book choosing
Carolyn
I've been noticing lately that my daughter will not pick out books at
the library. She usually doesn't want to go and tries to hurry me out
of there when we do go. I reserve a lot of books (for both of us) and
always have another list of books I want to search for. For the most
part, she stays uninvolved.
When the books are at home, I put them in her room and at night (usually
after I go to bed) she often stays up quite late reading a book from
cover to cover. Some she rejects (which is just fine with me). In the
morning, we talk about what she's read, the ones she liked and the ones
she didn't. Most of the time, she's very enthusiastic about what a good
book she just read.
I'm just wondering if I should stop getting her books, in hopes that
she'll start looking for herself. I can't even imagine not wanting to
pick books out for myself. On the other hand, I hate messing up a
mostly good thing. Now that I've written this, I'm wondering how
other kids hear about good books and how they make their choices. I
really doubt any of her friends are telling her about good books they've
read.
It just occurred to me that she's much more likely to look for a book
(or several) she wants at a bookstore. Maybe it's the layout of the
library versus a bookstore, most of the chapter books are shelved so
you can't see the covers. It's really not very browser friendly.
Anyway, I'd love to hear ideas or how your kids select their books.
Carolyn
(We're only in our second year of homeschooling, she's 11.)
the library. She usually doesn't want to go and tries to hurry me out
of there when we do go. I reserve a lot of books (for both of us) and
always have another list of books I want to search for. For the most
part, she stays uninvolved.
When the books are at home, I put them in her room and at night (usually
after I go to bed) she often stays up quite late reading a book from
cover to cover. Some she rejects (which is just fine with me). In the
morning, we talk about what she's read, the ones she liked and the ones
she didn't. Most of the time, she's very enthusiastic about what a good
book she just read.
I'm just wondering if I should stop getting her books, in hopes that
she'll start looking for herself. I can't even imagine not wanting to
pick books out for myself. On the other hand, I hate messing up a
mostly good thing. Now that I've written this, I'm wondering how
other kids hear about good books and how they make their choices. I
really doubt any of her friends are telling her about good books they've
read.
It just occurred to me that she's much more likely to look for a book
(or several) she wants at a bookstore. Maybe it's the layout of the
library versus a bookstore, most of the chapter books are shelved so
you can't see the covers. It's really not very browser friendly.
Anyway, I'd love to hear ideas or how your kids select their books.
Carolyn
(We're only in our second year of homeschooling, she's 11.)
Teri Loftis
--
On Fri, 05 Oct 2001 09:34:13
Carolyn wrote:
She will sit for hours tho, and listen to me read to her. We spend about 2 hours every night before bed reading, me aloud, then her sister aloud (she is 8 and has never been to school) and I have lately asked that Emily read. I told her it's nice for me to be read to also. She chose Black Beauty. She has asked to read for longer, has admitted to loving this book, but still refuses to read on her own.
She enjoys reading the book aloud. But still prefers to be read to. Where as her sister is frustrated because she can't read completely on her own yet. It is funny, Emily, who went to school, still tends to read in a monotone. Ellen, who never went uses many inflections, laughs while she reads, comments on what will happen....
I think we are making baby steps though. She will now occasionally choose a book from the library. usually one that she knows her sister will enjoy--or at least that's what she says. :) She has also decided that she loves the Little House Books and has them all ready for me to read in order.
I think, Carolyn, if what you are doing works, keep at it. I have picked out books to read aloud that I remember enjoying and she has enjoyed them also...that's how we started on Little House...and Black Beauty too. I know someday, I am not going to be able to read enough to her and she will take over in impatience. i will joyously let her!
I also find that both of them rarely discuss what we have read right away, but later, sometimes weeks later, it comes up...I don't even realize I am holding my breath until I exhale at those comments! So, for now, this works...
