son choosing books
[email protected]
Hi ~
I'm not sure why I'm writing this...perhaps for reassurance <<G>>.
We go to the library often. And what I have noticed over the last 3-4 months
is that my son (8) no longer picks out the great literature that he used to..
but he just gravitates towards the Yugioh, Pokemon and Star Wars books.
I mean, some ARE cool...all about strategy and etc...but I' can't help
feeling sad that he has no interest, whatsoever in all the other wonderful stuff
out there.
Comments?
~Marcia in MA
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I'm not sure why I'm writing this...perhaps for reassurance <<G>>.
We go to the library often. And what I have noticed over the last 3-4 months
is that my son (8) no longer picks out the great literature that he used to..
but he just gravitates towards the Yugioh, Pokemon and Star Wars books.
I mean, some ARE cool...all about strategy and etc...but I' can't help
feeling sad that he has no interest, whatsoever in all the other wonderful stuff
out there.
Comments?
~Marcia in MA
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
TreeGoddess
On Aug 13, 2004, at 9:50 AM, MarSi77@... wrote:
cause him to enjoy them. Expressing your disappointment in his
interests, however, isn't a good way to support him or unschooling.
Find books and web sites and magazines for him in the things he is
interested in! Rent or buy the movies if you don't already have them.
Watch for merchandise at yard sales. THESE are his interests today ...
maybe not in 6 months or 6 years. But he's getting pleasure from them
now. He's happy *today*. Isn't that something worth supporting and
joining in on? :D
-Tracy-
> [We go to the library often. And what I have noticed over the last 3-4Pushing him toward things that he is not (yet) interested in will not
> months
> is that my son (8) no longer picks out the great literature that he
> used to..
> but he just gravitates towards the Yugioh, Pokemon and Star Wars books.
>
> I mean, some ARE cool...all about strategy and etc...but I' can't help
> feeling sad that he has no interest, whatsoever in all the other
> wonderful stuff
> out there.]
cause him to enjoy them. Expressing your disappointment in his
interests, however, isn't a good way to support him or unschooling.
Find books and web sites and magazines for him in the things he is
interested in! Rent or buy the movies if you don't already have them.
Watch for merchandise at yard sales. THESE are his interests today ...
maybe not in 6 months or 6 years. But he's getting pleasure from them
now. He's happy *today*. Isn't that something worth supporting and
joining in on? :D
-Tracy-
Sylvia Toyama
We go to the library often. And what I have noticed over the last 3-4 months is that my son (8) no longer picks out the great literature that he used to.. but he just gravitates towards the Yugioh, Pokemon and Star Wars books.
*****
How much great literature is there for 8yo's? And how many of those books speak to his life today? From what I've seen of traditional books for the 7 - 10 crowd (my son is 8) they're often about kids in school, things like that. There's just not a lot for an 8yo unschooled boy to relate to.
When we go to the library, Andy always chooses a Pokemon book or two, along with the old standby, Curious George. I'm not sure what I would consider a classic book for kids. I tried to share Pippi Longstocking with him recently -- I loved those books as a girl -- but he didn't want to, because she's a girl. Anyone out there know of an unschooled boy book -- well, except for Huck Finn/Tom Sawyer, we have those somewhere around here.
Years ago when my oldest was a poorly reading 8yo (school's position) my position was that all reading counts, just like everything counts in unschooling. Whatever a person reads adds to our store of words, understanding of the language and just basic knowledge. My kids have spent more time reading the funnies, cereal boxes, TV captions, video game instructions, and street signs than books. Reading is reading, it all should count.
Syl
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
*****
How much great literature is there for 8yo's? And how many of those books speak to his life today? From what I've seen of traditional books for the 7 - 10 crowd (my son is 8) they're often about kids in school, things like that. There's just not a lot for an 8yo unschooled boy to relate to.
When we go to the library, Andy always chooses a Pokemon book or two, along with the old standby, Curious George. I'm not sure what I would consider a classic book for kids. I tried to share Pippi Longstocking with him recently -- I loved those books as a girl -- but he didn't want to, because she's a girl. Anyone out there know of an unschooled boy book -- well, except for Huck Finn/Tom Sawyer, we have those somewhere around here.
