The Chessie Reading Program

Our school does a reading program called Chessie each year for the kids. It's a way to boost reading comprehension because the kids check out a special book, read it, then come on their class' designated day to the library where volunteers ask them questions about the book they read. There are binders with books listed by level and then title with corresponding questions for every single book.  My job as a volunteer is to find the book and ask the questions and give them a stamp in their "passport" if they can answer them correctly. Each child is assigned a level based on their ability and there are hundreds and hundreds of level appropriate books for them to choose from. For every book they read they are given stamps (less stamps for shorter books/lower levels more stamps for more advanced tougher reading) and once they reach ten stamps in their passport they can choose a small prize for their efforts.

This is an example of one of the pages in the binder with questions about the books. There are typically 4-5 questions, some of them very specific while others are looking for a personal answer.

There are six levels for the program: Chessie Beginner 1, Chessie Beginner 2, Chessie Jr., Chessie, Chessie Stars and Black Eyed Susan. It's great because there is something for any kind of reader from emerging to skilled. 

The program runs from beginning of October to mid January and then, if the kids have earned enough stamps (different amounts according to level) they get to attend a special school function. I know that the first incentive program is a visit from the zoo with one of their animal ambassadors, a penguin.

I really like this program as I think the kids really benefit from it and love volunteering because I get to interact with kids of all ages and it's only a brief 30 minutes in the morning before school starts.

This year since Dakota is in first grade she gets to do the Chessie program and so far she's read and had questions asked for two books. Harper has the same amount completed but since Dakota is a beginning reader her book choices are only worth one point while Harper is at a more advanced level and receives 3 stamps per book. Dakota may only need 17 stamps to attend the special program while Harper may need 27 or so to attend. I'm hoping they'll both stick with it and get to meet the penguin!