Readers Write Starting today, the Reading Page will periodically run reader responses and e-mail. Check It Out returns next week.

I was most interested to read Kristina Sauerwein’s article, “Do Rewards for Reading Really Work?” (Sept. 28). I’m glad to hear that some people are beginning to question the method of giving rewards for reading. . . . My son has received bookmarks, stars, and other trinkets for reading. This seems so contrived. I’m sure none of this has helped him develop a love of reading. He loves to read because I’ve read to him since he was an infant. And guess what? He loves to read--and that is what I call a reward.

Lori Rika Inano

Mission Viejo

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I think your article by Kristina Sauerwein may be correct for middle and high schools, but I do not feel it is true for elementary schools.

I taught upper elementary school for 36 years in Los Angeles Unified and have had very good results using incentives. I took my children out to lunch when they had read 25 books. . . . The children really loved going out to lunch with the teacher and we usually went in groups of three or four. It really was a complete success.

I would like to know on what Mr. McQuillan based his premise that rewards don’t work. I used them in other areas, also, which created self-esteem for the children because they earned the awards and were not given awards for any other reason.

Roberta Nicholson

Sylmar

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Rewarding children materialistically for anything is not a good practice. It is better to show them the improvements certain actions make from within and where it will lead them. Not an easy task, but a much better approach to teaching. They will learn to do tasks based on growth rather than profit--but a cookie now and then doesn’t hurt.

Shawn Petri

Sherman Oaks

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Thank you so much for reporting Geoffrey Wolff’s words and ideas about writers and writing (Oct. 3). Reading this interview, I found myself relieved and renewed. There is yet hope when a writer of Wolff’s stature takes time and energy to teach; he seems to appreciate the value of (young) writers and writing. Many thanks.

Esther Lui

Malibu