Years ago when my oldest was a poorly reading 8yo (school's position) my position was that all reading counts, just like everything counts in unschooling. Whatever a person reads adds to our store of words, understanding of the language and just basic knowledge. My kids have spent more time reading the funnies, cereal boxes, TV captions, video game instructions, and street signs than books. Reading is reading, it all should count.
Syl
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 8/13/2004 11:32:52 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
sylgt04@... writes:
Children, Little House Books, Greek Myths, FairyTales ....and books like Treasure
Island, Kidnapped, Robin Hood ....and other adventure stories ( even history )
.
~Marcia in MA
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
sylgt04@... writes:
> How much great literature is there for 8yo's? And how many of those booksHe used to like all the books by L Frank Baum ( Wizard of Oz) , Boxcar
> speak to his life today? From what I've seen of traditional books for the 7
> - 10 crowd (my son is 8) they're often about kids in school, things like
> that. There's just not a lot for an 8yo unschooled boy to relate to.
Children, Little House Books, Greek Myths, FairyTales ....and books like Treasure
Island, Kidnapped, Robin Hood ....and other adventure stories ( even history )
.
~Marcia in MA
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Lanie Carlson-Lim
what about Beverly Cleary...mouse and the motorcycle , Magic Tree House...my son is 8 and righht now is reading Deltora Quest series - Emily Rodda, Holes...
It doesn't seem eric is reading alot lately, but last year this time he read all 28 Magic tree house books in about a month...we are still trying to finish Order of the Pheonix Together.
Lanie
It doesn't seem eric is reading alot lately, but last year this time he read all 28 Magic tree house books in about a month...we are still trying to finish Order of the Pheonix Together.
Lanie
----- Original Message -----
From: Sylvia Toyama
To: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2004 11:32 AM
Subject: Re: [unschoolingbasics] son choosing books
We go to the library often. And what I have noticed over the last 3-4 months is that my son (8) no longer picks out the great literature that he used to.. but he just gravitates towards the Yugioh, Pokemon and Star Wars books.
*****
How much great literature is there for 8yo's? And how many of those books speak to his life today? From what I've seen of traditional books for the 7 - 10 crowd (my son is 8) they're often about kids in school, things like that. There's just not a lot for an 8yo unschooled boy to relate to.
When we go to the library, Andy always chooses a Pokemon book or two, along with the old standby, Curious George. I'm not sure what I would consider a classic book for kids. I tried to share Pippi Longstocking with him recently -- I loved those books as a girl -- but he didn't want to, because she's a girl. Anyone out there know of an unschooled boy book -- well, except for Huck Finn/Tom Sawyer, we have those somewhere around here.
Years ago when my oldest was a poorly reading 8yo (school's position) my position was that all reading counts, just like everything counts in unschooling. Whatever a person reads adds to our store of words, understanding of the language and just basic knowledge. My kids have spent more time reading the funnies, cereal boxes, TV captions, video game instructions, and street signs than books. Reading is reading, it all should count.
Syl
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
a.. To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unschoolingbasics/
b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 8/13/2004 10:30:58 AM Eastern Standard Time,
MarSi77@... writes:
son (11) also went through a time when he was reading books lots of books that
seemed well written. He also would get non-fiction books with topics he was
interested in like electricity and computers.
Lately, however, he reads nothing but joke or comic books! I found myself
trying to urge him to get something else at the library but then I remembered my
daughter at 11. After reading many classics, she started doing the same
thing at about 11. She read those teenage paperback books endlessly! She will be
15 in a couple of weeks and right not she is reading Philosophy Problems 101,
Michael Moore's New Book, and book about Sigmund Freud as well as numerous
fiction books from authors she loves.
I realize I do the same thing. I read Cold Mountain this week but I also
read things like Sue Grafton's New Mystery or some weeks I barely read the
newspaper.
My son didn't want to check anything out of the library last time we
went...he just was not interested. He reads for hours online though and plays Neopets
and computer games. I truly believe that he will read what I consider "good
literature" again someday but i's not going to bother me if he doesn't.
