Could those of you who assign your children books to read explain your reasons? Do your children fight with you over it? I'm asking this because I have 2 junior high age kids and would like to try assigning reading again. Last time was a nightmare. Ds 13 HATES to read period.. Dd11 loves to read but only what she wants. She chooses classics mostly so I'm ok with that. But Ds13 I don't know WHAT to do.. Suggestions??
Yes, I assign books. But if a book is hated we move on to another book. I assign classics for reading during school time. I try to choose books that are at the right level and something I think they would be interested in. They read other books outside of school time. My kids haven't fought with me about it. They may at times whine about a certain book though. I have always chosen their reading books for school so I guess they expect it. Maybe you can have your 13 year old choose books from a list you compile. I did something like that this past school year. I checked out about 20 classics from the library and had my ds put them into different categories (ones he wanted to read for school, ones he wanted me to read to him, and ones that he wanted to read in his free time). It was helpful for him to thumb through the books.
Yes. I assign books that go along with our period of history, so they HAVE to read them. I also make them fill out a "daily response sheet" on them - it has a section for them to summarize the chapter, a spot to record (and then look up in dictionary) words they do not know, also a spot for them to copy their favorite sentence. Fortunately, my kids like reading so they don't treat this as unusual. Their free time reading, I let them choose. I do create their summer reading list. Anything they want to read above and beyond that is fine with my - but by end of summer they have to have read what I wanted them to (and if available, take the bookadventure.com quiz for it).
I do assign reading as well. There are book units that we do together that are required reading, then there are book lists that they are required to choose x number of books from each year, and then there is the reading list that they get to choose ANY book they want to read and add it to the list. We keep all the books read on one central reading list so they can look back at their accomplishment and be proud of themselves. If I choose a book that must be read and they do not like it even one little bit, I will choose a different book for them to do, however there are rules for this and they can't just say they don't like every single book. As they get older the difficulty of the books will increase with their individual reading level, but we will always be doing book units together, even if we have to change the format a little.
I did assigned reading with sd in high school. I usually chose books that went along with history. Sometimes I chose something just because I thought she should read it or would like it. Maybe you could have them go through the Sonlight book list (you can get the descriptions on line) and see if any of them catch their eye. It is sometimes easier when there is a description.
Not having read the other comments.... If my kids read only their own choice, it'd be mystery/fantasy for the oldest, fantasy for the middle, and graphic novels for the younger. I'm OK with them reading those, but I would like them to be exposed to other stuff, too. So I assign the "classics", historical fiction, biographies. And considering they read about five books to every one I assign, it doesn't kill them! When Rachael took Notgrass history these past two years, I laid off assigning books to her, because there were about 13 books for each year (American Lit and World Lit) that she had to read for that, so I didn't feel the need to add onto it. Also, I don't always do a Literature Guide for assigned books. I assign about 10 books year, and only do maybe two lit guides. I think the only lit guide I did this past year was The Hobbit with Faythe and Phillip. As far as fighting over it, we've done it for so long, it's as natural as brushing your teeth. Phillip fights more over lit guides than he does actually reading the book.
My son, now 13, used to hate reading and would fight to get through any book. Since it wasn't an option to not read, I started getting books on tape from the library and that worked really well to get him interested. He doesn't like suspense, sci-fi or 'against all odds' type books so I got him funny ones like "Surviving the Applewhites". It worked really well to get him interested. He stays up late in bed listening to the books. The result is that now he'll accept books I find for him and at least read the first 1 or 2 chapters. If he's not interested, I let him stop and try something else I found. He's even picked up a few on his own "Huck Finn" and "Tom Sawyer". Yay! My advice is to get him books on tape and then try to transition to print books. Also, is there something he does like to read? Video game mags? Comics? My son loves Fox Trot, Garfield, Peanuts, and Calvin & Hobbs. I head it once said from a long time homeschooler that its the reading that's important. Sure, its not the classics but if you start out with something enjoyable then you can tansition later. Another thing you can try is graphic novels for the classics. Chester Crab for history is fun, too. HTH
As far as Graphic Novels for the classics, it depends on what you're after. If you want the kid familiar with a "good story", then Graphic Novels will work fine. I'm still amazed when Phillip will talk intelligently about a classic he's never read. "Where'd you learn that?" "On Wishbone!!!" And Wishbone, like the GN, is great for an introduction. But classic literature is classic for two reasons...the story line AND the writing. GNs, while portraying the first well, cannot do justice to the second. You cannot learn to aprreciate the beauty of language, the skill a writer has in putting his story together. How many times have you watched a movie and come away saying, "The book's better!"? Even more so with a GN!
