Kids and reading
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| Mon, 01-22-2007 - 9:26am |
Hi all,
Although my DS is only 9, I'm posting here in hopes of getting some perspective from parents of teens -- especially those who didn't read much in earlier years but are now able to and/or interested in reading higher-level material.
My DS is attending a gifted program this year (Grade 4) and doing well. For all that, he has never been much of a reader, especially compared to his 10-year-old sister, who reads adult books. I think he's somehow decided that reading is his sister's "territory" -- i.e., she's so advanced that he doesn't have a hope of competing so he just won't go there. He has no problem with the mechanics of reading; he learned to read effortlessly at age 4 and was reading chapter books by 5. His reading comprehension is also ahead of grade level, according to the tests they give kids periodically at school. It's just that he doesn't choose to read.
I worry that he won't develop into a literate adult (and end up flipping burgers at Wendy's) if he doesn't read more. Any and all perspectives welcome!
Freelance

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A love of reading comes from finding an appreciation and love for the material being read. Trick is to find books that interest your son (even if they are at actual grade level). Remember that a 4th grade book is written to appeal to the average 4th grade child. To meet them on their own social, emotional and interest level. It could be that he's not emotionally or developmentally ready for the content of the books at his reading level.
Try reading a book aloud to him. Take a chapter each night and see if you can spark his interest in reading for the pure enjoyment of the storyline. My suggestion would be the book "Redwall" by Brian Jacques. There is an entire series of Redwall books but the first is simply called Redwall. These were written by Mr. Jacques for him to read aloud on his radio show, for the benifit of the students attending a blind school. The language is rich and very descriptive. It's a perfect read aloud book for a child your son's age.
Also consider that books don't have to be fiction. If your son has a passion for something, look to magazines and non-fiction publications around those passions.
Hope this helps
stacy
I wouldn't worry too much, I don't think. If your DS can read, is reading well and comprehending the material, I think he's fine. Some kids just don't enjoy pleasure reading and there are plenty of successful adults out there who don't crack open anything more challenging than a home decorating magazine. I was certainly an avid reader as a child and while I never flipped burgers at Wendy's, I wouldn't say I've had much of a career or profession. I've done lots of things over the years, but can't be considered a 'success' in terms of education, career or profession.
It could be that your DS hasn't found the genre that really floats his boat or gets him excited about reading. My DS didn't do any leisure reading at all, until he discovered the Harry Potter books, and then learned that books in the fantasy section of the library were his cup of tea.
HTH,
Julie
What does your son like to do? Is he a more physical kid playing outside.
My older two were precocious readers and in gifted programming. My youngest has severe LDs and struggles with the reading process(talk about one extreme and the other)
DS1-now 21- always loved to read-the kid who would walk into a restaurant reading as he walked. He maintained that through his teen years; it has slowed somewhat with the introdcution of a GF but there were still books on his Xmas list
DS2-now 19-enjoyed being read to as a little one as much as my oldest but never quite took to the reading for himself. He much preferred to be outside playing as a child. When he DID read, he always chose books that were short and easy. He never got into the themed thing like my oldest who would get hooked on a series and have to read them all! And, yes, he is still like he was as a child. He does occasionally read a book and its usually a fairly meaty one now that hes an adult but 4 a year would be a generous estimate
Both scored very high on the verbal part of their ACTs. DS2, the lesser reader of the two, actually scored higher than his reading brother with a 35 in reading
I know I worried when DS2 your sons age because I thought he wasnt getting the necessary exposure but obviously he was-after all, they do read in school-literature and textbooks
DS3? Well, hes the kid you would be justified in worrying about. Anytime you read something talking about how one suffers from lack of reading, IMHO its the kids like him that are being discussed, not our able to read but dont like to read boys.
His vocabulary and general knowledge are affected-Im guessing because he isnt able to pick it up from his schoolwork and he sure doesnt read outside of school!!!
I wouldn't expect your son to change-although you never know-but I wouldnt worry either. Id keep him in advanced English type classes if thats doable-in a way it may be more important for him than his sister as she will challenge herself and he wont
Yes, I forgot to mention that in my post!
I wish I had read aloud longer than I did. Ds3's lack of interest made our group sessions difficult and I think I gave up too soon and too easily(hindsight is always 20-20)
And, bluntly, I wish I had kept the closeness those sessions inspired-they grow up so fast!
And yes, the choices that will float ds's boat are not likely to be your favorites or those of your dd's. I had no idea there were that many different types of weapons made until I read Redwall to the boys
Thanks for your post, Windrush. My DS is a lot like your DS2 -- loves to be outside with some kind of ball. It's good to know that kids like this can an do acquire vocabulary. May I ask: How did your DS2 do in writing?