Well, maybe just a little... But I'm working on that..:-)
Gail
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
MarSi77@... writes:
> We go to the library often. And what I have noticed over the last 3-4I can really relate to this and have been thinking alot about it lately. My
> months
> is that my son (8) no longer picks out the great literature that he used
> to..
> but he just gravitates towards the Yugioh, Pokemon and Star Wars books.
>
son (11) also went through a time when he was reading books lots of books that
seemed well written. He also would get non-fiction books with topics he was
interested in like electricity and computers.
Lately, however, he reads nothing but joke or comic books! I found myself
trying to urge him to get something else at the library but then I remembered my
daughter at 11. After reading many classics, she started doing the same
thing at about 11. She read those teenage paperback books endlessly! She will be
15 in a couple of weeks and right not she is reading Philosophy Problems 101,
Michael Moore's New Book, and book about Sigmund Freud as well as numerous
fiction books from authors she loves.
I realize I do the same thing. I read Cold Mountain this week but I also
read things like Sue Grafton's New Mystery or some weeks I barely read the
newspaper.
My son didn't want to check anything out of the library last time we
went...he just was not interested. He reads for hours online though and plays Neopets
and computer games. I truly believe that he will read what I consider "good
literature" again someday but i's not going to bother me if he doesn't.
Well, maybe just a little... But I'm working on that..:-)
Gail
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 8/13/2004 11:55:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
treegoddess@... writes:
that !
It's just "inside" that I feel that way <<G>>.
Thanks
~Marcia in MA
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
treegoddess@... writes:
> Pushing him toward things that he is not (yet) interested in will not*******Just to clarify... I don't SHOW my disappointment...I would never do
> cause him to enjoy them. Expressing your disappointment in his
> interests, however, isn't a good way to support him or unschooling.
>
that !
It's just "inside" that I feel that way <<G>>.
> Find books and web sites and magazines for him in the things he isinterests...quite varried actually.
> interested in! Rent or buy the movies if you don't already have them.
> Watch for merchandise at yard sales. THESE are his interests today ...
> maybe not in 6 months or 6 years. But he's getting pleasure from them
> now. He's happy *today*. Isn't that something worth supporting and
> joining in on? :D
>
> *******Ya you're right. He IS happy! And he does have alot of
Thanks
~Marcia in MA
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Kelli Traaseth
***my son (8) no longer picks out the great literature that he used to..
but he just gravitates towards the Yugioh, Pokemon and Star Wars books. ***
Those books and interests can lead to other interests and readings. For example, Yu-Gi-O has lots of connections with Egypt and other ancient cultures. So that could lead in so many other directions.
My 11 yr old son also has read lots of Star Wars, Yu-Gi-O, Bionicle, and lots of anime books. Its been amazing the other paths his mind has gone to,(from those books). I just keep talking with him about what he's reading and the conversations keep going and going.
***I' can't help
feeling sad that he has no interest, whatsoever in all the other wonderful stuff
out there.***
But see, right now he is finding wonderful stuff, his wonderful stuff. Some day he might choose to read other things that you might think are more worthy. Or he might not too, maybe he isn't interested in everything that you are interested in. That's a hard realization. It was hard and is still hard for me sometimes. My son doesn't care to go to museums with me, he doesn't care to go biking or hiking much with me, BUT, he does like sitting with me and discussing politics, strategies in his video games and lots of other stuff. So, things are good. :)
I would just keep helping him find what he wants to read, that in itself will deepen your relationship and the trust between you. You will be amazed at what he can/will learn from his own choices in reading.
Kelli~
PS. Oh, and have you ever read some of the books he's chosen? I'm not saying you need to read everything your kids are reading, its just that its nice sometimes to know what they are talking about when they want to tell you something--some common ground, ya know. I actually got into a few DragonballZ books, and I was an English major. <G>
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail is new and improved - Check it out!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
but he just gravitates towards the Yugioh, Pokemon and Star Wars books. ***
Those books and interests can lead to other interests and readings. For example, Yu-Gi-O has lots of connections with Egypt and other ancient cultures. So that could lead in so many other directions.
My 11 yr old son also has read lots of Star Wars, Yu-Gi-O, Bionicle, and lots of anime books. Its been amazing the other paths his mind has gone to,(from those books). I just keep talking with him about what he's reading and the conversations keep going and going.