Teri
Make a difference, help support the relief efforts in the U.S.
http://clubs.lycos.com/live/events/september11.asp
On Fri, 05 Oct 2001 09:34:13
Carolyn wrote:
>I've been noticing lately that my daughter will not pick out books atSame with my daughter. She will get craft books, or cd's, or horse books (non fiction) Then they will sit in a pile until time to return them
>the library. She usually doesn't want to go and tries to hurry me out
>of there when we do go. I reserve a lot of books (for both of us) and
>always have another list of books I want to search for. For the most
>part, she stays uninvolved.
>My daughter too, but still, they will sit in a pile, or on her bookshelf. Untouched.
>It just occurred to me that she's much more likely to look for a book
>(or several) she wants at a bookstore. Maybe it's the layout of the
>library versus a bookstore, most of the chapter books are shelved so
>you can't see the covers. It's really not very browser friendly.
>
>(We're only in our second year of homeschooling, she's 11.)We are only in our second year of homeschooling too. My daughter will be 11 in March. It is my belief that she is so sick of reading, from school, that she refuses. She honestly refuses anything to do with anything that might be "learning".
She will sit for hours tho, and listen to me read to her. We spend about 2 hours every night before bed reading, me aloud, then her sister aloud (she is 8 and has never been to school) and I have lately asked that Emily read. I told her it's nice for me to be read to also. She chose Black Beauty. She has asked to read for longer, has admitted to loving this book, but still refuses to read on her own.
She enjoys reading the book aloud. But still prefers to be read to. Where as her sister is frustrated because she can't read completely on her own yet. It is funny, Emily, who went to school, still tends to read in a monotone. Ellen, who never went uses many inflections, laughs while she reads, comments on what will happen....
I think we are making baby steps though. She will now occasionally choose a book from the library. usually one that she knows her sister will enjoy--or at least that's what she says. :) She has also decided that she loves the Little House Books and has them all ready for me to read in order.
I think, Carolyn, if what you are doing works, keep at it. I have picked out books to read aloud that I remember enjoying and she has enjoyed them also...that's how we started on Little House...and Black Beauty too. I know someday, I am not going to be able to read enough to her and she will take over in impatience. i will joyously let her!
I also find that both of them rarely discuss what we have read right away, but later, sometimes weeks later, it comes up...I don't even realize I am holding my breath until I exhale at those comments! So, for now, this works...
Teri
Make a difference, help support the relief efforts in the U.S.
http://clubs.lycos.com/live/events/september11.asp
[email protected]
In a message dated 10/05/2001 1:13:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:
novel or, for a long time (until they were completed), Animorphs. They were
Safe. However, his favorite books seem to be the ones I hear about (or have
read before) and suggest. So he'll often ask me to find some things for him
to look at. He'll check out a pile and choose the ones that interest him.
I just asked, and he has no idea what that's about...maybe the same reason
we'll often look for a book we've read about or a friend has recommended if
we're looking for a "new" book. (Then there are the authors/series we ALWAYS
read--for us several mystery authors we almost always buy in hardcover
because we can't wait for the paperback)
Kathryn
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected] writes:
> Anyway, I'd love to hear ideas or how your kids select their books.Julian, on his own in a bookstore, will almost always choose a Star Wars
>
novel or, for a long time (until they were completed), Animorphs. They were
Safe. However, his favorite books seem to be the ones I hear about (or have
read before) and suggest. So he'll often ask me to find some things for him
to look at. He'll check out a pile and choose the ones that interest him.
I just asked, and he has no idea what that's about...maybe the same reason
we'll often look for a book we've read about or a friend has recommended if
we're looking for a "new" book. (Then there are the authors/series we ALWAYS
read--for us several mystery authors we almost always buy in hardcover
because we can't wait for the paperback)
Kathryn
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Lynda
We go to the library, used book stores and library sales with bags in hand.
I turn the kidlets loose. They run back and forth from the section they are
interested in to the section I am in. They haul books and ask what I think
of thus and such. I give them an honest answer. Or if it is something I
don't think is appropriate to their age level or understanding level, I will
tell them and let them decide from there.
