The Premier’s Reading Challenge is a literacy engagement program that was introduced by the Premier in 2004 to:

• Encourage students to read more books and enjoy reading
• Improve literacy levels.

The Challenge requires students to read 12 books between the beginning of the school year and early September.

How can you find out about the Challenge?
All information about the Premier’s Reading Challenge can be found at: www.premiersreadingchallenge.sa.edu.au . Accessing the Challenge guidelines is very useful.

Who can participate?
All students from Reception to Year 12 are encouraged to participate, including South Australian government and non- government school students and students undertaking home education.

Public libraries
Public libraries strongly support the Challenge. Students are encouraged to use public libraries to borrow books they would like to read (including e-books). The Challenge website can be accessed from computers at public libraries.

Students can read a combination of books from the Challenge booklists and books of their own choosing. Students can choose to read books in languages other than English. The booklists are available on the Premier’s Reading Challenge website.

• Reception to Year 6 students select at least 8 books from the booklists on the Premier’s Reading Challenge website and 4 books of their own choice.
• Students are encouraged to keep reading once they have completed 12 books.

Awards - the ‘Olympics of reading’ and beyond...
Students who complete the Challenge receive awards from the Premier for their achievements in a similar fashion to sporting stars! Awards for completing the Challenge are:

Certificate – First Year
Bronze medal – Second Year
Silver medal –Third Year
Gold medal – Fourth Year
Champion medal – Fifth Year
Legend medal – Sixth Year
Hall of Fame medal – Seventh Year

Premier’s Reading Challenge Ambassadors
Ambassadors are high profile South Australian identities, who are keen to promote the Challenge and spread the message that reading is ‘cool’. Adelaide United Football Club, Link Lightning, Adelaide Football Club, Port Adelaide Football Club and the Thunderbirds are joint ambassador teams with the Premier’s be active Challenge.

Links with other programs
The Premier’s Reading Challenge complements other school and community literacy initiatives including the Accelerated Literacy Program, the Early Years Literacy Program and The Little Big Book Club.

If students have previously completed a Reading Challenge in another state, this will be acknowledged in South Australia by notifying your school contact person.

Reading success
More than 132, 300 students from over 97% of South Australian schools as well as home education students complete the Challenge. Many students read far more than 12 books.

55 schools with outstanding achievement will be invited to the Premier’s Reception in November each year and will receive books and a certificate for their school from the Premier. Schools that continue their outstanding achievement in future years will be sent a certificate signed by the Premier.

Benefits of taking part in the Challenge

• Raises the profile of reading, libraries and literacy in schools
• Gives students a focus for their reading
• Encourages students to read more books and enjoy reading more - the more you read the better you get at it!
• Encourages boys to participate by being ‘challenged’
• Offers incentives for reluctant readers
• Builds self-esteem and pride, school unity, and a sense of achievement
• Increases the involvement of parents in their child’s reading
• Increases library borrowing
• Contributes to increased literacy levels.

For further information
Contact the Project Manager, Premier’s Reading Challenge, GPO Box 1152 ADELAIDE SA 5001. Telephone: 8226 2006; Education Courier: R11/37A; Email: prc@sa.gov.au

Visit the Challenge website for more information and copies of this brochure, which is also available in 16 languages: www.premiersreadingchallenge.sa.edu.au

Each Student will receive a School Student Reading Record sheet tonight.  Just record the books that your child reads and return this form to the school.

 
Des Henthorn