Appropriate grades or age groups:
Elementary School

Estimated time to complete activity or implement technique:
15 minutes per night

Materials needed (if applicable):
Reading books at the child's current reading level.

Reading books at a higher level (one to two grades higher) in a subject of current interest to the child (Pokemon, Powerpuff Girls, Captain Underpants).

Activity set-up/instructions or description of technique:
For beginning readers, I keep track of each book or chapter in a chapter book (like Little Bear or Harry and the Lady Next Door). After 30 books/chapters have been read, the reader earns the reward of having a more difficult book being read to them. For example, my son is in first grade and loved the video of "The Mouse and the Motorcycle". After reading his 30 books to me, I read him a chapter a day from "The Mouse and the Motorcyle".

He is reading to me daily and he is also being exposed to stories that are more interesting and challenging. The exposure to stories at a higher reading level encourage him to continue reading. The regular practice makes for a more confident and experienced reader.

Other suggestions or comments:
The reward of this program is beneficial in that it constantly reinforces the joy of reading. The child is challenged to read daily, and then is allowed to relax and enjoy the companionship of an adult spending time reading to them.

This is useful to children past the age of "bedtime stories" because any "new" reader still enjoys stories that are more sophisticated than they themself can read.