Comments on: Help for Struggling, Reluctant Readers http://simplekids.net/help-for-struggling-reluctant-readers/ Uncomplicated parenting in a complex world. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:34:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: BarefootEmily http://simplekids.net/help-for-struggling-reluctant-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-4920 BarefootEmily Wed, 07 Apr 2010 02:19:59 +0000 http://simplekids.net/?p=1776#comment-4920 The audio books at Barefoot Books are perfect for reluctant readers. The introduction music grabs kids attention right off the bat, the narrators voices are all mesmerizing to listen to and the illustrations are eye catching with bold colors and unique styles. The audio books at Barefoot Books are perfect for reluctant readers. The introduction music grabs kids attention right off the bat, the narrators voices are all mesmerizing to listen to and the illustrations are eye catching with bold colors and unique styles.

]]> By: canuck_grad http://simplekids.net/help-for-struggling-reluctant-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-4508 canuck_grad Sat, 20 Feb 2010 22:09:26 +0000 http://simplekids.net/?p=1776#comment-4508 Craig, there is a Canadian magazine chain for kids that is great. The main one is Owl magazine, but there are ones for other ages (Chickadee, Chirp). I loved them when I was a kid. Craig, there is a Canadian magazine chain for kids that is great. The main one is Owl magazine, but there are ones for other ages (Chickadee, Chirp). I loved them when I was a kid.

]]> By: Craig @ CheapSubscriptions http://simplekids.net/help-for-struggling-reluctant-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-4507 Craig @ CheapSubscriptions Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:27:24 +0000 http://simplekids.net/?p=1776#comment-4507 Megan, very informative article by Max. It didn't occur to me until now that magazines could be an important tool in stimulating interest in reading, but it makes sense. I recall as a kid gravitating toward magazines in the school library because of the quicker read and visual elements. Now I'm inspired to put together a Top 10 magazine options for the young reader at my magazine related blog so if you have any input I'd be happy to include your comments or list of favorite magazines for kids. .-= Craig @ CheapSubscriptions´s last blog ..<a href="http://cheapsubscriptions.com/1/cheap-si-for-kids-subscription-limited-time.html" rel="nofollow">Cheap SI for Kids Subscription. Limited time.</a> =-. Megan, very informative article by Max. It didn’t occur to me until now that magazines could be an important tool in stimulating interest in reading, but it makes sense. I recall as a kid gravitating toward magazines in the school library because of the quicker read and visual elements. Now I’m inspired to put together a Top 10 magazine options for the young reader at my magazine related blog so if you have any input I’d be happy to include your comments or list of favorite magazines for kids.
.-= Craig @ CheapSubscriptions´s last blog ..Cheap SI for Kids Subscription. Limited time. =-.

]]> By: Laura Blum http://simplekids.net/help-for-struggling-reluctant-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-3271 Laura Blum Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:30:11 +0000 http://simplekids.net/?p=1776#comment-3271 my website = www.bookclub4boys.com sorry I didn't mention it in my lengthy comment above... :oP .-= Laura Blum´s last blog ..<a href="http://bookclub4boysinfo.blogspot.com/2008/12/start-book-club-for-your-boy.html" rel="nofollow">Start A Book Club For Your Boy!</a> =-. my website = http://www.bookclub4boys.com
sorry I didn’t mention it in my lengthy comment above…
:o P
.-= Laura Blum´s last blog ..Start A Book Club For Your Boy! =-.

