I was just discussing with DH how happy I was that DS has read 9 books this month. He is reading A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. These are 6th grade reading level, which I know he can read at a higher level, but he's really enjoying these books. He's reading on his free time, and he's really discovering that reading can be enjoyable and entertaining! Well, DH just squashed my joy by telling me that DS should be writing book reports on all these books he's reading. "Why?" I asked. "So we know he's retaining what he's reading, and so that he can practice summarizing a lot of material in writing." "well he tells ms what the books are about, and we're still working on his writing skills in other ways." DS is behind in writing skills. I'm happy that he writes complete sentences that are grammatically correct, for the most part. Last year, he couldn't write a paragraph to save his life. He would just sit and stare at the paper until he cried. Now, he can knock out 10 sentences using spelling words in less than 30 minutes. This is improvement in my eyes! So, are book reports necessary? I hated doing them in school. In fact, I used to get my mom to do them for me. I loved reading, and creative writing, but the thought of a book report made my skin crawl. DH is still so stuck on a PS mentality. Will my son not be ready for college if he doesn't do book reports? I'd rather he work on writing creative essays as his skills improve, instead of regurgitating what someone else wrote. We do a reading comprehension class that includes writing answers in complete sentences. He writes sentences for spelling words, and he's working on learning how to properly structure a paragraph. I figure once he's got the paragraph down, he can start writing more creatively, which our reading comp book has a writing activity for each selection, plus I can find millions of writing prompts online. Am I wrong?
I don't think either of you are wrong. However.... You are right to not want to squash his love of reading. Perhaps a compromise. Life Pacs have a fantastic book report form we're using with DS9 this year. It's a sort of fill in the blank. There is a small space for a simple summary, then blanks for thinks like main characters, location, author, copyright date, etc. It's only one side of one page. Perhaps you could make up a similar form. That way your DH would know that your DS can exemplify retention of the most important information but your DS wouldn't feel overwhelmed at the thought of writing a lengthy, unprompted summary.
I have gone back and forth on this one. I am having my kids (7th and 10th grade) fill out a book report form for books this year. They have writing assignments in other areas. For book reports, the purpose they serve in our home is to have some accountability for what you have read by briefly summarizing, telling if/how you can identify with the book, what your two favorite chapters are and why, and if/how this book affected/changed you, would you recommend it and why/why not? Pretty simple. That way we have a record of what they read and they do have to apply what they've read to some extent. But I'm with you. I would prefer to assign actual writing for things other than the mom-said-I-only-had-five-more-minutes-to-pick-out-a-book-so-I-chose-this-one-and-wish-I-hadn't books. We use this type of reading assignment to explore genres the kids might not have tried otherwise, or for pure pleasure in a genre they already know they enjoy. Hope this helps.
Amie, that's exactly what I was thinking. I want to have my kids enjoy reading, not slow down because if they finish this book a report will be due. I have a "story organizer" that I have my 6th grader use every third or fourth book. It includes: date, title spots for five vocabulary words and their definitions setting characters problem (plot line) events/climax/conclusion Rate this book on scale of 1-5 Why would you recommend (or not) this book to a friend? This works well for us. MT3
(A quick Google search for "free book report forms" turned up dozens. Maybe you could find one you think will work.)
Thanks ladies! I know he is retaining what he reads, because he tells me about every ing that happens in the books, but I guess a fill-in-the-blank form couldn't hurt every once in a while.
I like narration myself. We read a story and the kids repeat back to me the basic outline of the story or rewrite it. We do NOT do that with books the kids read on their own time though.
The other thing you could try is www.bookadventure.com . I have my kids do the quizzes from the books they read IF they're on there. Also, you could have him do a chapter summary each day - that's only one or two sentences. And then at the end, he could consolidate that into a book report for Dad. Maybe even draw a few pics and such to go with it and make it fun? My kids read a book that goes with our history time period each unit. They have to complete a "DRS" Daily Response Form. On the form I have a spot for summary of the chapter, a spot for words to look up and a spot for them to do copy work of their favorite sentence. I think it helps them cement what they read. For your husband, though - I mean, if he's expecting that he writes a book report for PLEASURE reading? Thats the quickest way to shut down reading for pleasure vs. school!!!! My kids can read any book they want and NOT do anything with it. I know they're getting it if they talk about the book, etc. If you squelch the desire to read by adding work to it, you've defeated the purpose. IMHO.
I second the Book Adventure site. We haven't been on there for a long time. I'll have to check it out again to see what books are available. My ds loved the quizzes, which was odd for him. :lol:
You really should do a book report every once in awhile though (not on every book that would be way to much). Being able to write a book report is a skill that is needed in college and by starting them early they can build up the skill. I had quite a few classes in college that required indepth book reports. I would do maybe one or two a year at the most because you do not want to crush the love of reading. Being able to write a plot summary, a character analysis, opinions are all skills that kids need.
