Books & Buckets Ages 9 - 11

Books & Buckets

Where Reading Earns Playing Time

Books & Buckets is an innovative literacy program created by America's Math Tutor that motivates children to read consistently by rewarding them with basketball.

Instead of relying on reading logs or simply trusting that students completed their assignments, Books & Buckets encourages children to demonstrate reading comprehension in a fun, simple, and meaningful way.

Each week, students receive an engaging chapter book provided by the program and read at home for approximately 20 minutes each day, Monday through Friday. After every reading session, students complete a brief online Reading Check, allowing both students and parents to receive immediate feedback on how well the material was understood. These Reading Checks are not graded or permanently recorded—they simply provide an opportunity for students to confirm their understanding before moving on to the next assignment.

On Saturday, students attend the weekly Books & Buckets session at Marsh Creek Community Center Gym. Before entering the basketball courts, every participant completes a five-question Reading Challenge Quiz covering the week's assigned reading. Students who score 80% or higher earn admission to 90 minutes of supervised basketball.

Basketball is not simply given—it is earned through reading and comprehension.

Participants enjoy access to two full basketball courts, configured as four half courts, allowing multiple 3-on-3 games to take place simultaneously in a safe, organized, and energetic environment. Because attendance may vary from week to week, teams are formed from the students who qualify that day, allowing every child to participate without the pressure of permanent teams.

Books & Buckets is designed specifically for children ages 9–11 and 11–13, with separate sessions for each age group and a maximum of 24 participants per session to ensure quality supervision and plenty of playing time.

Although America's Math Tutor specializes in mathematics, strong reading skills are essential for success across every subject. Reading comprehension helps students understand directions, solve math word problems, expand vocabulary, think critically, and communicate their ideas more effectively. By encouraging children to read consistently, Books & Buckets helps build the literacy skills that support lifelong academic success.

For $20 per week, every participant receives:

• An engaging chapter book provided by the program
• Five weekly at-home reading assignments
• Daily online Reading Checks with immediate feedback
• A weekly Reading Challenge Quiz
• A 90-minute supervised basketball session every Saturday (for students who pass the quiz)
• Access to two full courts configured as four half courts for exciting 3-on-3 games
• A fun, positive environment that rewards effort, learning, and achievement

Books & Buckets is more than a basketball program—it's a reading program with a purpose. By connecting literacy with an activity children genuinely enjoy, students are encouraged to build a daily reading habit that can improve confidence, strengthen academic performance, and create a lifelong love of reading.

Read at Home. Pass the Quiz. Earn the Court.

Books & Buckets

No Reading. No Ball.