Is is ok that my 11 dd doesn't want to read chpt books ?

My 11 y/o dd will not read chapter books with the exception of captain underpants, which is more of a comic book than chapter book. She struggled with reading alot when she was in regular school, which I think completely turned her off of it. She was not reading by the end of K, which prompted her to have to go to special reading recovery classes. She will read picture books just fine, and she will read a pile of them at one time. But they are more of a 2nd grade level, at the most. I let her go to the library and pick out any book she wants that is a chapter book suited more for her age. She will start reading the first few pages and then not want to pick it back up again. I tried forcing her to read it, but I don't know if I should back off and let her read what she wants to read. When I make her read the books she doesn't want to read, she doesn't retain anything from them. It is as if she didn't even read it. I thought maybe she wasn't understanding the words, so I had her read it outloud and she was able to get all but maybe 1 or 2 on the page. Last year I made her read Misty of Chincoteague which I thought she would love, since like most girls she loves horses. I had her to read 1 chapter every day and then tell me about what she read. At the end of the book I had her write a book report. It was like pulling teeth to have her tell me about the book. I would really appreciate any ideas or opinions.

Thanks

 

keep her on the Captain she will eventually finish his story and go on to another, I let my kids read the ones, like ther are superman ones out there that have a page of picture then writing type of things after that. Its all words but has a few pics, then from there he grabs his novel, chapter style books because he is into reading so much he doesnt wannt to stop... its all good!
When my dd was 11 she still read the Ameriican girl little kid books just cause it was fun. AS long as they are reading and its not nasty stuff, then go for it!
have her check out the newer Boxcar Children "graphic novels" they have the same story, but in comic form. The Captain underpants books where written by an 11 yr old , the first ones, so she is the perfect age for them!
Make her do reports on them, just like you would any other book!

 

I think you need to find a way to bulid her confidence. Sounds to me like she struggled and now is staying in her comfort zone. Maybe you could read a book aloud together? yeah right with a tween..LOL. But maybe you could. My dd used to read to the dog. LOL Seriously...there was a program to read to worker dogs at our library. She loved it and started to read to our dog. She hated reading but now reads huge books like Little Woman and loved it.

Don't force it...but she really needs to move on in her reading, IMO. Just find ways to encourage her gently. She needs some confidence building in this area.

 

Like Ava Rose, I was going to suggest reading chapter books out loud together. Ds would read dictionaries and Star Wars/LOTR encyclopedias, but he refused chapter books until I sat down and read to him and dd. He now choses chapter books on his own. I think they were overwhelming to him to do it alone at first, and not to mention some chapter books don't keep your attention from chapter 1 and take some time to build.

We started with Chronicles of Narnia and The Hobbit. These were very active and the chapters weren't too long. If your dd likes Cpt. Underpants, then she might like something with some adventure to it rather than the typical "girl" books.

Side note: I was much like this as a child. I went on to become an English/Lit major in college. Go figure! LOL

 

My daughter loves the Judy Moody books. Granted, they would still be a bit on the young side in terms of reading level, but it might at least make her like reading; the nice thing is that they incorporate lots of pictures into the books. My daughter also enjoyed reading The Littles books--- far fewer pictures but relatively short chapters.

We do our read-aloud time together. As Ava recommended, we alternate reading. I'll read a paragraph and then my kids read a paragraph. It helps the reading go faster and so doesn't feel as tedious to them. I think that, more than anything, has made reading a lot more palatable to them.

 

DD (8th grade) used to despise reading. When she was 5th grade (at PS) her teachers would make her check out books she was not ready for and told me that she should not be reading things like the "Magic Tree House" set as that was too young for her. So, I inturn forced to read things she wasn't ready for which lead to tears and a major distaste for reading. Once I started HSing her I spoke to the public librarian and she said to let DD read what she enjoys even if it is a on the younger side. Once I did that she developed an interest in reading. She reads a variety of things but her faves are graphic novels. She does still check out stuff like the "MTH" but will also read things like "Harry Potter".
So I guess what I am trying to say is to let you daughter read what she likes and can read. As others have said do read chapter books aloud. Both of my kids are middle school and still enjoy being read to or reading with me.
Good Luck!!

 

I agree with TMom and Mrs. Mommy. My son was the same way so I let him read whatever he wanted, within reason. He eventually moved up, but it was in his timing. Even now his language program suggests books of 200-300 pages. He picks out books that are about 150. I told him he can pick 2 books of 150 instead if he wants. He still chooses the 2 150 page books. I know that will go up in time just as these books have came up. I am happy because it is stress free and he enjoys it.

 

My son loves Captain Underpants. I recently bought the first book of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Obviously it's not "good" lit....lol. but it's a higher reading level (which he can easily do) but still in a similar format to Captain Underpants and still that sort of humor. My DD9 actually decided she'd read it first which is great because she's my struggling learner.

DD9 has started reading more shorter chapter books like the American Girl series but like your DD wasn't (and still isn't sometimes) a fan of chapter books. She gained alot more confidence after she completed the Hooked on Phonics Master Reader program (some computer game, some sort essay type reading, and ends each level with a book...which she absolutely loved). She still doesn't read as well as her younger brother (although her comprehension level is higher than his)....but her confidence is MUCH higher and that is helping her overall reading improve each day.

 

My 11 yr old DS is the same way. I started letting him pick what he wanted to read at the library. We go through at least 4 books a week. He is starting to get bored with the short ones. Hopefully he will move up soon.

