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[CCBC-Net] Reluctant Readers
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From: Sally Miller <derbymiller>
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 12:56:42 -0400
While I don't work with large numbers of children, I do mentor two teenaged girls, and my husband mentors a teenaged boy.
Jessica, a fifteen year old girl from an extremely dysfunctional home, who "never" has read for pleasure, fell in love with two books I recommended to her. The first was "Make Lemonade" by Virginia Euwer Wolfe, and the second was "If You Come Softly" by Jacqueline Woodson. Both books have heroines with whom I thought she'd be able to identify, and I was hoping that she could see from them that she doesn't need to be limited by her circumstances and the prejudices of the adults in her family. She may become a reader yet!
My husband has been working with James, an eighteen year old with poor language and social skills since James was in 6th grade. I truly believe that "Because of Winn Dixie" by Kate DiCamillo is the only book James ever willingly read. Knowing how much he enjoys petting our dog and cats when he is here suggested to me that this book might be one he would enjoy, and I was delighted to find out from my husband that this was the case. His success with that spurred him on to read Sharon Creech's "Love That Dog, which he also found fun to read. We may be on a roll!
For a step-granddaughter who is fairly new to the family, a couple of years ago, I found that The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and, subsequently, A Series of Unfortunate Events worked well for a fourteen year old who declared she "didn't like to read" although it was not difficult for her.
So for me it all comes down to what seems to be the consensus of everyone else -- it's a matter of knowing the child and knowing the book. And what fun it is to be a successful matchmaker!
Sally Derby (Whoosh Went the Wind!, my newest book, came out this month.)
----- Original Message ----- From: "Megan Schliesman" <schliesman at education.wisc.edu> To: "ccbc-net, Subscribers of" <ccbc-net at lists.education.wisc.edu> Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 12:09 PM Subject: [CCBC-Net] Reluctant Readers
> I'm just back from vacation and just caught up on reading the posts on
> reluctant readers. The strategies (offering many types of books, reading
> out loud, sharing enthusiasm for reading) and titles suggested so far
> are a great resource for everyone in the CCBC-Net communitiy.
>
> I appreciate the many thoughts on why some children are reluctant
> readers, and whether or not it is imperative to change that. Thanks to
> everyone who offers the reminder that no child or teen should be judged
> for not loving to read, and who offers the challenge of seeing each
> child and teen as an individual, whose tastes and interests--for reading
> and other things--are unique.
>
> When we began the discussion, we asked: What books do you recommend for
> children who /can /read but don't /want /to read? Do you have any tried
> and true titles that have helped turn a child who "hates" to read into a
> lover of books--or at least one book?
>
> What seems clear to so many of you working with children and teens is
> that there is no such thing as one size (book) fits all when it comes to
> reluctant readers, and knowing the child, or having the opportunity to
> talk to the child or teen, is critical to making a recommendation or
> pointing them in the direction of a book or books they may enjoy.
>
> I'd like to hear more from those of you working with children and teens
> in libraries and classrooms about some of the books you've found have
> been well-received when you've suggested them to a specific child or
> teen, and what made you suggest that particular book for that particular
> reader.
>
> Megan
>
>
>
>
> --
> Megan Schliesman, Librarian
> Cooperative Children's Book Center
> School of Education, UW-Madison
> 600 N. Park St., Room 4290
> Madison, WI 53706
>
> ph: 608-262-9503
> fax: 608-262-4933
> schliesman at education.wisc.edu
>
> _______________________________________________
> CCBC-Net mailing list
> CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
> Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe...
> http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
>
Received on Mon 21 Aug 2006 11:56:42 AM CDT
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 12:56:42 -0400
While I don't work with large numbers of children, I do mentor two teenaged girls, and my husband mentors a teenaged boy.
Jessica, a fifteen year old girl from an extremely dysfunctional home, who "never" has read for pleasure, fell in love with two books I recommended to her. The first was "Make Lemonade" by Virginia Euwer Wolfe, and the second was "If You Come Softly" by Jacqueline Woodson. Both books have heroines with whom I thought she'd be able to identify, and I was hoping that she could see from them that she doesn't need to be limited by her circumstances and the prejudices of the adults in her family. She may become a reader yet!
My husband has been working with James, an eighteen year old with poor language and social skills since James was in 6th grade. I truly believe that "Because of Winn Dixie" by Kate DiCamillo is the only book James ever willingly read. Knowing how much he enjoys petting our dog and cats when he is here suggested to me that this book might be one he would enjoy, and I was delighted to find out from my husband that this was the case. His success with that spurred him on to read Sharon Creech's "Love That Dog, which he also found fun to read. We may be on a roll!
For a step-granddaughter who is fairly new to the family, a couple of years ago, I found that The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and, subsequently, A Series of Unfortunate Events worked well for a fourteen year old who declared she "didn't like to read" although it was not difficult for her.
So for me it all comes down to what seems to be the consensus of everyone else -- it's a matter of knowing the child and knowing the book. And what fun it is to be a successful matchmaker!
Sally Derby (Whoosh Went the Wind!, my newest book, came out this month.)
----- Original Message ----- From: "Megan Schliesman" <schliesman at education.wisc.edu> To: "ccbc-net, Subscribers of" <ccbc-net at lists.education.wisc.edu> Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 12:09 PM Subject: [CCBC-Net] Reluctant Readers
> I'm just back from vacation and just caught up on reading the posts on
> reluctant readers. The strategies (offering many types of books, reading
> out loud, sharing enthusiasm for reading) and titles suggested so far
> are a great resource for everyone in the CCBC-Net communitiy.
>
> I appreciate the many thoughts on why some children are reluctant
> readers, and whether or not it is imperative to change that. Thanks to
> everyone who offers the reminder that no child or teen should be judged
> for not loving to read, and who offers the challenge of seeing each
> child and teen as an individual, whose tastes and interests--for reading
> and other things--are unique.
>
> When we began the discussion, we asked: What books do you recommend for
> children who /can /read but don't /want /to read? Do you have any tried
> and true titles that have helped turn a child who "hates" to read into a
> lover of books--or at least one book?
>
> What seems clear to so many of you working with children and teens is
> that there is no such thing as one size (book) fits all when it comes to
> reluctant readers, and knowing the child, or having the opportunity to
> talk to the child or teen, is critical to making a recommendation or
> pointing them in the direction of a book or books they may enjoy.
>
> I'd like to hear more from those of you working with children and teens
> in libraries and classrooms about some of the books you've found have
> been well-received when you've suggested them to a specific child or
> teen, and what made you suggest that particular book for that particular
> reader.
>
> Megan
>
>
>
>
> --
> Megan Schliesman, Librarian
> Cooperative Children's Book Center
> School of Education, UW-Madison
> 600 N. Park St., Room 4290
> Madison, WI 53706
>
> ph: 608-262-9503
> fax: 608-262-4933
> schliesman at education.wisc.edu
>
> _______________________________________________
> CCBC-Net mailing list
> CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
> Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe...
> http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
>
Received on Mon 21 Aug 2006 11:56:42 AM CDT
