winner is #19 - Heather Ransom

If you have visited my site in the past, then you know that I love coming up with creative ways to promote learning. If you have not already taken the V.Reader Summer Reading Pledge, it is not too late to do so. Summer is only half over and there is still plenty of summer reading fun to be had.

One of the things that the new VTech V.Reader has shown us is that reading is not limited to traditional books. There are many other ways for a child to develop reading skills. I have a list of several activities I do with my 6 year old during the summer that only take a few minutes each.

In the following video, my son Jake tells you about a few of the simplest activities we do together that do not require a lot of time or creativity on your part . . .

(Turn your volume up because the little guy has a soft voice . . . well, on camera anyways.)

My list of tips to encourage children to read:

• Word Searches
• Filling out and reading Mad Libs together
• Unscrambling Sentences
• Family Reading Night
• Letting older siblings read the story at bedtime

Now it's your turn to share your tips! The best tips will be featured on VTech's “The Ultimate Tip List for Encouraging Our Kids To Read.”

Thank you to VTech for providing a sample V.Reader to us free of charge so that we would be able to participate in this paid VTech Voices campaign for TheMotherhood.com .

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive a VTech V.Reader of their very own plus a Bonus Game Cartridge.

Limitations:

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:

Leave a comment sharing a tip or idea about how to encourage a child to read. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest. You may enter as many times as you wish as long as each tip you leave is unique. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Thursday, July 22nd, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 24 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

Favorite Reading Spots For You and Your Child

We are so very lucky that our 6 year old son is an avid reader. I believe the fact that I had a lot of time to read with him starting at a very early age helped to make that happen. I feel very guilty for not having the same amount of time to read with our 3 year old twins. According to the Summer Smarts survey, I am not alone. 82% of moms who participated in this survey thought their children would benefit from more reading time. That is why VTech came up with the V.Reader Summer Reading Pledge. The first 100 moms or dads who sign up to make this pledge within the U.S. will receive a V.Reader for their children. So what are you waiting for?

The new VTech V.Reader is an e-reader system for kids that makes books even more portable. This allows you to sneak in reading time when you can without always carrying a variety of books with you, which can be cumbersome. The V.Reader also allows you to find new favorite reading spots. My children's and my favorite reading spot is actually on my bed. Since the children are not usually allowed to play in mom and dad's room, this is a special quiet place, where each child knows he or she will receive undivided attention. One of my children and I always prop ourselves up with several pillows, squish together, and read out loud. With our 3 year old twins, I would read out loud to them. With our 6 year old son, we would either take turns reading or he reads out loud to me. There are many places we can read, such as the front steps, under the big tree outside, or at the park on a bench, but none are quite as quiet, intimate, and comfy as our favorite spot on mommy's side of the bed.

The V.Reader is currently available at Target, Walmart, Toys R Us, Amazon.com, and other retailers of VTech products. To learn more about this VTech product, read my V.Reader review and visit VTechKids.com . While you're there, sign up for Club VTech. You can also follow VTech Toys on Facebook and VTechToys on Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest VTech products for kids.

Thank you to VTech for sending us a sample product free of charge to base this article upon. This article was written as part of a paid campaign for TheMotherhood.com .