 

I would not worry or force the issue. I think letting her read a pile of picture books is fine...and the Captain Underpants (sorry, they're abounding here too). Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot series is similar to CU but gives info about planets. Lots of pictures, short chapters, engaging stories.

Maybe a way to get her less afraid of them would be do read alouds with her. meaning YOU read aloud to her. She can pick the book, but you read it to her. She might just relish the time with you. And if you want her to "comprehend it" you could look into things like www.bookadventure.com, or www.edhelper.com to see if they have stuff on it. Book Adventure has quizzes where they earn points to cash in for prizes, etc. Ed helper doesn't. LOL Or have her do a short chapter summary, or draw a picture of the chapter....what ever floats her boat.

My oldest (almost 10) still loves doing read alouds.

Just a suggestion.

 

Could you try some of the manga style books? They are set up in a comic book style fashion but with more plots and storyline. My girls are reading the warrior series about cat clans. My oldest reads the ch. books and manga. My younger daughter reads only manga. She can read ch. books but these are a little bit much for her. So the manga is a good way to work towards the longer ch. books in this series.
Maybe starting with a series like this one that has both the manga style and then moving into more traditional chapter stories would help.

 

Krista, did you knw that Ricky ROcottas Mighty robot is also a Dave Pilkey book? There is also a cute little Dragon book. he wrote.
I like to use Dave as a good example to my kids to inspire them to write too!

 

Yes. I love Dav Pilkey. I'd marry him if I wasn't already. LOL JUST KIDDING!

What's the dragon one? Can't believe I'd never heard of it (not at any of our libraries either).

Our one library has a Captain Underpants Day every year. SO FUNNY! Kids throw brown socks filled with beans into non-working toilets - they call it the "poopy" toss....oh the potty humor abounds on this day. My 8 year old loves it! (actually, so does my 45 year old. Must be a boy thing).

I've really had to relax my girly standards for him.

LOL!!!!

 

My husband has a great comic style illustrated book of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit. Obviously, it's adapted for the comic style but the plot, wording, etc is much more in-depth than a other comic books

 

Thank you for all the replies !! I knew you guys would have some great ideas. I am on our libraries website right now reserving some of these books. I will also try reading outloud some of the books for the first few chapters to see if that will spark her interest into finishing the rest of the book on her own.

 

I cut my "independent reading teeth" on Supeman, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Batman and Robin, Green Lantern, Justice League, Aquaman, Action Comics, Adventure Comics -- They had hard words like kryptonite, which inspired me to puzzle out the "sounding out" thing since we were not taught phonics in school. From there it was a short hop over to the science fiction -- Isaac Asimov, which was always clean and not goofed up with "romantic" garbage, pure science fiction. Also Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, and carried on into Anne McCaffery -- just to name a few.

My ds really got into independent reading with Usborne and DK type books, with short paragraphs, brilliant pictures, and meaty captions. For chapter books he discovered Animorphs, which I also thought were kind of entertaining. From there he got into more themed-for-adults novels like Stephen King (whose books I abhor).

Let her choose what she wants. You may want to look up some of the Classics Illustrated, or maybe it's Illustrated Classics -- they're hardcover books that are abridged versions of classics, with a black-and-white illustration about every other page, that read at about maybe fourth grade level. At BooksAMillion, last time I was there, they were about $5, but sometimes they turn up at WalMart for about half that.

 

My daughter would not read chapter books at 11 either. Now she reads ones she likes. Her reading level is way ahead of grade level (just tested at grade 13+). She actually does have a reading learning disability and was barely reading when she started homeschooling at 8 yrs old.

I would say to try to find things she is interested in and see if she takes off with it. It may take a while, but, in the end, I am sure you will come up with something. In the end, if she never takes to chapter books, it is ok. Frankly, chapter books are a form of entertainment that for some reason, the education system has held out as the only standard for reading abilities. Let her read newspapers, magazines, and non-fiction books.

 

Graphic Novels - my dd LOVES them..... she's actually reading Romeo & Juliet at the moment in that format.

She likes Captain Underpants as well..... she thinks it's hillarious My mother thinks it's awful.....LOL

 

Have not read ALL the responses. But agree with most.
Let her read whatever she wants, you might try some of the manga books...but look at them closely...for ds(12) I find an older boy in the manga section and tell him...fighting is ok, but no "romance" and I prefer the girl characters at least a bit covered, and look at what he recommends. There are some manga books for girls.
That will motivate her to read...and like doing it. (good habit)
Then, let her help you choose a chapter book that you read together. ds and I started with The Lightning Thief...which is grade level but that first book I would have him read a paragraph and then I would read for a while, and then another bit...by the 3rd book he was reading chapters on his own and I would have to read to keep up. The 6th book he read entirely on his own. whooo hoo.
Now he is not as intimidated by chapter books. He is reading the Peter and the Starcatcher series. yipee!!
He is not interested in Harry Potter and did not like Misty of Chincotegue either...so there ya go.
(We might try Peter and the Medicine Hat Stallion)
Make sure you have veto rights on the book you read together...ds(9) and I are reading Eric Rex...ugh, it is awful blech blech. (needless to say it is taking us forever!!)
I think forcing a child to read is so counterproductive. I mean, ya gotta read your textbooks, and eventually you will have to read books that you are not crazy about. (I told the girls (18 and 22) in High school, to imagine themselves as critics and they can dislike the book all they want, but they have to read it to be able to tell what is wrong with it. But at this precious point, going from learning to read to reading to learn...be gentle. This is the main reason we are homeschooling. I didn't want to put him against reading for ever.

 

Really?!? My DD would love this. I will have to see if I can find it.