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BOOKS BEFORE CHALLENGES
Lafourche Parish Public Library offers three "Books Before" reading challenges to encourage and inspire early learners, kids, and teens to set reading goals and work toward them while developing their literacy skills and building a lifelong love of reading.
The following Books Before challenges are offered:
You can register your child for any of our challenges at any time throughout the year at all branches. Get more details below!
1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a free family reading program at your Lafourche Parish Public Library, which encourages families with young children to have fun reading together while building crucial early literacy skills! The goal of the program is for children to read 1000 books before they enter Kindergarten. Exposing children to print material at a young age, develops reading and comprehension skills and instills a love of reading in the child. Because most children at this age are too young to read on their own, 1000 Books before Kindergarten also gives families the opportunity to bond over the printed page, creating memories to last a lifetime.
How to Read 1000 Books Before Kindergarten:
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Visit any Lafourche Parish Public Library branch to register your family for the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program.
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Start reading! Record books that you read on the log we provide or track your books online in the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten app.
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Check-in with us at every 100 book milestone for rewards & photo opportunities.
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Celebrate your success after reaching 1000 books!
1000 Books Before Kindergarten Reading Logs:
1000 Books Before Kindergarten Resources:
1000 Books Before Kindergarten Tips:
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Keep it fun & enjoyable: Children like to do what is fun & enjoyable. Stories should rarely be read in a monotone voice. Bring out the inner actor in yourself. Change your voice, make sounds, & laugh. Most of all, make it fun & enjoyable!
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Hold your child while you read: While you are still able to (provided that he/she hasn't grown too big), hold your child while you read. Does he/she have a favorite blanket or toy? If so, incorporate the blanket or toy into your reading. For example, try using the blanket to create a fort. Maybe you can read to the favorite toy.
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Interact with your child: Give your child the opportunity to read along. Ask a lot of questions. Although most books can probably be read in less than five minutes, lengthen the reading process through discussion and interaction.
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Read books about what interests your child: Is your child excited about Dora the Explorer? What about Peppa Pig? Maybe Curious George? Try to find books about things that interest your child. When your child is old enough to visit the library (we believe children are never too young), take him or her to choose his or her own books.
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Incorporate reading into a daily routine: Does your child like to be read to in the morning, after lunch, dinner, or at bedtime? Make reading something that your child looks forward to every day. At the same time, do not make reading a rote and mundane event. If your child wants to skip his or her daily reading, that's okay too.
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Repetition: Does your child like to be read the same story over and over? That's okay, and these re-reads count toward your 1000 books goal. Go ahead and read the same stories again and again. Your child will start enjoying the repetition and become familiar with the way stories are organized.
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Keep track of your child's success: Keep track of your child's success using the 1000 Books before Kindergarten log. Give your child praise after he or she reads a certain amount of books with you. Soon, your child will be asking you to "write down" the books after he or she reads them!
Source: https://1000booksbeforekindergarten.org/seven-tips-for-reading-to-infants-and-toddlers/
1000 Books Before Kindergarten FAQs:
Q: Can I register my newborn?
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Yes! We recommend reading to babies as early as possible, plus it gives you plenty of time to reach the 1000 book goal.
Q: Can we read our own books for the program?
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Yes! Any and all books read count towards the 1000 book goal.
Q: How long do we have to read 1000 books?
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You have from the day you register until the day your child starts Kindergarten to read 1000 books.
Q: Do re-reads count? What about books that we hear read at a story time?
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Yes! Re-reads play an important role in developing a child's love for books, and you may count each re-read toward the 1000 books goal. Any books that your child reads or hears throughout their 1000 Books journey counts toward their goal, so yes, books listened to at story time count!
500 Books Before Middle School
500 BOOKS BEFORE MIDDLE SCHOOL
500 Books Before Middle School, designed for students in kindergarten - 5th grade, is the next step for young readers after they graduate from the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program. (Participation in 1000 Books Before Kindergarten is not required to join 500 Books before Middle School!)
500 Books Before Middle School challenges students to read 500 books throughout their elementary school career, while improving their reading fluency and comprehension.
How to Read 500 Books Before Middle School:
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Visit any Lafourche Parish Public Library branch to register your school-aged child for the 500 Books Before Middle School program.
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Start reading! Record books that you read on the log we provide.
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Check-in with us at every 50 book milestone for rewards & photo opportunities.
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Celebrate your success after reaching 500 books!
500 Books Before Middle School Reading Logs:
100 BOOKS BEFORE GRADUATION
100 Books Before Graduation
100 Books Before Graduation challenges middle & high school students to read 100 books before graduating high school!
100 Books Before Graduation expands readers' minds; builds vocabulary and critical thinking skills; and improves reading comprehension, fluency, and test scores.
How to Read 100 Books Before Graduation:
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Visit any Lafourche Parish Public Library branch to register for the 100 Books Before Graduation program.
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Start reading! Record books that you read on the log we provide.
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Check-in with us at every 25 book milestone for rewards & photo opportunities.
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Celebrate your success after reaching 100 books!
100 Books Before Graduation Reading Logs:
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