Getting Kids to Read - Is Anyone Trying?

[shugah]

I have 2 kids - one is an adult (not a reader), one is in elementary school. I'm a reader. I've been reading ever since I learned how to. I want my kids to love books the same way that I love books.

The Library was once a wonderful place, full of magic. I know it was, because I remember. The school library... what a treat! One day a week, the whole class goes to the Library, and you get to CHOOSE YOUR OWN BOOK!

So, my younger son brings home a library book every week. The book this week reeked of cigarette smoke (and I'm a smoker!), had been attacked by a pet on both ends of the spine, was missing pages, included the 'artwork' of someone with magic markers, and had several unidentifiable spots/marks throughout.

Y'know - I didn't even want to touch the book, much less read it as a bedtime story!

I contribute to every fundraiser request the school and PTO solicit. I also donate/buy/participate whenever I can buy a new book for the School Library. I'm pretty sure many other parents do the same. I wonder why there aren't more new/clean books? Every week we get a Library Book to read, every week it is old, torn up, dirty.

Would kids be more inclined toward reading if we showed them how much we respect books?

[fenriswolf]

1. i was always a fan of form over function

i've picked up books that were barely readable and not been able to put them down, i think kids today needs to be shown that reading is relaxing and enjoyable, not work and boring. unfortunatly american society as decided to do the latter rather then the former.

[shugah]

9. i've always been a fan of reading

i've certainly set the example "reading is enjoyable" and i do it when i relax.

i wonder how reading became boring? :shrug:

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. It's a dilemna

We struggle with this every year at my school. Do you allow kids to check out books if their parents have not signed the permission slip saying they will be responsible for damaged or lost books? What about kids whose families can't afford to replace books?

And yes, usually the kids who need to read the most are the ones who lose or damage the books and can least afford to replace them.

I honestly don't know the answer. I only know that I have a real problem with not letting kids check out books.

[shugah]

11. I appreciate your position

and yes, of course, you let the kids check out books no matter what! I'm just trying to suggest that respect for books is not a bad thing to teach?

[seabeyond]

27. dilemna? huh uh. give those kids the books and then let the parents

help out and taxes to pay for replacement. i could never deny a child a book, especially if in a position where they dont have, or not encouraged in their home.

i know it is hard. i see both our libraries lacking and was thinking just monday at book fair how not as much as when we were kids and if school lacking funds.

[AuntPatsy]

My daughter is a strong believer in keeping her kids interested in reading...

they love it, they each have library cards and she takes them once a week, they also have a huge home library.

[cynatnite]

8. My daughter's autistic son loves being read to...

He's not reading yet, but it sure does relax him before going to bed. Although, she is tired of reading the same books over and over because that's what he wants. For him, though, the routine is an absolute for him.

[AuntPatsy]

10. She sounds like a wonderful mother, all my best to her and do your grandson.

[seabeyond]

31. we had that. kids tend to like a book read over and over but yes

my oldest has low level autism and years later i am remembering we had a very tough time introducing new books. we would read the favorites at the beginning then bring in new ones which became favorites too.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

38. Yes, kids benefit from being read to through middle school

if the "reader" is a good reader who reads with lots of passion and inflection. It certainly helps their vocabulary. My kids are avid readers, so their reading vocabulary is bigger than their speaking vocabulary (very common). It's funny to hear them pronounce words that they've read, but never really heard.

[Hailtothechimp]

3. My kids have been surrounded by books their whole lives...

It makes their rooms messier than if they just had a lot of toys laying around, but I don't mind about that.

School and/or public libraries are great, but having a private book stash is even better. I'm always looking for books at garage sales, or at book recycling exchanges, or even book fairs when I see them. I don't want to know how much I've spent on books over the years, but if it means they expect to have books around, and even if they want to pick one up from time to time, that's fine too.

Books, yes!
Play Station, no!

[seabeyond]

32. my house looks like yours

and i love it. they have a huge walk in closet with shelves from floor to ceiling full. and then another shelf along another wall full. and still there are books piled. stacks of magazines in the tv room. and yes... makes it messier and to try to have them keep them on the shelves isnt happening, but... i will take that any day.

[rwheeler31]

4. Oh dear I am also a reader, but we used books as toys.

We played school,and ,library, and baseball, and pissed. We were kids and so it goes.

