Good Day All
People often come to me for help with book recommendations for kids, how to create good reading habits in kids, and other parenting concerns.
Reading, like anything else, needs to be developed as a habit. I often hear from both kids and adults "I don't like reading fiction." Who says you have to? Read anything! Read everything! Read various genres. But read, because not to is to create a huge skill deficit. Reading is not like viewing, listening, or responding to the majority of media types out there (think Instagram, Snapchat). Reading ignites the imagination because you need to work a little harder to interpret the information provided. It is during this space in time, when your brain is interpreting and evaluating, that thought takes shape, opinions are formed, and learning happens through a unique sieve - you! This is why I am an ardent supporter of reading.
Through word of mouth, from mom to mom, I have begun to tutor "reluctant readers". One of my students (let's call him Hugh) was 14 years of age when he came to me in February of this year. He hated reading what was assigned to him in English class, and therefore did not do well in grade 9 English.
At our first session, I asked him what he liked to read. His response? "Nothing!" So I excused myself from the kitchen table (where I do all my tutoring and where I write this blog) and went into my son's room and grabbed a bunch of books. I came back to the kitchen table, laid out the titles, and did a short book talk on each. Then I asked him to sort the books into "want to read" "won't read", and "might read" piles. He was methodical in his consideration of each text. The Chryssalids was put firmly into the "won't read" pile (it was the book assigned by his English teacher in grade 9). Ready Player One was put in the "might read" pile for later consideration. And in the "want to read" pile - the last pile he created - lay a single book - Ms. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. The main character is a bored teen living in the burbs until he uncovers his grandfather's long kept secret past, and there is magic! and time travel and .... As you can see, it is compelling for a 14 year old boy.
I smiled at his choice, partially bc I knew he would try to 'cheat out' of reading it and watch the film instead, and partially bc I knew if he made it to chapter 3 he would be hooked! And I was right on both counts. He had already seen the film but couldn't remember it all, so I asked him if he would read the first three chapters and see if he liked it.
He liked it. In fact, he read all four books in the Ms. Peregrine's series in 6 weeks! He is now impatiently awaiting the 5th instalment of the book coming out in January 2020. That's over 1500 pages of reading. Why?
I asked very little of him actually. All I did was give him the choice of some really good books at his reading level and asked him to commit to 20 minutes of reading a day. that's it - 20 min. preferably at bedtime. He did it, and it became a HABIT. Now he can't stop, because the habit has become a HOBBY a PASSION.
I haven't seen "Hugh" since June, and at that time he was on a Stephen King binge. So I am eager to hear about what he's read and what is on his "next list".
-A
People often come to me for help with book recommendations for kids, how to create good reading habits in kids, and other parenting concerns.
Reading, like anything else, needs to be developed as a habit. I often hear from both kids and adults "I don't like reading fiction." Who says you have to? Read anything! Read everything! Read various genres. But read, because not to is to create a huge skill deficit. Reading is not like viewing, listening, or responding to the majority of media types out there (think Instagram, Snapchat). Reading ignites the imagination because you need to work a little harder to interpret the information provided. It is during this space in time, when your brain is interpreting and evaluating, that thought takes shape, opinions are formed, and learning happens through a unique sieve - you! This is why I am an ardent supporter of reading.
Through word of mouth, from mom to mom, I have begun to tutor "reluctant readers". One of my students (let's call him Hugh) was 14 years of age when he came to me in February of this year. He hated reading what was assigned to him in English class, and therefore did not do well in grade 9 English.
At our first session, I asked him what he liked to read. His response? "Nothing!" So I excused myself from the kitchen table (where I do all my tutoring and where I write this blog) and went into my son's room and grabbed a bunch of books. I came back to the kitchen table, laid out the titles, and did a short book talk on each. Then I asked him to sort the books into "want to read" "won't read", and "might read" piles. He was methodical in his consideration of each text. The Chryssalids was put firmly into the "won't read" pile (it was the book assigned by his English teacher in grade 9). Ready Player One was put in the "might read" pile for later consideration. And in the "want to read" pile - the last pile he created - lay a single book - Ms. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. The main character is a bored teen living in the burbs until he uncovers his grandfather's long kept secret past, and there is magic! and time travel and .... As you can see, it is compelling for a 14 year old boy.
I smiled at his choice, partially bc I knew he would try to 'cheat out' of reading it and watch the film instead, and partially bc I knew if he made it to chapter 3 he would be hooked! And I was right on both counts. He had already seen the film but couldn't remember it all, so I asked him if he would read the first three chapters and see if he liked it.
He liked it. In fact, he read all four books in the Ms. Peregrine's series in 6 weeks! He is now impatiently awaiting the 5th instalment of the book coming out in January 2020. That's over 1500 pages of reading. Why?
I asked very little of him actually. All I did was give him the choice of some really good books at his reading level and asked him to commit to 20 minutes of reading a day. that's it - 20 min. preferably at bedtime. He did it, and it became a HABIT. Now he can't stop, because the habit has become a HOBBY a PASSION.
I haven't seen "Hugh" since June, and at that time he was on a Stephen King binge. So I am eager to hear about what he's read and what is on his "next list".
-A
I love our chats about education and am happy you started a blog. Your experience and way with words makes it a fun blog to read and I eagerly await the next entry...oh and can I borrow that book for my reluctant reader? :)
ReplyDeleteI love our conversations too! Even the ones that include Mike! Hahahaha
ReplyDeleteI would love to lend you Ms. Peregrine's but it was "borrowed" from my classroom library before school ended and has yet to be returned. I'm glad someone is enjoying it!