Some of you may have seen that Lisa afforded her son the opportunity to participate in this forum, when he wrote his review of Eragon. This got me to thinking that The Book Review is a wonderful way for parents to become actively involved in their children’s studies and love of good books. So, I am requesting that if you are a parent, an aunt, uncle or grandparent, godparent, or a teacher… Get your kids to write a review for us!!!
I am a math teacher here in sunny Florida. While I love it here, we have a hard time with our young people and their reading skills. As a math teacher, I see the difficulties my students have on standardized tests. They struggle more to comprehend a problem, answer the questions, and justify their answers than they struggle with the mathematical content itself. I am a firm believer that better readers make better mathematicians. I am a member of the Literacy Team at my school. If you are not sure what to have your kids read, here are some suggestions.
- Pick books that are age appropriate. I found a website to help you pick out some things the experts think will work for your child. Also, feel free to talk to your childs teacher or librarian. They are a wealth of information for what kids are into these days. Also, the teacher may have your child’s lexile score. This will also help you pick out good books for your child’s reading level. http://childrensbooks.about.com/od/agegradebooksby/index.htm
- Get them started on the classics. Many of the classic tales are available in abbreviated versions for younger audiences. I have often found these at the airport, of all places.
- Read with them. It is such a rewarding experience to read with children. If your children are young, you can read right to them, for older kids, buy two books and read simultaneously. My daughter and I like to talk about what we are reading in the car on our way to school.
- Visit your local library. The libraries are chock full of free kids' activities. It is an endless source of entertainment and inspiration for children.
- Don’t be afraid to challenge your kid, or pull back the reins if your child is feeling frustrated about reading. It is more important that they enjoy reading, than read super hard material.
- Start them young. Studies show that children who have books in their home at a very early age are much more likely to continue the passion through adolescence.
- Pick books that suit their interests. I recently got my daughter the book TTYL, by by Lauren Myracle. I chose it because she has recently started instant messaging with her girlfriends and I hoped she would enjoy it. She read it in a couple of days, and is already asking for the next in the series. Again, the content need not always be rich, just enjoyable.
- Reading can be a very inexpensive hobby. We spend a lot of time at our local library. Other good sources of inexpensive books are used book stores and ebay.
I hope you enjoy my suggestions. Let me know if there is something I have left out. If you have any great tips for getting kids to love Literature, I am anxious to hear them!!!
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 10
Parents are wary of exposing their children to the harsh realities of our world, but eventually, children begin asking questions about these things. Their curiosity will be satisfied one way or the another. Allowing children to explore these difficult topics through literature allows children to come to terms with these issues in a safe way and at their own pace.
http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bannedbooksweek.htm
*It's obvious why some of these books are challenged by certain groups (for instance "Sex" by Madonna), but for others I have a difficult time understanding why. "Where's Waldo?" is on the list!
Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
Forever by Judy Blume
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Giver by Lois Lowry
It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Sex by Madonna
Earth's Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
The Witches by Roald Dahl
The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
The Goats by Brock Cole
Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
Blubber by Judy Blume
Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
Final Exit by Derek Humphry
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
What's Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
The Pigman by Paul Zindel
Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
Deenie by Judy Blume
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
Cujo by Stephen King
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
Ordinary People by Judith Guest
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
What's Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
Fade by Robert Cormier
Guess What? by Mem Fox
The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Native Son by Richard Wright
Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Fantasies by Nancy Friday
Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
Jack by A.M. Homes
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
Carrie by Stephen King
Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
Family Secrets by Norma Klein
Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
The Dead Zone by Stephen King
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
Private Parts by Howard Stern
Where's Waldo? by Martin Hanford
Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
Sex Education by Jenny Davis
The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
Thanks for the submission Vanessa, you are a credit to your profession.