[Nevernose]

5. The Velveteen Rabbit

If we wanted to show our kids how much we respected books, we'd fund our schools adequately, read in front of them, put books on the shelves in our homes, and tell them how important books are.

A torn-up book isn't a sign of disrespect for reading. Quite the opposite: remember the Velveteen Rabbit?

Sorry for your kid that doesn't read; I know the frustration and bewilderment all too well.

From the GREATEST BOOK EVER WRITTEN (okay, so I'm an optimist :)):

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

[mod mom]

6. I have 2 school aged kids (4th & 6th). My 4th grader is an avid reader who is

in an accelerated language arts program (which I believe is due to her love of reading anything put in front of her-it has also provided her with excellent writing skills). My son, otoh, only reads what he is interested in. He read the latest Harry Potter in 17 days, but only because he loved the series. If he doesn't care for a book, he drags.

Even though they're old enough to read, I still read to them almost every day this summer. One of the books I read was Huckleberry Finn so I could explain the context and also because it is written in dialect. They still really enjoy having me do this.

They love going to a Half Priced Bookstore nearby where we get great deals on previously read books. This is perhaps a way to get them interested-in buying them books. If they own it perhaps they will take better care of it. (I went X Mas shopping there today)

[cynatnite]

7. I wish I could get my kids as passionate about reading as me...

Fortunately, the teenager likes to read...not as much as I do, though. Her tastes run different than mine so it's all good. Nathan enjoys reading...he's eight. He used to hate it because he struggled so hard with it. Now, he's taken to it quite well although sometimes what he reads doesn't stay in his brain very long. LOL

I would definitely complain about the book. My kids always brought home well-cared for books. Nathan brings home a book almost every night and once a week he's got an extra from the library to read in his spare time. Every book was always in pretty good shape.

I taught my kids to not fold page corners and not to lay a book down while it's open. It hurts the binding. I hate that. We do keep cool bookmarks around so it does help to encourage them.

[timtom]

12. Funny you should say...

I just read to my 3-year-old granddaughter for the first time (for me--not for her). I remember how my mother used to read to me and how I learned to read before entering kindergarten.

We read to my granddaughter's mother and now she is working on finishing her undergraduate degree in English.

[pansypoo53219]

14. yep, read to the kid.

even after knowing how to read, mom read us books. some of her old books. i am tempted to re-read some. but now as a big reader, i am stuck on non-fiction. and and and i am up to C in a 1891 encyclopedia britannica. (now, before you say C, there were 3 As, 1/2 Bs and each weighs about 5lbs!)

[timtom]

17. When I was in junior high

(before it was called middle school), I used to read World Book Encyclopedia (as study hall was held in the library).

About 10 years ago, I found a pristine set of World Book 1989 Centennial Edition with updates for $35!! One volume is missing. It's still a great read and profusely illustrated.

[seabeyond]

22. nothing feels better (well lots feel as good) than cozying up to little one

and reading a story after bath and settlin in to a good night sleep. one of my many favorite times of the day.

[tech3149]

13. Wow! what a timely post

I went to the used book store today to unload some of the books I can't take with me when I move. Out of thirty books only a handful were judged to have any resale value. The rest were donated to a literacy program. Since my ex was in the book biz and I'm just naturally cheap, all my books were pristine. I don't expect others to offer the same reverence and care for their books as I do, but I also don't think it matters much. I'd rather have someone turn a book into trash so long as they read it and get something out of it.

[pnwmom]

15. Libraries are great, but when you're buying new toys for your kids,

you could think about buying them new books, too.

[shugah]

18. books at home is not something we lack :)

but i like the library concept too.

[seabeyond]

25. two/three years ago i stopped buying kids things outside of christmas or bday, EXCEPT

books. i still spend my money on the books when there is ones they are interested in. especially whe they are series. the kids will read and re read most of these books.

[pnwmom]

33. Yeah, my sons know I am a sucker when it comes to buying books.

I'll say no to about almost anything easier than I will a book.

[yewberry]

16. Lots of people are trying.

I spent the past two years doing national service in my community, and my focus was on literacy & advocacy a local public school. I spent 45-50 hours a week working with struggling readers and trying to build support for them.

