This is going to be my pet project for education this season. We will be putting together a reading module program to encourage kids to read. The modules will be reptile related and will be part of the website. Parents will be able to download the modules for the kids to read. A basic quiz will be required at the end of each module to assure the kids have retained the information needed to care for a specific reptile. Modules will be written for reptiles we feel would make great first time reptiles for a beginner. This will be a reward system for the kids to encourage them to read. The parents will be required to sign a contract with the kids with a reward for them of their first reptile and setup. The kids would be required to read the material on the reptile of choice and pass the quizes. We will be posting a page for parents on the site to give details why a reptile makes a great choice for a pet. We hope this project will represent the whole reasoning behind the site . We want to be a reptile site but also a educational site. We feel reptiles really grab the attention of young readers and a reward of a pet would be a great motivator. We thought we could call it Reading For Reptiles! Im excited about this project and look forward to some parental input. Some of the modules I have considered are , Into to reptiles,Bearded dragons,Corn Snakes,Geckos,Dwarf Boas,Frogs,Garter Snakes,Rosy Boas,King Snakes,Milk Snakes, Rubber Boas, Turtles and many more! Feedback would be appreciated!

Bryan at West Coast Pythons

well thought out plan.
i think it's a great idea.
good luck, we're here to help if 'ya need.
ck

thats awesome good luck with that

that is a great idea Hell yea

Teach the youngin's. It is all about education. If you understand it, you will not fear it. And then not kill it.

Thats a really cool plan good luck brother

Very cool! Good luck with it!

Teach the youngin's. It is all about education. If you understand it, you will not fear it. And then not kill it.

Amen too that...Hell of a job bro -

That is an awesome idea, gets kids reading and provides them with good information!

Great idea.. I'll definately get my oldest to participate. When will you have it up and running??

Alan

Sounds like an awesome idea, Bryan! http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/nwheat/book.gif

Great idea.. I'll definately get my oldest to participate. When will you have it up and running??

Alan

I dont want to rush this because I really want to be successful ! I will be starting on the first module ball pythons to be downloadable and will require a color printer for graphics. I will be writing and setting up the data base for download and will ba adding pages to my site just for this project. I hope to recruit some of the industries top breeders to co-write for the module of there expertise. If i am unable to recruit for these modules I will research and write them myself. I hope to have the first module done in 60 days for review. If you are willing I would love to have your parental input and see how your child responds to the content. I was hoping to reach a 8 - 15 year old age group. I will be putting together a description page of the program for parents review . I also plan to write a page to detail why reptiles make great pets and teach responsibility. I will keep you posted if interested! Thanks bryan

my 12 year old was thinking of trying it so keep us posted

thanks guys I appreciate your support and it really motivates me to do the best job possible!

my 12 year old was thinking of trying it so keep us posted

Out of curiosity does your 12 year old have a reptile and would finishing the program be the defining factor for you allowing a reptile?

Out of curiosity does your 12 year old have a reptile and would finishing the program be the defining factor for you allowing a reptile?

yes my 12 year old has just a few reptiles and yes he would finish when he stars some thing he finishs it

yes my 12 year old has just a few reptiles and yes he would finish when he stars some thing he finishs it
ill keep you posted thanks for your input!

[module done in 60 days for review. If you are willing I would love to have your parental input and see how your child responds to the content. I was hoping to reach a 8 - 15 year old age group. I will be putting together a description page of the program for parents review . I also plan to write a page to detail why reptiles make great pets and teach responsibility. I will keep you posted if interested! [/QUOTE]


if you are interested in our opinion we would be more than happy to help think its a great thing you got going


chris and mary

Sounds like a fantastic idea.:yourock:

Betcha I could write one on ackies!

My daughter is 9 so she will be in your target age group.. She doesn't have any reptiles of her own yet, but she does help me every now and then with my collection.. I think her doing your modules would be a defining factor in me letting her get a reptile of her choosing.. Definately keep me posted!! I can't wait to get her started..

Alan

[module done in 60 days for review. If you are willing I would love to have your parental input and see how your child responds to the content. I was hoping to reach a 8 - 15 year old age group. I will be putting together a description page of the program for parents review . I also plan to write a page to detail why reptiles make great pets and teach responsibility. I will keep you posted if interested!


if you are interested in our opinion we would be more than happy to help think its a great thing you got going


chris and mary[/QUOTE]

Great! Im starting a list of parents willing to be the testbed of the program and would appreciate all parents willing to give your input and participate in the program shoot me an E mail to reading4reptiles@westcoastpythons.com

thanks Chris and Mary for stepping up and being a part of something awesome! Educating our youth !

Sounds like a fantastic idea.:yourock:

Betcha I could write one on ackies!

You would definitely be the person for the job! Im just wondering how I could fit ackies into a beginner profile? Gives me some ideas ! Maybe this would be a good choice for an older child with some previous keeping experience?