Last week we took several back that youngest didn't read because they just
weren't at her reading level, well not so much ability to read as being too
dry/boring more textbook sort of thing. When we dropped them off she looked
at me really seriously and said,"those were I told you so books." Then when
I looked confused she burst out laughing and said "if you were that lady we
saw here last time you would be saying I told you so." And away she went to
get another bag of books. She's quite the card <g>
Lynda
I turn the kidlets loose. They run back and forth from the section they are
interested in to the section I am in. They haul books and ask what I think
of thus and such. I give them an honest answer. Or if it is something I
don't think is appropriate to their age level or understanding level, I will
tell them and let them decide from there.
Last week we took several back that youngest didn't read because they just
weren't at her reading level, well not so much ability to read as being too
dry/boring more textbook sort of thing. When we dropped them off she looked
at me really seriously and said,"those were I told you so books." Then when
I looked confused she burst out laughing and said "if you were that lady we
saw here last time you would be saying I told you so." And away she went to
get another bag of books. She's quite the card <g>
Lynda
----- Original Message -----
>
> Anyway, I'd love to hear ideas or how your kids select their books.
>
Debra Bures
<<
Anyway, I'd love to hear ideas or how your kids select their books.
Carolyn>>
My youngest dd is 9 1/2. She's been reading confidently for about 4 months or so. One day she told me that she'd decided that it was time that she read chapter books. She picked up _Baby_ by Patricia MacLaughlin and was up really late reading it. She told me that the really cool thing about reading to herself is if she doesn't understand something, she can read it again, and then not only does she understand the first question, she learns something new.
She decided that she was going to read all the books by Patricia MacLaughlin. She noticed similarities in the characters in several books. She reads the books first, then passes them on to me and then we talk about them. She's now reading Janet Taylor Lisle books on her own, and we've been reading The Chronicles of NArnia together.
I'm not sure how she decides what to read--it just kind of happens
Debra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Anyway, I'd love to hear ideas or how your kids select their books.
Carolyn>>
My youngest dd is 9 1/2. She's been reading confidently for about 4 months or so. One day she told me that she'd decided that it was time that she read chapter books. She picked up _Baby_ by Patricia MacLaughlin and was up really late reading it. She told me that the really cool thing about reading to herself is if she doesn't understand something, she can read it again, and then not only does she understand the first question, she learns something new.
She decided that she was going to read all the books by Patricia MacLaughlin. She noticed similarities in the characters in several books. She reads the books first, then passes them on to me and then we talk about them. She's now reading Janet Taylor Lisle books on her own, and we've been reading The Chronicles of NArnia together.
I'm not sure how she decides what to read--it just kind of happens
Debra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tia Leschke
>Mine won't even go *in* the library. I haven't figured out yet who spawned
> >I've been noticing lately that my daughter will not pick out books at
> >the library. She usually doesn't want to go and tries to hurry me out
> >of there when we do go. I reserve a lot of books (for both of us) and
> >always have another list of books I want to search for. For the most
> >part, she stays uninvolved.
this kid. <g> His siblings and parents and grandmother are all
bookaholics. His grandmother worked in the library for years. He's so
opposite me I expect him to come around full circle one of these days and
meet me at the other end. %^ )
Tia
Tia Leschke leschke@...
On Vancouver Island
**************************************************************************
It is the answers which separate us, the questions which unite us. - Janice
Levy
[email protected]
> Anyway, I'd love to hear ideas or how your kids select their books.Usually by the cover. The more creepy, ghastly and gruesome it is the
better. Now, sometimes by the Author, if he liked another book.
Anything horror or sci-fi. Anything Japanese animation. If they're awful
he just stacks them up and looks at the covers. He's nine and there's
just no point even picking up a book if it doesn't have a cool cover.
Deb L
[email protected]
>(We're only in our second year of homeschooling, she's 11.)**We are only in our second year of homeschooling too. My daughter will be
11 in March. It is my belief that she is so sick of reading, from school,
that she refuses. She honestly refuses anything to do with anything that
might be "learning". **
AND
**She enjoys reading the book aloud. But still prefers to be read to. Where
as her sister is frustrated because she can't read completely on her own yet.
