jaimie k's reflection to fox ch. 7...
I really like Fox’s essential factors that could help reading become just as, or even more, interesting as watching television. She makes very good points on why children might not like reading because they lack these factors.
The first one, that homes should have books in it; how obvious right?! Wrong. I remember growing up, I didn’t have very many books I could read in my house. So even if I wanted to read, I couldn’t. So what else is there to do? Oh right, watch the TV, play on the computer, go outside.
The second, having favorite books to read and reread. Every kid should have a favorite book. And if not a favorite, one they wouldn’t mind reading again when they felt like it. My favorite book was either my Berenstain Bears Junk Food book or my Nancy Drew book, The Strange Message in the Parchment. I could read those two books over and over. And it also opens kids up to reading other books in the same series of books. I know I read a lot of Berenstain Bears and Nancy Drew stories after that.
The third factor, having a wide variety of materials is great. Everyone gets bored doing the same things over and over; the same goes for reading the same things over and over. You need to change things up every once in a while. And different materials provide different types of information, and can spark different interests.
I agree with the fourth factor that kids should be able to read what they want. If you always assign them what to read, you could be giving them lower level material. Some teachers think they know what the childs’ potential is, but kids surprise us all the time. We, as teachers and as parents, need to at least give them the chance to try.
The fifth factor is something I always saw my Dad doing. I used to see him reading all the time. And I must say, it did spark my interest to try and do the same. But then again, if you don’t have factor 1, like I didn’t, then it’s no use.
Factor number six, having books that look enticing. It’s so easy to say what books may look enticing, but this is something that totally depends on the child. You have to know what they might be interested in first before deciding which books will be rewarding to them.
Number seven is also something I never experienced in my household. Would it have helped me become a better reader, or even have gotten me more interested in reading? I’ll never know; but it doesn’t hurt to try. Not only is it a great way to put the kids to bed, it’s also a nice bonding time.
The last factor is another small, minor thing that most people tend to overlook. Actually having a nice place and time to read. Somewhere with no loud noise, no distractions; just a comfortable spot with lighting to enjoy a book. How simple, yet so hard to find in most homes.
Fox really has some great ideas on how to contribute to reading. As a teacher I would hope to instill many of these things in my students, but it seems to me that a lot of it has to do with parents and time at home. It’s so easy for parents to blame the teachers for their child’s struggle with reading; but there are so many things they could do, and some things are completely left up to them.
The first one, that homes should have books in it; how obvious right?! Wrong. I remember growing up, I didn’t have very many books I could read in my house. So even if I wanted to read, I couldn’t. So what else is there to do? Oh right, watch the TV, play on the computer, go outside.
The second, having favorite books to read and reread. Every kid should have a favorite book. And if not a favorite, one they wouldn’t mind reading again when they felt like it. My favorite book was either my Berenstain Bears Junk Food book or my Nancy Drew book, The Strange Message in the Parchment. I could read those two books over and over. And it also opens kids up to reading other books in the same series of books. I know I read a lot of Berenstain Bears and Nancy Drew stories after that.
The third factor, having a wide variety of materials is great. Everyone gets bored doing the same things over and over; the same goes for reading the same things over and over. You need to change things up every once in a while. And different materials provide different types of information, and can spark different interests.
I agree with the fourth factor that kids should be able to read what they want. If you always assign them what to read, you could be giving them lower level material. Some teachers think they know what the childs’ potential is, but kids surprise us all the time. We, as teachers and as parents, need to at least give them the chance to try.
The fifth factor is something I always saw my Dad doing. I used to see him reading all the time. And I must say, it did spark my interest to try and do the same. But then again, if you don’t have factor 1, like I didn’t, then it’s no use.
Factor number six, having books that look enticing. It’s so easy to say what books may look enticing, but this is something that totally depends on the child. You have to know what they might be interested in first before deciding which books will be rewarding to them.
Number seven is also something I never experienced in my household. Would it have helped me become a better reader, or even have gotten me more interested in reading? I’ll never know; but it doesn’t hurt to try. Not only is it a great way to put the kids to bed, it’s also a nice bonding time.
The last factor is another small, minor thing that most people tend to overlook. Actually having a nice place and time to read. Somewhere with no loud noise, no distractions; just a comfortable spot with lighting to enjoy a book. How simple, yet so hard to find in most homes.
Fox really has some great ideas on how to contribute to reading. As a teacher I would hope to instill many of these things in my students, but it seems to me that a lot of it has to do with parents and time at home. It’s so easy for parents to blame the teachers for their child’s struggle with reading; but there are so many things they could do, and some things are completely left up to them.
posted by jaimie k | 1:10 AM
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