Incentive.

For as long as I can remember, I have been trying to come up with some way to motivate Mitchel to read. I can't even remember all the things I have tried to bribe that kid with. AR points and rewards at school mean nothing to him. We haven't even been able to find a book that seems to interest him. And believe me, we've tried millions. Justin reads like crazy and is always offering suggestions, but they don't work either. I really want him to be a reader. I know he is plenty capable, he just doesn't care. I just knew that if I could find the right book or the right incentive, and he would complete a book he liked, he'd be hooked. At least this was my hope. Well, a few weeks ago, I came up with an idea. I hadn't even been thinking about this, but when I was tucking him in one night, it just came to me. I told Mitchel that I would take him to Perkins for breakfast if he completed a book, and passed an AR test on it at school. He was sold. He loves eating out, breakfast is his favorite, and he loves one on one time. What could be better?? I gave him two weeks, but he was ready in one! He found a book at the school library, read the whole thing (a few chapters with me snuggled up at night) and then passed the AR test. I couldn't believe it! We had a great breakfast, just the two of us. Now Mitchel is reading another book from the same author. He may not be "hooked" yet, but he likes an author and he is reading. And hey, I could get used to Perkins breakfasts every Saturday.