It is funny, Emily, who went to school, still tends to read in a monotone.
Ellen, who never went uses many inflections, laughs while she reads, comments
on what will happen....**
It's sad sad sad, not because it's odd but because it is horribly normal.
Schools are unfortunately very very very good at taking little kids with big
curiosities and mushing them into big kids who hate reading, especially
reading aloud. Schools also mush kids into thinking they hate learning (while
of course they're still learning plenty of things as long as they're not
identified as *learning* and nobody is trying to make them).
Parents Who Love Reading, Kids who Don't by Mary Leonhardt is about how
schools screw up kids with reading, and what you can do about it. Great book.
Honest. :)
Deborah in IL
Elizabeth Hill
Carolyn wrote:
I adore children's books, and I think it's because my mother picked out
such great ones for me.
Betsy
>Hi, Carolyn --
> I'm just wondering if I should stop getting her books, in hopes that
> she'll start looking for herself. I can't even imagine not wanting to
> pick books out for myself. On the other hand, I hate messing up a
> mostly good thing. Now that I've written this, I'm wondering how
> other kids hear about good books and how they make their choices. I
> really doubt any of her friends are telling her about good books they've
> read.
>
I adore children's books, and I think it's because my mother picked out
such great ones for me.
Betsy
Elizabeth Hill
Tia Leschke wrote:
eager
to go. But the search for books doesn't thrill him, and he wants me to be as
quick as
possible.
Basically the only things he wants to check out are the Amazing Animals videos
starring Henry the lizard.
Betsy
>Mine was like that for a few years. Now I can nudge him into coming, when I'm
> Mine won't even go *in* the library. I haven't figured out yet who spawned
> this kid. <g> His siblings and parents and grandmother are all
> bookaholics. His grandmother worked in the library for years. He's so
> opposite me I expect him to come around full circle one of these days and
> meet me at the other end.
eager
to go. But the search for books doesn't thrill him, and he wants me to be as
quick as
possible.
Basically the only things he wants to check out are the Amazing Animals videos
starring Henry the lizard.
Betsy
Tia Leschke
>Mine sits in the car and listens to the radio. He only comes inside if I
> > Mine won't even go *in* the library. I haven't figured out yet who spawned
> > this kid. <g> His siblings and parents and grandmother are all
> > bookaholics. His grandmother worked in the library for years. He's so
> > opposite me I expect him to come around full circle one of these days and
> > meet me at the other end.
>
>Mine was like that for a few years. Now I can nudge him into coming, when I'm
>eager
>to go. But the search for books doesn't thrill him, and he wants me to be as
>quick as
>possible.
take too long.....sigh.
Tia
Tia Leschke leschke@...
On Vancouver Island
**************************************************************************
It is the answers which separate us, the questions which unite us. - Janice
Levy
Lynda
Alrighty, there has to be a happy medium here somewhere. How about if I
send you a little of our "can we go to the library today" which is repeated
as frequently as "are we there yet" and you can send us a little of your
"not going there." <g>
Lynda
send you a little of our "can we go to the library today" which is repeated
as frequently as "are we there yet" and you can send us a little of your
"not going there." <g>
Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: Tia Leschke <leschke@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2001 11:29 AM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] book choosing
>
> >
> > > Mine won't even go *in* the library. I haven't figured out yet who
spawned
> > > this kid. <g> His siblings and parents and grandmother are all
> > > bookaholics. His grandmother worked in the library for years. He's
so
> > > opposite me I expect him to come around full circle one of these days
and
> > > meet me at the other end.
> >
> >Mine was like that for a few years. Now I can nudge him into coming,
when I'm
> >eager
> >to go. But the search for books doesn't thrill him, and he wants me to
be as
> >quick as
> >possible.
>
> Mine sits in the car and listens to the radio. He only comes inside if I
> take too long.....sigh.
> Tia
>
> Tia Leschke leschke@...
> On Vancouver Island
> **************************************************************************
> It is the answers which separate us, the questions which unite us. -
Janice
> Levy
>
>
>
>
>
>
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