]]> By: Laura Blum http://simplekids.net/help-for-struggling-reluctant-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-3270 Laura Blum Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:26:36 +0000 http://simplekids.net/?p=1776#comment-3270 I love this attention to reluctant readers! I am a mother of 4 boys. When my oldest was in first grade his teacher recommended he repeat the grade because of his poor reading skills and lack of interest. As a mother I made this my "mommy mission" over summer break that we were going to get him reading, but make it fun! I started a book club for him and his friends. (Who also were struggling to read.) I held book club at our house and we did activities, played games that related to the book. It's been 5 years and now my son reads well above his grade level! Having a book club has become such a tradition in our family- that when my third son started school he was excited to read and declared, "now I can have my OWN book club!" Two years ago I started my website to freely share all my book club outlines and games. There are a few "survival tips" I share on how to host a book club for boys. (Especially those who don't like to read.) I always have an "incentive" game... one that rewards boys who can answer questions correctly. Once it was for every correct answer they got a water balloon-- then after we had a water-balloon fight! The site is inspired by my 4 boys and the results of our actual book clubs. (hence the name of the site) But these ideas would be great for girls too! Most importantly , hosting a book club for kids doesn't have to be complicated or hard. It could be as simple as a monthly pizza party and watch a movie... (A movie based on a book! Have them read the book and then watch the movie. You can ask them questions in advance-- and they can earn "movie bucks to buy snacks to munch on during the movie. Kids will naturally say--"Hey! They skipped xyz...!" They will naturally compare and contrast the movie with the book.) Great ideas on this article and comment box! Thanks! I love this attention to reluctant readers! I am a mother of 4 boys. When my oldest was in first grade his teacher recommended he repeat the grade because of his poor reading skills and lack of interest. As a mother I made this my “mommy mission” over summer break that we were going to get him reading, but make it fun! I started a book club for him and his friends. (Who also were struggling to read.) I held book club at our house and we did activities, played games that related to the book.

It’s been 5 years and now my son reads well above his grade level! Having a book club has become such a tradition in our family- that when my third son started school he was excited to read and declared, “now I can have my OWN book club!”

Two years ago I started my website to freely share all my book club outlines and games. There are a few “survival tips” I share on how to host a book club for boys. (Especially those who don’t like to read.) I always have an “incentive” game… one that rewards boys who can answer questions correctly. Once it was for every correct answer they got a water balloon– then after we had a water-balloon fight!

The site is inspired by my 4 boys and the results of our actual book clubs. (hence the name of the site) But these ideas would be great for girls too!

Most importantly , hosting a book club for kids doesn’t have to be complicated or hard. It could be as simple as a monthly pizza party and watch a movie… (A movie based on a book! Have them read the book and then watch the movie. You can ask them questions in advance– and they can earn “movie bucks to buy snacks to munch on during the movie. Kids will naturally say–”Hey! They skipped xyz…!” They will naturally compare and contrast the movie with the book.)

Great ideas on this article and comment box!
Thanks!

]]> By: Tweets that mention Help for Struggling, Reluctant Readers — Simple Kids -- Topsy.com http://simplekids.net/help-for-struggling-reluctant-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-3267 Tweets that mention Help for Struggling, Reluctant Readers — Simple Kids -- Topsy.com Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:20:26 +0000 http://simplekids.net/?p=1776#comment-3267 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Cheryl Rainfield, Clara Gillow Clark, Melissa Taylor, Venus Evans-Winters, Riley Carney and others. Riley Carney said: RT @ImaginationSoup: Help for struggling readers - great article on @simplekids http://ow.ly/11CoP [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Cheryl Rainfield, Clara Gillow Clark, Melissa Taylor, Venus Evans-Winters, Riley Carney and others. Riley Carney said: RT @ImaginationSoup: Help for struggling readers – great article on @simplekids http://ow.ly/11CoP [...]

]]> By: Sara http://simplekids.net/help-for-struggling-reluctant-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-3253 Sara Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:39:31 +0000 http://simplekids.net/?p=1776#comment-3253 In my previous life (before kids) I was an elementary school teacher with an endorsement in K-6 reading and writing, so this is a topic that's dear to my heart. I strongly second the idea that many reluctant readers prefer audiobooks, but my only caveat would be to make sure they're following along with the actual book, not just listening. Putting words to sounds is crucial. There are so many good audio books out there now that this is where I would always try to start (and your local library should also have a fairly good selection). I would also encourage parents of reluctant readers to find ANY series of books that the child shows interest in, even if you think they're silly or not "real" reading (this includes comic books and magazines and things like the Captain Underpants series). Often these "silly" books become a springboard into more serious books. Finally, (and I'm not saying this to be judgmental here) try turning off the tv/ videogames/ even music. If they have nothing else to do, reading often fills in that time. (My almost three-year-old doesn't watch tv--yes, we're those weird parents-- and I very often find him "reading" to his stuffed animals or flipping through books and magazines. Of course, I often find him splashing around in the toilet too, so you win some, you lose some.) In my previous life (before kids) I was an elementary school teacher with an endorsement in K-6 reading and writing, so this is a topic that’s dear to my heart. I strongly second the idea that many reluctant readers prefer audiobooks, but my only caveat would be to make sure they’re following along with the actual book, not just listening. Putting words to sounds is crucial. There are so many good audio books out there now that this is where I would always try to start (and your local library should also have a fairly good selection).

