September 1, 2026-March 31, 2027
Phoebe Hearst registration opens Friday 8/21/2026, and students can track their reading minutes from September through March.
What is it?
Home Run Reader is our school-wide reading incentive program that will run September 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027. Students track their minutes for the month, and then submit their monthly total minutes read outside of school using their grade-level Monthly Minutes Google Form. This five-level tiered, reading incentive program comes with rewards… the more you read, the more you win! The program culminates with an annual prize distribution for all students who have submitted. We celebrate with a school wide Home Run Reader Night on the lawn at the River Cats game. The River Cats game is typically scheduled in April or May, on a Friday or Saturday. We will confirm the date and more details as it gets closer.
| Keep Reading! | Single | Double | Triple | Homerun | |
| Kindergarten | <2,100 minutes | 2,100 minutes (~300/mo) | 2,800 minutes (~400/mo) | 3,500 minutes (~500/mo) | 4,200 minutes (~600/mo) |
| 1st Grade | <2,800 minutes | 2,800 minutes (~400/mo) | 3,500 minutes (~500/mo) | 4,200 minutes (~600/mo) | 4,900 minutes (~700/mo) |
| 2nd Grade | <3,500 minutes | 3,500 minutes (~500/mo) | 4,200 minutes (~600/mo) | 4,900 minutes (~700/mo) | 5,600 minutes (~800/mo) |
| 3rd Grade | <4,200 minutes | 4,200 minutes (~600/mo) | 4,900 minutes (~700/mo) | 5,600 minutes (~800/mo) | 6,300 minutes (~900/mo) |
| 4th Grade | <4,900 minutes | 4,900 minutes (~700/mo) | 5,600 minutes (~800/mo) | 6,300 minutes (~900/mo) | 7,000 minutes (~1000/mo) |
| 5th Grade | <4,900 minutes | 4,900 minutes (~700/mo) | 5,600 minutes (~800/mo) | 6,300 minutes (~900/mo) | 7,000 minutes (~1000/mo) |
| 6th Grade | <4,900 minutes | 4,900 minutes (~700/mo) | 5,600 minutes (~800/mo) | 6,300 minutes (~900/mo) | 7,000 minutes (~1000/mo) |
What’s new?
Based on program participant feedback, we have made adjustments to the program in recent years:
- Readers must register to participate. More information is listed below on how to register.
- Last year we established new due dates for monthly reading minutes submission. The minutes are due on the 5th of the following month. For example, to submit the monthly total for September, minutes should be submitted using the “Monthly Minutes Google Form” by October 5th. For October minutes, they are due November 5th and so on.
- We also introduced grade-level Monthly Minutes Google Forms for minutes submission.
- 1st Grade teachers are simultaneously running their own reading incentive program, and the same minutes can also apply towards Home Run Reader minutes. To help families track and submit minutes, we will align the minutes form to accommodate weekly submissions.
- Based on family feedback, we will send out calendar invites of monthly minute due dates to all registered users who opt in for the reminders.
- When feasible, we will host monthly recognitions. To be eligible for monthly recognitions, minutes must be submitted on time by the 5th of the following month. For program-end top reader recognition (Top 22), readers must submit by the 5th of the following month. We will allow up to 2 late submissions.
Who?
All students are encouraged to participate. We understand younger readers might still be learning to read, or are beginners. Reading to or with your reader counts towards reading minutes too. All reading is encouraged and celebrated! Turn in your monthly logs online to earn prizes!
Why?
Phoebe Hearst students have a proven track record of excellent reading skills. These skills should be rewarded! Students will also be motivated to take their reading to the next level.
How do we turn in the logged minutes?
In recent years, we ask readers to first register to participate. After registering, the reader’s name will be added to the drop-down menu in the “Monthly Minutes Google Form”. To register, use this registration form: Home Run Reader Registration. Readers can register anytime during the 7-month program. Ideally registration is submitted before the end of September to provide HRR co-chair(s)/volunteers adequate time to set up the grade-level “Monthly Minutes Google Forms” with the reader’s name prior to the first due date of October 5th. PTO volunteers manually update the Google forms and use Google Sheets to tally data at the end of the program, and we ask for your patience and understanding.
We moved to online minutes submission a few years ago, and hard-copy paper logs are no longer required. But we do still provide readers optional paper logs to print at home as a tool to help track their minutes. These logs also have a table on the bottom for recommended reading targets. You may choose to use the provided reading logs below, or minutes can be tracked using any method of your choice.
After monthly reading is complete, readers (with the help of their parents/guardians) must submit their month’s total minutes on the “Monthly Minutes Google Form” by the 5th day of the following month. Please refer to the appropriate “Monthly Minutes Google Form” for your reader’s grade.
To recap, the only required portions to participate are (1) register, and (2) submit minutes using the Monthly Minutes Google Form.
Downloadable Logs:
Here’s a list of the due dates for the current school year:
| Reading Month | Minutes Due Date |
|---|---|
| September | Monday, October 5th |
| October | Thursday, November 5th |
| November | Saturday, December 5th |
| December | Tuesday, January 5th |
| January | Friday, February 5th |
| February | Friday, March 5th |
| March | Monday, April 5th |
Prize and Recognition Eligibility:
When feasible, we will host monthly recognitions. To be eligible for monthly recognitions, minutes must be submitted on time by the 5th of the following month. Late submissions will still count towards prizes, but will be disqualified in monthly recognition assemblies when applicable. For program-end top reader recognition (i.e. School Wide Top 22), readers must submit by the 5th of the following month. We will allow up to 2 late submissions.
Beginning in September:
- Start tracking your daily minutes on the Daily Reading Log Calendar (see above) or another method of your choice.
- Input and submit your total monthly minutes by the 5th of the following month using the grade-level Monthly Minutes Google Forms.
Prizes
We’ll distribute prizes the week of the River Cats game to reward students for their minutes read during the program (Sept.–Mar.). To be eligible, submit your reading minutes using the grade-level Google forms listed above.
Questions or volunteer opportunity requests? Please email homerunreader@gmail.com.
Click here for a one-page PDF of the Home Run Reader information.
Questions? Interested in volunteering with this program? Please email homerunreader@gmail.com
Go Dragons! Keep reading!