My oldest son stil struggles with writing so we found an alternative that is fun for book reporting. Have you heard of Cereal Box Book reports? Here are two links that give good ideas of using them: Homeschool blogger that shows her son 's cereal box book report on "Titanic Crossing" by Barbara Williams. http://homeschool-musings.blogspot.com/2011/05/cereal-box-book-report.html This site has templates for the cereal box book report http://misskartheiser.weebly.com/cereal-box-book-report.html
I just skimmed the other responses, so I apologize if I repeat or step on anyone's toes here. I think they are pointless. There, I said it. My dh is with yours- he thinks our kids need to be able to do them. IMHO, and only mine, I have never done book reports in college. Summarize, paraphrase, write reports using several books as resources? Absolutely. A book report? Never. (and I have taken every English and writing class offered by my college, so I haven't avoided writing). And I don't see how writing a book report prepares kids to write actual research reports in any way, unless you are showing them how to do a biblio and citations, let alone a report summary and cover sheet. My ds is a reluctant reader and writer, as well. I DO require him to tell me what he has read, but that is because 1.) he only reads what I assign. And 2.) last year he had some severe comprehension issues. I'm going to split the difference: I'll have my kids do a few book reports so they know how to do them and that will make my dh happy. But that's it. And unlike my own ps education, I WILL teach my kids how to do citations and biblios, so they aren't fighting with the Perdue Owl (website) trying to figure out how to write them correctly :roll: But again, those are research reports on several sources, not book reports over one book with regurgitated info on plot, setting, and characters.
I'm so glad you said that! I've been replaying my college experiences since this post popped up last night and can't think of a single solitary use for book report type assignments. Other than to prove comprehension, which, as has been stated, can be proven in a variety of ways.
We do use narration, and sometimes a son will come up and just start talking excitedly about a part of a book he's just read- that shows me comprehension. (And enjoyment- one way or the other!) Being able to summarize what is being said in a written form IS a skill that is useful later in life. So is recognizing what main characters are and the different forms of plot. However, at sixth grade, I still want my son reading for fun and for knowledge- not for re-writing it later. That's why we do the story organizers every few books. He is in a Literature class at co-op that goes more indepth with three books in a semester. That's sufficient in my book. My highschoolers I try to assign one book analysis every six weeks or so, mainly because the books they are reading are longer. And even then, it is probably not always a book report like we did in school. I like an essay style question (What is the conflict in this book? Man vs man; man vs nature, etc and how is it resolved?). MT3
Just one last thought- I actually had one professor who HATED students' work if it sounded like a retelling of the book or story. That particular professor (and I assumed most felt that way but this one was the only one who said so) did NOT want us to retell anything, to list main characters, etc. We were supposed to assume that he had already read the story (which he had) and expand on something presented in the work. Even when he assigned compare/contrasts of stories for his class, he wasn't looking for book-report type comparisons. You would be shocked to know how many of the college students struggled to get beyond, "and then he... and then... "
I have my older son do occasional book reports, but every book he reads for school that I don't read I require a book report or an oral report. For an oral report I have him make notes on what he wants to say before he starts. I don't require them for my younger son yet. I will when he doesn't read aloud to me anymore.
Thanks everyone. For either laterthis year, or next year, I plan on using study guides for some classic literature books that I found on a book publisher's website. They prepare you to read a few chapters, then go over the chapters, and there's a lot of writing involved, and it shows comprehension. I'd rather do things like this than actual book reports. BLECH! Meghan, I'm with you! I didn't graduate college, but I did take a few semesters when I was 26. All of the wring was essay style, certainly not book report style. I'm going to try a 'book report form' in the near future, but not until DS finishes the entire series by Lemony Snicket. He's really enjoying those books. I did find a quiz for the very last book of the series on that one website someone mentioned, so I'll have him take that quiz when he finishes the series. Thanks for all the great ideas everyone!
BTW, here is the site for the literature study guides. They're free to use, and they're all in PDF format. I'm pretty sure all of these books are available at the library, and range from middle school to highschool reading levels. http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0378454778/student_view0/literature_library_study_guide.html
A book report does not have to be a strict retelling. If that is all a 6th grader is doing then it is useless, that is what a third grader should do. In the 6th grade there should be some focus in the report such as what you liked about a character, would you act the same way, if you were to recommend it why or why not with complete details. As for college we did many book reviews or literary anlysis, which is really the progression of a book report.
I've seen some homeschooling parents have their child write a review/report on the book and place it on the review section of Amazon. I've had my son write up a blog post containing his report too. Those things might make a pencil and paper task a little more interesting. I think practice writing book reports is a useful skill as are oral reports. Whether you are simply narrating the story or analyzing it, it is good practice for later writing. I had plenty of literature analysis papers to complete in college.