Heh. I suppose ackies dont exactly fit into a beginner profile. Nor do I think they would be appropriate for an 8 year old. Not that I consider them difficult but their cage size and heating requirements would be a bit daunting for an 8 year old.

Maybe they could be in the next group for those who have "graduated" from the easier species of Reptile University. Or, as you said, for kids a bit older.

A lot of teenagers are entranced by the idea of owning a monitor. They see one on TV or perhaps in a pet shop. So invariably they wind up with one of The Big Three. A savannah, water or a nile. These are the most common, most inexpensive monitors. A nile is a chainsaw certainly a bad choice for a beginner. And in MHO a bad choice for all but the most experienced of keepers. Waters can be quite nice but will quickly grow large enough to devour the family cat. Not good. Savs while not quite as big as a water or nearly as mean as a nile are still a LOT of lizard to deal with. They grow fast and will require a huge cage, tons of food and poo like a horse.

I think it would be great to let the kids know that smaller monitors actually exist and they can have that dinosaur-like creature in a pint sized package. Many people not "in the know" arent even aware that ackies exist and are being captive bred right here in the grand old US of A

Heh. I suppose ackies dont exactly fit into a beginner profile. Nor do I think they would be appropriate for an 8 year old. Not that I consider them difficult but their cage size and heating requirements would be a bit daunting for an 8 year old.

Maybe they could be in the next group for those who have "graduated" from the easier species of Reptile University. Or, as you said, for kids a bit older.

A lot of teenagers are entranced by the idea of owning a monitor. They see one on TV or perhaps in a pet shop. So invariably they wind up with one of The Big Three. A savannah, water or a nile. These are the most common, most inexpensive monitors. A nile is a chainsaw certainly a bad choice for a beginner. And in MHO a bad choice for all but the most experienced of keepers. Waters can be quite nice but will quickly grow large enough to devour the family cat. Not good. Savs while not quite as big as a water or nearly as mean as a nile are still a LOT of lizard to deal with. They grow fast and will require a huge cage, tons of food and poo like a horse.

I think it would be great to let the kids know that smaller monitors actually exist and they can have that dinosaur-like creature in a pint sized package. Many people not "in the know" arent even aware that ackies exist and are being captive bred right here in the grand old US of A

Very well said! I agree the ackies are one of those hidden jewels of the reptiles available today. I can see already we may have to add age groups and more advanced animals later with advanced reading modules. I was able to get the opinions of some breeders today and they were stoked about the idea . This could really turn into something very rewarding ! I have started on the intro page as we speak . Ill keep you posted! Bryan

I dont want to rush this because I really want to be successful ! I will be starting on the first module ball pythons to be downloadable and will require a color printer for graphics. I will be writing and setting up the data base for download and will ba adding pages to my site just for this project. I hope to recruit some of the industries top breeders to co-write for the module of there expertise. If i am unable to recruit for these modules I will research and write them myself. I hope to have the first module done in 60 days for review. If you are willing I would love to have your parental input and see how your child responds to the content. I was hoping to reach a 8 - 15 year old age group. I will be putting together a description page of the program for parents review . I also plan to write a page to detail why reptiles make great pets and teach responsibility. I will keep you posted if interested! Thanks bryan

yo bry,
let me know if you need any proof reading, i'd be happy to assist, also have two chillin's in your target age group i could run your program by for input.
here to help,
ck

Yeah same here.. I shot you an e-mail so let me know if their is anything I can do..

Alan

I'm in. If you need any help whatsoever. Want me to write something for you to review so see if it fits your needs, research a topic (love that), dance around in a funny hat. Name it.

I am at your service. :letsparty:

Would like to thank all of you for volunteering to help with the project. Chris and Mary,147baos,veranus,grunt,constrictor keeper, I appreciate your offers and will be calling! As soon as I have the first module complete I will be send PM to you all. I want there to be a standard format to follow. You can also send an E-mail to reading4reptiles@westcoastpythons.com for me to keep track of a volunteer list. One service I am considering help with is someone to add some graphics in a theme that would be compatible with the age group? I will post a link to the description page as soon as I feel it is ready for review. I created a forum just for the reading program so we all can have input and review modules and will post it as soon as we have the first module finished. I appreciate everyones opinions and hope to have the description page done by next weekend. One barrier I need to overcome is to write in a style that would be understood and fun for the target age group. opinions will be very important in this regard and those that have children in the age group will be priceless.We have other ideas that will make the program rewarding for the kids. We will be producing quality certificates for those that complete the program. There will also be sections of the site only accessable to graduates of the program.We hope to develop discounts from multiple breeders for graduates of the program to help parents with cost. there are alot of agles of the program we will be exploring ! Thanks again Bryan
http://westcoastpythons.com/pictures/reading4reptiles.jpg