***I' can't help
feeling sad that he has no interest, whatsoever in all the other wonderful stuff
out there.***
But see, right now he is finding wonderful stuff, his wonderful stuff. Some day he might choose to read other things that you might think are more worthy. Or he might not too, maybe he isn't interested in everything that you are interested in. That's a hard realization. It was hard and is still hard for me sometimes. My son doesn't care to go to museums with me, he doesn't care to go biking or hiking much with me, BUT, he does like sitting with me and discussing politics, strategies in his video games and lots of other stuff. So, things are good. :)
I would just keep helping him find what he wants to read, that in itself will deepen your relationship and the trust between you. You will be amazed at what he can/will learn from his own choices in reading.
Kelli~
PS. Oh, and have you ever read some of the books he's chosen? I'm not saying you need to read everything your kids are reading, its just that its nice sometimes to know what they are talking about when they want to tell you something--some common ground, ya know. I actually got into a few DragonballZ books, and I was an English major. <G>
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail is new and improved - Check it out!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 8/13/2004 8:57:35 AM Central Daylight Time,
MarSi77@... writes:
rot,,etc,,,my oldest grauated from adult high last May, and seriously deschooled,,for
6 months,,,me not being as knowing as to what it was ,,slightly spased on
occasions,,he'd spend HOURS in neo-pets and other game sites,,,he started telling
me all he did in neo pets,,and what other cool things he learned in other
games and im like dang he's not rotting his brain...hummmmmm.....what a
concept,,hummm
anyeay,,,they learn ALOT in games,,srategizing,,making things work that i am
sooo clueless to...maybe some of the concern some parents have in games and
such is out of shear ignorance.,.,.,.,.,i know i did.........>june
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
MarSi77@... writes:
> I mean, some ARE cool...all about strategy and etc...but I' can't helpi used to think video games and the like were not educational,,brain
> feeling sad that he has no interest, whatsoever in all the other wonderful
> stuff
> out there.
>
> Comments?
>
rot,,etc,,,my oldest grauated from adult high last May, and seriously deschooled,,for
6 months,,,me not being as knowing as to what it was ,,slightly spased on
occasions,,he'd spend HOURS in neo-pets and other game sites,,,he started telling
me all he did in neo pets,,and what other cool things he learned in other
games and im like dang he's not rotting his brain...hummmmmm.....what a
concept,,hummm
anyeay,,,they learn ALOT in games,,srategizing,,making things work that i am
sooo clueless to...maybe some of the concern some parents have in games and
such is out of shear ignorance.,.,.,.,.,i know i did.........>june
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Sherri-Lee Pressman
HI there,
I haven't done any library trips with Hannah yet, and you all are inspiring
me to do it. I just prefer to buy I LOVE owning books, and hate returning
them.
But as I was reading this I thought hey this is like me. I will read half a
dozen books on parenting or self help or biographies or history, you know
things that I have to "think" a bit through especially if I am learning
things from them and then I will just shut down and loose myself in a half
dozen or more Nora Roberts style books. Fluff, fun mindless abandon. So
maybe this is the same thing. Seems like my subconscious needs time to
digest what I have taken in from the other books and I need a rest from
"learning".
Just thought as I was reading this, that if anyone else was like me and
spent time reading fluffy stuff, then perhaps it isn't so bad for our kids
to be doing it either. Probably won't last forever, just like the TV thing.
right?
Sherri-Lee
_____
From: gailbrocop@... [mailto:gailbrocop@...]
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2004 9:26 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [unschoolingbasics] son choosing books
In a message dated 8/13/2004 10:30:58 AM Eastern Standard Time,
MarSi77@... writes:
son (11) also went through a time when he was reading books lots of books
that
seemed well written. He also would get non-fiction books with topics he was
interested in like electricity and computers.
Lately, however, he reads nothing but joke or comic books! I found myself
trying to urge him to get something else at the library but then I
remembered my
daughter at 11. After reading many classics, she started doing the same
thing at about 11. She read those teenage paperback books endlessly! She
will be
15 in a couple of weeks and right not she is reading Philosophy Problems
101,
Michael Moore's New Book, and book about Sigmund Freud as well as numerous
fiction books from authors she loves.
