Mark My Time - Digital Bookmark (Review & Giveaway - 7/14)
6/26/2010 11:35:00 AM
I love reading. If I weren't so busy, I'd constantly be sitting somewhere with a good book in my hand. Right now, though, my reading time consists of an early-morning visit with my Bible or reading time with the kids throughout the day.One thing that I encourage my kids to do is take some time every day to read. While we read books (sometimes all day long, and it's the same books over and over again) during the day, Ashley and Zander are each required to put in 20 minutes of quiet reading time per day. I take that time to read to Lucy, Jace, and Parker.
I recently had the opportunity to test out the digital bookmark from Mark My Time. Before I get to our review, here's a little information about Mark My Time from their website:
mark-my-time, LLC, is a Phoenix-based designer and developer of innovative educational products designed to facilitate the learning process. We are committed to supporting educators, librarians and families in their effort to make learning easier and more enjoyable.The company's premier product—the mark-my-time digital bookmark—was introduced to the mass retail market in 2004. The company's products are sold through a number of leading retailers and can also be ordered directly through the web site.
My Review of Mark-My-Time
Mark My Time sent me two of their digital bookmarks. One to review (pink) and one to giveaway (green). As I stated above, reading is a very big deal in this house, and I love anything that encourages my kids to read more.
While Zander wasn't too thrilled about using a pink bookmark, he did love that it has a clock on it, and you can set it to time how long you read.There are several modes to the digital bookmark: A clock, a timer, and a count up setting. The clock is great just for when you need to see what time it is. The timer is perfect for when your child doesn't necessarily want to sit down and read. The little alarm that sounds at the end of the set time is great for letting them know their time is up. The count up setting is perfect for setting larger goals - weekly or monthly - and helping kids achieve them. That's how Zander likes to use the bookmark. He set a goal of reading 4 hours in one week. (His goal, not mine.) He used the bookmark each day to track his time. He ended up passing the 4 hour goal in just 3 days! He ended up with just over 8 hours of reading time - more than doubling the goal that he'd set for himself. (Yes, he loves reading.)
If you are struggling with getting your child to read this summer, I'd encourage you create a reading chart. Grab a Mark-My-Time digital bookmark, set a daily reading goal, and then reward them when they've filled up their chart. It's a great way to get them reading more, and it will help aid with spelling, grammar, and their writing skills. And, it's just a really great way to spend some quiet time together.
The Mark My Time digital bookmark can be found at the following locations (taken from their "Where to buy" page):
Amazon.com
Catalogue SalesReally Good Stuff203-261-1920 x194Calloway House, Inc717-299-5703 x323www.callowayhouse.com
You can also check to see where to purchase it locally on their "Where to Buy Page." Just select your state in the box, click "Go" and a list of local retailers will pop up.
We love the Mark-My-Time digital bookmark here in the Vinez house. It gets 2 thumbs up from all of us!Now, we get to share this fantastic product with you! We've got a bright green Mark-My-Time digital bookmark to give away to one of our 5 Vinez Monkeys readers.
To Enter
Leave a comment here and tell me ways that you encourage your children to read during the summer.
*Mandatory. If this is not done, you cannot win.
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- Write a review of 5 Vinez Monkeys on Alexa. (3 extra entries. Leave your Alexa profile name, please.)
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Disclaimer: I was contacted by a PR rep from Falls Communications on behalf of Mark-My-Time. I was sent the products necessary to create this review and giveaway. I was in no other way compensated for this post, and all opinions expressed are 100% my own.
Join the SparkE Crew!
June 26, 2010 7:50 PM
We keep a chart and my daughter gets rewarded with a sticker for each half hour that she reads. When she gets 100 stickers, she can trade them in for a prize.
dmkayes@gmail.com
June 26, 2010 7:51 PM
I subscribe via email!!! #1
dmkayes@gmail.com
June 26, 2010 7:51 PM
I subscribe via email!!! #2
dmkayes@gmail.com
June 26, 2010 7:52 PM
I am a facebook fan/Like (Darcie Kayes)
dmkayes@gmail.com
June 26, 2010 7:52 PM
I follow you on Twitter
DivaliciousDK
dmkayes@gmail.com
June 26, 2010 7:52 PM
I follow via Google Friend Connect
dmkayes@gmail.com
June 26, 2010 8:56 PM
We shop for used books every week or so and the kids get to pick them out, it seems to help.
supergrand2009@yahoo.com
June 26, 2010 8:58 PM
I subscribe to email. #1
supergrand2009@yahoo.com
June 26, 2010 9:01 PM
I subscribe to email #2
supergrand2009@yahoo.com
June 26, 2010 9:05 PM
I am a facebook fan-shirley e
supergrand2009@yahoo.com
June 26, 2010 9:07 PM
I follow GFC
supergrand2009@yahoo.com
June 28, 2010 12:11 AM
Do you think these are distracting?
We are loving Playaways for reading -- I'm so excited to find them and will be posting on it soon!
Melissa
http://imaginationsoup.net
June 28, 2010 12:12 AM
Follow you through Google. :)
Melissa
July 1, 2010 8:37 AM
We participate in the summer reading program at our local library.
jjudy05@hotmail.com
July 1, 2010 5:43 PM
We sign up for the summer readimg program at the library, it's very motivating for them
July 1, 2010 5:47 PM
i follow you on twitter and tweeted
http://twitter.com/c5519/status/17522641479
July 1, 2010 7:34 PM
rainy days are good for this mverno@roadrunner.com
July 1, 2010 8:30 PM
by signing up for summer reading programs.
July 1, 2010 10:07 PM
Summer reading programs at the library, cause they get prizes!
July 2, 2010 10:02 AM
laura4him@bellsouth.net
we do the library's summer reading challenge!
July 2, 2010 10:55 AM
this is a wonderful idea for a maniac reader such as myself
July 2, 2010 5:45 PM
We enter the summer reading program at the library to encourage summer reading
July 2, 2010 6:25 PM
I subscribe via email
gislewis at gmail dot com
July 2, 2010 6:25 PM
I subscribe by email
gislewis at gmail dot com
July 2, 2010 6:28 PM
I like you on FB as giselle martin-lewis
gilewis at gmail dot com
July 2, 2010 6:30 PM
I left a message about the giveaway as giselle martin-lewis
http://www.facebook.com/5vinezmonkeys?v=wall&story_fbid=134429663246430&ref=mf
gislewis at gmail dot com
July 2, 2010 6:32 PM
I follow publicly on GFC
gislewis at gmail dot com
July 2, 2010 6:37 PM
I folow you on twitter
gislewis at gmail dot com
July 2, 2010 6:38 PM
I tweeted about the giveaway as udelled
http://twitter.com/Udelled/status/17605401137
gislewis at gmail dot com
July 2, 2010 7:58 PM
We create a reward chart for every certain amount of minutes we get an ice cream treat,small trinket etc...
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
July 2, 2010 9:40 PM
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/c5519/status/17613987235