Chapter Champ is an outstanding, free reading comprehension resource for grades two through twelve that is accessed through an app on either computers or mobile devices. The app presents quizzes that check if students comprehend what they are reading from both classic and contemporary literary works that are likely to appeal to homeschooling families.
Chapter Champ has chapter-by-chapter quizzes for more than a thousand books, such as Make Way for Ducklings; Sarah, Plain and Tall; Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry; Patty Reeds’ Doll; Little Britches; By the Great Horn Spoon; Robert Fulton, Boy Craftsman; Great Expectations; The Hobbit, Charlotte’s Web; Kidnapped; Animal Farm; Brave New World; The Odyssey; Viking Adventure; Treasure Island; Hamlet; and Fahrenheit 451. Some series are included, either selected titles or the entire series. Among the series are some of the Little House on the Prairie books, the Sower series of Protestant Missionary biographies, and the Harry Potter series. Homeschoolers must obtain the literary works themselves.
Quizzes for many books of historical fiction and biographies are included, books that are frequently used with literature-based homeschool programs. The entry for each book in Chapter Champ lists the author, date published, number of pages, number of chapters, grade level, and genre. The library of books is continually expanding, and search tools are in the works for finding books by grade level and genre.
Five-question quizzes are provided for each chapter of a book. Quizzes have a bank of questions that are cycled through if students retake them. Once a quiz is completed, students can access “summary information that includes a brief summary, a list of key details, characters featured in that chapter, and the conflicts that arise in that chapter. Chapter Champ sometimes asks students to identify themes, but it generally does not go beyond reading comprehension to big-picture questions, such as a character’s influence on history or the analysis of an overarching theme. The app tracks student progress, showing books read per month, average number of pages per book, and accuracy per book. Students earn virtual rewards as they complete quizzes.
Summary
Homeschoolers, in general, read many literary works, either as part of a course or for independent reading. While some programs and courses include comprehension questions for literature, many do not. Chapter Champ fills this gap for busy parents who rely on their children reading independently and can use assistance to verify that students comprehend what they read.