I realize I do the same thing. I read Cold Mountain this week but I also
read things like Sue Grafton's New Mystery or some weeks I barely read the
newspaper.
My son didn't want to check anything out of the library last time we
went...he just was not interested. He reads for hours online though and
plays Neopets
and computer games. I truly believe that he will read what I consider "good
literature" again someday but i's not going to bother me if he doesn't.
Well, maybe just a little... But I'm working on that..:-)
Gail
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT
<http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=129v3lli5/M=298184.5285298.6392945.3001176/D=gr
oups/S=1705081972:HM/EXP=1092500868/A=2164331/R=0/SIG=11eaelai9/*http:/www.n
etflix.com/Default?mqso=60183351> click here
<http://us.adserver.yahoo.com/l?M=298184.5285298.6392945.3001176/D=groups/S=
:HM/A=2164331/rand=360851881>
_____
Yahoo! Groups Links
* To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unschoolingbasics/
* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]?subject=Unsubscribe>
* Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo!
<http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> Terms of Service.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I haven't done any library trips with Hannah yet, and you all are inspiring
me to do it. I just prefer to buy I LOVE owning books, and hate returning
them.
But as I was reading this I thought hey this is like me. I will read half a
dozen books on parenting or self help or biographies or history, you know
things that I have to "think" a bit through especially if I am learning
things from them and then I will just shut down and loose myself in a half
dozen or more Nora Roberts style books. Fluff, fun mindless abandon. So
maybe this is the same thing. Seems like my subconscious needs time to
digest what I have taken in from the other books and I need a rest from
"learning".
Just thought as I was reading this, that if anyone else was like me and
spent time reading fluffy stuff, then perhaps it isn't so bad for our kids
to be doing it either. Probably won't last forever, just like the TV thing.
right?
Sherri-Lee
_____
From: gailbrocop@... [mailto:gailbrocop@...]
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2004 9:26 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [unschoolingbasics] son choosing books
In a message dated 8/13/2004 10:30:58 AM Eastern Standard Time,
MarSi77@... writes:
> We go to the library often. And what I have noticed over the last 3-4I can really relate to this and have been thinking alot about it lately. My
> months
> is that my son (8) no longer picks out the great literature that he used
> to..
> but he just gravitates towards the Yugioh, Pokemon and Star Wars books.
>
son (11) also went through a time when he was reading books lots of books
that
seemed well written. He also would get non-fiction books with topics he was
interested in like electricity and computers.
Lately, however, he reads nothing but joke or comic books! I found myself
trying to urge him to get something else at the library but then I
remembered my
daughter at 11. After reading many classics, she started doing the same
thing at about 11. She read those teenage paperback books endlessly! She
will be
15 in a couple of weeks and right not she is reading Philosophy Problems
101,
Michael Moore's New Book, and book about Sigmund Freud as well as numerous
fiction books from authors she loves.
I realize I do the same thing. I read Cold Mountain this week but I also
read things like Sue Grafton's New Mystery or some weeks I barely read the
newspaper.
My son didn't want to check anything out of the library last time we
went...he just was not interested. He reads for hours online though and
plays Neopets
and computer games. I truly believe that he will read what I consider "good
literature" again someday but i's not going to bother me if he doesn't.
Well, maybe just a little... But I'm working on that..:-)
Gail
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT
<http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=129v3lli5/M=298184.5285298.6392945.3001176/D=gr
oups/S=1705081972:HM/EXP=1092500868/A=2164331/R=0/SIG=11eaelai9/*http:/www.n
etflix.com/Default?mqso=60183351> click here
<http://us.adserver.yahoo.com/l?M=298184.5285298.6392945.3001176/D=groups/S=
:HM/A=2164331/rand=360851881>
_____
Yahoo! Groups Links
* To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unschoolingbasics/
* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]?subject=Unsubscribe>
* Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo!
<http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> Terms of Service.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
its good for all of us to disingage in something totally ''fluff...no damage
will be done,,,,he's reading and likeing it ,,thats the big thing>>June
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
will be done,,,,he's reading and likeing it ,,thats the big thing>>June
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]