F.
Take a trip to the book store with your son -- a good big book store with lots of clearly labelled sections and where you can browse alot of genres. There are lots of different types of reading that might benefit your son.
I found that while my 15 yo dd is a voracious reader of fiction -- I can't keep her properly supplied with books and even the local library doesn't bring in stuff fast enough for her -- my 11 yo son is not as prolific a reader.
But here are some things he does read:
- non-fiction books of things that interest him -- he has several books from the "Eyewitness" series that covers various science, history and social topics -- lots of pictures and facts and figures and boys like that sort of thing
- fiction books that tie in to his video games/tv shows he likes -- its not Shakespeare but its something
- comic books or anime "mangas" -- they aren't as junky as ppl might think and they stir the imagination as much as a novel might just make sure you flip through them when you buy them to ensure you are okay with the content
- magazines and periodicals that tie in to interests like sports -- gets them into the habit of reading something and getting information
I think also that if you cruise through the store there may be fictional novels that appeal to him in some way depending on his interests like fantasy or adventure or sports or comedy -- depends on what he likes to do. There is so much out there that there is bound to be a series out there that includes characters and plots that reflect his personal interests.
My DS is 11 and loves to read. Right now he has just started Eragon, which someone bought him for Christmas, which is about 600 pages. When he finds something he likes, he wants to read everything in the series. He read all of the Series of Unfortunate Events (13 books) by Lemony Snicket. Earlier, there was a series called Geronimo Stilton, which is about a mouse detective. The books were a lot shorter, you could probably read each one in an hour or two and he read all of them, which were about 22 I think. He also read some Boxcar Children and R. L. Stine mysteries. Also he read 2 of the Harry Potter books this year. Although he had seen the movies, he hadn't read the books before because they are really long and pretty hard to read. They might be more of the read aloud type.
I wouldn't be too worried either. The funny part is that my DD, who is a senior in h.s. and in the top 10% of her class, almost never reads a book for pleasure, mostly because she has 6 hard classes, so by the time she is finished her homework and the reading she has to do for school, I think the last thing she wants to do is read more. I really liked reading when I was a kid, but now it's more of magazines or newspapers cause I don't have that much time.
DH says he never read for fun as a kid; later as a teen he got into sci fi and technical literature; he still reads loads of technical literature 'for fun'. DS14 (also g/t) has never been a reader for fun, but he reads tons for school (has to read 4 novels of his choosing (and teacher's ok) for English this quarter), and does fine with vocab and and comprehension, so I've never worried about it. I read aloud to him through 8th grade (less and less as he got older), and frankly miss it this year, but he's so busy now in HS there's no time, plus he's really pretty much outgrown it (darnit! but I understand - so now I read the followup stories on my own as I want to know what happens!). We read all kinds of things he was interested in (Harry Potter, Alex Rider, etc.), and on his own he'd devour gaming magazines and walkthroughs. So I guess he's more like dh in that his reading for fun is techy stuff. (I'm a techy but leave it at work - LOL).
And as for writing, he hates it and keeps it to a bare minimum - will do it when he has to for school, and definitely prefers using the computer to writing by hand. But if it's a topic he's interested in (believe it or not, like last week when he had to do a poem about a classmate), he can put out some amazing stuff.
Sue
Oh, would that my life long love of reading could have resulted in a better paying job!
Do you read to your son much? I wish I had read to DS17 through 8th grade like one mom here said she did. But when he was 9, I was too busy working 60-hr weeks when I still thought I wanted to be a career woman. When he was 11, I went part-time, but it was probably a little too late.
DS23 began reading himself to sleep at age 6, and still always carries a book with him. (And I probably read to him a whole lot more during his first 6 years than I did to DS17.) DS17 rarely reads for pleasure, and he always had a soccer ball with him, rather than a book. He's always been a mostly-As student, and takes honors English, but he did NOT score well in reading on the ACT. For him, as for me, the problem is comprehension (showed up in middle school) and he is a slow reader. His vocab is not quite up to par, either, but he's always managed to write quite well.
At age 9 I think my reader was into comic books. If your son reads ANYTHING it's better than nothing. But if you can't get him to read, don't feel like you're a failure. I know I tried just about everything with DS17, and only this year has he begun some pleasure reading. Maybe your son will be like some of the kids described by others who posted and do just fine without reading all the time. One other thing....my DS17 has always been quite shy and relatively quiet. Just socializing and verbalizing with others can build one's vocab and general knowledge, and then the fact that he's not a reader might not matter as much in the long run. I think my DS17 was hurt by the fact that he was lacking in both areas--socializing and reading. DS23 was always a big socializer AND reader.
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http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/october/meet_the_new_health_.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQTBYQlQ7yM
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