That's true. For someone who likes to read or doesn't fight it, then by all means, don't do the GN version. But for a reluctant reader, getting them into GN first may just be what he needs to ignite a fire to read the real classic.
You know, after saying that, Faythe and I got talking about it. She'll do a GN every now and then, and knows I'm not keen on them. She absolutely LOVES the Redwall books. I asked her if she would read Redwall as a GN. She gave me the funniest look. "They won't make a good GN." Why not? Well, there's so MUCH in it! You couldn't put it in a GN! And we talked about how a good writer doesn't really need pictures; that a really good author can cause YOU to create the picture in your mind. With GNs, that can't happen. And Redwall is filled with poetry and song. They would have to be cut out to a good extent (and Faythe LOVES the poetry the most, I think!!!). But, as you say, they can be helpful if used properly, to inspire kids to read more!
I assign books for history as well as reading comp. For the most part, I try to find books that I know Ems will be interested in but sometimes it is a flop. If she really has a hard time getting through the book, I find something else. Ems loves to read so I know that if she doesn't want to read a book, it isn't because she is trying to get out of it but it is that she can't stand it. Aside from assigned reading, Ems reads many books a year for free reading. So I do not push too hard on the books she struggles to get through.
I've tried everything with ds13 and he just absolutly HATES reading. Our library doesn't have many books on cd that I would ok for him. They are too expensive for me to purchase so that idea is out. I want him to be exposed to "good" literature. So would it be wrong for me to MAKE him read?? Tom Sawyer was assigned to him last year and he never finished it. Although that book was read more than any other book I had assigned him. With less fighting as well. Or maybe I should read to him and the others as a read aloud?? He enjoys when I read. Which surprises me at his age.. Maybe I can pick books from the Sonlight reading list that are available at our library and read aloud to the kids. What do you all think???
I'm wondering the same thing. After struggling with ds this past year, buying new books, struggling again.. he read the beginnings of a bunch, and didn't finish a darn one. Not even when he said he 'liked' them. I eventually had to sneak reading in in other ways so *I* would be happy. When we had science reading, we'd take turns. ditto on anything else we were doing. To be honest, what he was reading in that manner was quite a bit above grade level, so why he didn't fight THAT but hated regular books.. idk.
Try the Mad Scientist Club. If the library doesn't have it, get it InnerLibrary Loan. Guys REALLY DO enjoy it, and more a collection of short stories, which can also make a difference.
Librivox has many classic books recorded that you can listen to online for free too I don't think it is wrong to make him read, but I would try to give him a choice of what to read and spend more time reading literature to him.
If I don't pick/assign books for my 11yr she'd just stick with her Warrier Cats and other related books. Some books she said to be boring turned out really good. She will disagree with me but if she does it I will reward her by ordering a book she likes.
It is not wrong of you to assign reading material. If kids are left to their own they would never choose some of the classics. I made sd read Pride and Prejudice, which she would never have chosen. By the middle of the book she was getting all mad at the characters and getting really interested in what they were doing. She was really invested in it. That has happened with a few books. Sometimes you need to direct their choices, they do not know enough. Give him a choice of 3 books if you want him to choose. This way he gets a say but it is guided by your wisdom.