Yes, it's a little hard to handle the issue of kids and library books. The school that I worked in just couldn't afford to buy many books--funding is cut every year. Some kids simply can't or won't return books in good condition, if at all. Those kids may still need access to the books, though.

Some kids and families come from cultures in which the written word isn't emphasized. There are kids every year who, when asked what they read at home, will explain that they don't have any books at home. None. Wrap your mind around that...no books in the home. Can we reasonably ask kids who don't come from backgrounds that place a lot of value on books to suddenly treat books the way *we* think they should? (Well, sure, we can ask...)

I think it's most important to get kids and families to read, and getting books to kids is the starting point. There are a few ways to get books into kids' hands.

~You can often get free books from used bookstores, especially mom & pop stores. Yes, they are used, but some busier stores will let you go through their stuff weekly, and you might get a few a week.

~Write grants. Not so much fun, but it works. I was extremely lucky to work with Page Ahead, a local group that donates new books to kids who need them. They've donated over 37,000 books to kids in my county. Page Ahead is amazing. RIF is a national literacy resource. FirstBook is another--they partner with www.theliteracysite.com, one of those 'daily click to donate' sites. (These are mostly good for nonprofits and Title 1 schools.)

~Some libraries have free book programs for kids, believe it or not. Our county library runs a "read three get one free" program.

~Find a company to sponsor your local literacy efforts. If you can build a good program & fundraiser, there are companies that will match. Talk to Starbucks managers--literacy is their cause of choice, and managers are (according to a corporate spokesperson) expected to partner with local literacy initiatives.


Phew, I'm rambling. I guess what seems most important is getting families & communities to care about reading. The kids will follow. (We hope.)

[seabeyond]

24. i have a brother, two kids, no books. both he and mom proud they aint no readers.

i dont get it. and is sad. there oldest daughter at 17 preg, came to me and i am gathering baby and preg books. brother proudly shouts out,... women have been having babies forever and all of a sudden you women have to learn how to have a baby reading books.

shameful

[seabeyond]

19. a torn up book is a book well read and enjoyed. both my kids read massively

my oldest from baby, well before he could read, loved books. forget the toys on christmas and bday, get him a book. two christmases ago, santa brought him 5 books. 9 yr old reads 8th grade and 12 yr old reads adult.

i read to both kids regularly from the beginning. i was concerned my youngest wouldnt enjoy reading like the rest of us but once he learned and saw he was adept at it about 6 yr old he started getting more and more into it. i allowed lots of archie comic cause though not like oldest that read educational, these were what he would. i didnt care. i just wanted him to read and get a passion for it. now he does and he excells. we hit our library a couple times a week, i read 5-8 books a week.

we rever and respect our books, but the condition of the book is not going to decide whether or not we read it. it would be nice if all.... but that isnt the way it works. just a non issue for me

we had a bookfair this week at elementary. bought two teachers 7 new ones and bought 4 for us,... one for our newborn niece to help her along the path of love for books. she is going to slobber and chew on that book and hopefully by the time she outgrows it it will be well worn.

[LWolf]

20. I'm trying.

I worked in a school library for a dozen years before completing my teaching credential and moving into the classroom.

During that time, I grew the library collection from 1500 volumes to 9000 volumes, and had a very high circulation rate, and a whole school very active in the library. We got no state funds for library books, and a minimal amount of federal funds. Those federal funds could be spent elsewhere, and were often spent on technology instead.

In addition, with the advent of "Accelerated Reader," many school libraries spent some of their book money on tests for the books, and narrowed their orders to those books that HAD AR tests. Then they labeled every damned library book with a "level" and restricted kids to choosing books on their level.

Today, many leveled books are purchased, but maintaining a vibrant school library of general fiction, classics, non-fiction and reference for self-selection is just not on the list of priorities.

I have a great classroom library. I'm out of shelf space, and out of room for shelves, but I keep adding to it every year, anyway. It's not the same as a well-developed school library, but my students read more from my shelves than they do from our so-called "library."

Our library has one room dedicated to "AR" books. Shelves and shelves of leveled paperbacks. The main library has a small selection of books that should have been weeded out of the collection 25 years ago. If you weeded everything that is outdated and worn out, the shelves would be empty. That would be ok, since nobody checks that stuff out anyway.

