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the attraction of series fiction for new readers
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From: Robin Smith <smithr>
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2001 07:31:38 -0500
You are so right, Betty, first, second and third graders love their series. Almost all series fiction readers read the books in order. In my classroom, I had two students like that last year. This year, rather than switch over to something different, they visit their old second grade room (mine) to borrow the next book in the series. Their current favorites are the A to Z mysteries and Dragonslayers Academy.
I think there are a few reasons for this phenomenon:
1. Once they learn how to pronounce the characters' names (an ENORMOUS ISSUE for young readers) and understand the underlying plots, (girl with photographic memory, man who unwittingly travels back in time, orphans struggle with loving grandfather, kids save animals, etc) they feel comfortable. They want more of that comfort and theyfeel successful with their reading. I still remember reading all the Nancy Drew books in order.
2. They can quantify their reading. "I am on book 6 and have 4 to go."
3. Their friends are also reading those books and that gives them a social context for reading. They can talk about the characters and adopt funny vocabulary that is specific to the books.
4. There is usually a seam of humor in these series. Humor is so important to children.
5. Often, there is a puzzle to solve or a very easy mystery to try to solve. Riddles are very popular with this age group and they love the feeling of solving the puzzle.
6. 7, 8 and 9 year olds--like most children--love predictability. They do not like change. This is the age when kids will wear the same polar fleece jacket into the summer just because they have become attached to it. They will weep if a favorite backpack's zipper breaks and will insist on using it, even when things fall out. They hate changes in routine.
Series fiction feeds into all these things.
Robin Smith
Received on Fri 05 Oct 2001 07:31:38 AM CDT
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2001 07:31:38 -0500
You are so right, Betty, first, second and third graders love their series. Almost all series fiction readers read the books in order. In my classroom, I had two students like that last year. This year, rather than switch over to something different, they visit their old second grade room (mine) to borrow the next book in the series. Their current favorites are the A to Z mysteries and Dragonslayers Academy.
I think there are a few reasons for this phenomenon:
1. Once they learn how to pronounce the characters' names (an ENORMOUS ISSUE for young readers) and understand the underlying plots, (girl with photographic memory, man who unwittingly travels back in time, orphans struggle with loving grandfather, kids save animals, etc) they feel comfortable. They want more of that comfort and theyfeel successful with their reading. I still remember reading all the Nancy Drew books in order.
2. They can quantify their reading. "I am on book 6 and have 4 to go."
3. Their friends are also reading those books and that gives them a social context for reading. They can talk about the characters and adopt funny vocabulary that is specific to the books.
4. There is usually a seam of humor in these series. Humor is so important to children.
5. Often, there is a puzzle to solve or a very easy mystery to try to solve. Riddles are very popular with this age group and they love the feeling of solving the puzzle.
6. 7, 8 and 9 year olds--like most children--love predictability. They do not like change. This is the age when kids will wear the same polar fleece jacket into the summer just because they have become attached to it. They will weep if a favorite backpack's zipper breaks and will insist on using it, even when things fall out. They hate changes in routine.
Series fiction feeds into all these things.
Robin Smith
Received on Fri 05 Oct 2001 07:31:38 AM CDT