The best of all worlds, for me, would be to hold my class in a real library every day, lol.

The real reason kids aren't reading, imo, is that our culture does not value reading. When kids come from homes where adults don't read, they don't value spending time that way. When they are provided with electronic amusements, they choose those over books by a wide margin. In the classroom, I share my love of books. I read with them, I talk about books with them, and I require them to read. I allow them to choose, within reason, what they want to read, but they must read. I do my best.

Those who have already decided that they don't like reading before they get to me rarely change their minds. I did a better job turning non-readers on to books in the library than I do in the classroom. Then, I would have students who would never check a book out when their class visited, and who made a big deal about how much they despised reading when their peers were in the room. Their teachers used to send them back, though, alone, and they would ask me to help them find something else "as good as the last one you picked for me."

Many of those learning to love reading were "in the closet," even then.

[seabeyond]

23. my youngest has the best time consuming ALL the children librarians time

and she is sooooo patient with him. a real gift. so the time you spend with he kids, huge thumbs up.

ar... a few times son told me, i cant read, above my level.... no way dude, you can read.

we have a rule, sunday thru thursday half hour reading after showers, before sleep. we have been doing it forever, before school. it is a perfect down time not to mention enforces the reading.

[shugah]

28. ah, the leveled books

they are sooooo boring in the early reading category. ack! i can see using them in lessons, but sending them home as if they are a great bedtime story?

i've noticed the same 'leveling' trend in the bookstores too - along with the fact that almost every book displayed prominently for kids is a book with tv show characters. dora, and spongebob already bombard every facet of a kids life, do we have to read about it too?

i wish more funding went to books for the school library. my son has not brought home a book in any condition but poor for a long time. the one this week was just plain disgusting. i think i'll see if i can find a new copy and return that instead.

[spanone]

21. 2 words

Harry Potter

[seabeyond]

26. don't forget the magazines either. boy life, times, nation geographic, smithsonian

are sent to us. as they come in they are put on our dining room table and when the kids are wandering the house, they will sit and read the magazines at any given time. woncerful wonderful thing to do for your children. i am so glad i started doing this. has been terrific. the best

[RB TexLa]

29. What age do they learn to read? My cousin has two kids but I don't know if they would be able to

read at their ages or not. I've always given them shares of stock for Christmas, but I guess I could add a book.

[seabeyond]

30. it is a terrific gift. every christmas the uncles and aunts send gift certificates

from barnes and noble. so a couple days after christmas while they are still on break, we run to the store and spend an afternoon looking for books.

that is another thing when kids were little. spent a lot of time in barnes and noble. just a fun store and was our entertainment.

and that is GREAT about the shares. i love it. lucky kids.

[MissB]

35. Varies. Depends on the kid.

I had early readers - both were able to read simple books at 3 and almost 4 respectively. When the first one entered Kindergarten, I realized that not every family places an emphasis on reading. He was reading Harry Potter while his classmates were reading the equivalent of See Spot Run.

In general, 3 to 4 would be a good time to give them a book like Dr. Suess' ABCs.

I always give a few of our favorite board books (the sturdy cardboard kind) to friends that have a new baby. Now that so many toys are turning up with lead, I've switched to books as birthday gifts.

[Sequoia]

34. Sounds like the books I get.

When you request a book and it finally comes the binding is broken, and the pages all dog-eared. Once I got a book that was in such bad shape I couldn't read it and told the libraian who told me the library was too poor to fix them. Back in the early spring of last year I gave them about 4 boxes of books for the book fair, most of these books were sent to me by publishers and were in pretty good shape.

[Bucky]

36. I have my kids read in class a lot.

But yes, it's not a popular pastime.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

37. My kids are avid readers

Here's one way to promote reading:

Extend his bedtime by 1/2 half hour, but only if it is solely devoted to reading. He must be in his pjs, his teeth brushed, etc.. Then, he can head for his room and read for half an hour. It might take a few days or weeks, but he will eventually become engrossed in a book that he really likes, and will want to read at other times than that half an hour. I would find my kids waking up really early to finish that "exciting" book before school!

Also, if you have the funds, take him shopping to buy his own books. Right now, one of my kids is really into the "dragonology" book and "handbook." Find what interests him.

Good luck!