I would also encourage parents of reluctant readers to find ANY series of books that the child shows interest in, even if you think they’re silly or not “real” reading (this includes comic books and magazines and things like the Captain Underpants series). Often these “silly” books become a springboard into more serious books.

Finally, (and I’m not saying this to be judgmental here) try turning off the tv/ videogames/ even music. If they have nothing else to do, reading often fills in that time. (My almost three-year-old doesn’t watch tv–yes, we’re those weird parents– and I very often find him “reading” to his stuffed animals or flipping through books and magazines. Of course, I often find him splashing around in the toilet too, so you win some, you lose some.)

]]> By: Melissa Taylor http://simplekids.net/help-for-struggling-reluctant-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-3248 Melissa Taylor Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:44:44 +0000 http://simplekids.net/?p=1776#comment-3248 Great suggestions! I particularly appreciated your background story and researched approach. Thanks! .-= Melissa Taylor´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ImaginationSoup/~3/8Fv5Ym7-3v0/" rel="nofollow">Win a Wiz Kidz Thinking Skills Card Game</a> =-. Great suggestions! I particularly appreciated your background story and researched approach. Thanks!
.-= Melissa Taylor´s last blog ..Win a Wiz Kidz Thinking Skills Card Game =-.

]]> By: s http://simplekids.net/help-for-struggling-reluctant-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-3242 s Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:22:01 +0000 http://simplekids.net/?p=1776#comment-3242 This post strikes so close to home. I'm an avid reader as is my daughter, but my middle son is a reluctant reader. He loved storytime when I would read him picture books at night, but once he hit first grade and he was expected to read on his own for 10 minutes per night, the struggles ensued. I tried many different genres, encouraged his participation at the library including a forum on little known book series so we could both get some ideas for series we might not be familiar with. I've tried graphic novels, short books, short chapter books, etc. He JUST got hooked on the Wimpy Kid series - he loves to read it, although he's a very slow reader. He also truly enjoys non fiction - which shouldn't surprise me, because when we would check out picture books, he had much more interest in books about combines and tractors then fiction picture books, so not sure why I didn't grasp that earlier. I find that the subject has to grab him - Titanic, Tanks, Airplanes are big ones right now. My son is getting some fluency help right now in school and I am hopeful that once he becomes a more fluid reader, that he will dive right in - I now think its the mechanics of reading that have turned him off vs the idea of reading. Now, I know he'll never be one to choose to hole up with a book vs run outside and ride his bike or come in and play his DS, but when I declare electronic free time, I am hopeful he will choose reading vs lego building sometimes! And, at night, if my kids want to read for 20 minutes they can stay up - if they don't read, lights must go out (no legos, no ds, no toys) , so that is definitely some fairly decent incentive to read! This post strikes so close to home. I’m an avid reader as is my daughter, but my middle son is a reluctant reader. He loved storytime when I would read him picture books at night, but once he hit first grade and he was expected to read on his own for 10 minutes per night, the struggles ensued. I tried many different genres, encouraged his participation at the library including a forum on little known book series so we could both get some ideas for series we might not be familiar with. I’ve tried graphic novels, short books, short chapter books, etc. He JUST got hooked on the Wimpy Kid series – he loves to read it, although he’s a very slow reader. He also truly enjoys non fiction – which shouldn’t surprise me, because when we would check out picture books, he had much more interest in books about combines and tractors then fiction picture books, so not sure why I didn’t grasp that earlier. I find that the subject has to grab him – Titanic, Tanks, Airplanes are big ones right now. My son is getting some fluency help right now in school and I am hopeful that once he becomes a more fluid reader, that he will dive right in – I now think its the mechanics of reading that have turned him off vs the idea of reading. Now, I know he’ll never be one to choose to hole up with a book vs run outside and ride his bike or come in and play his DS, but when I declare electronic free time, I am hopeful he will choose reading vs lego building sometimes! And, at night, if my kids want to read for 20 minutes they can stay up – if they don’t read, lights must go out (no legos, no ds, no toys) , so that is definitely some fairly decent incentive to read!

]]> By: Tweets that mention Help for Struggling, Reluctant Readers — Simple Kids -- Topsy.com http://simplekids.net/help-for-struggling-reluctant-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-3238 Tweets that mention Help for Struggling, Reluctant Readers — Simple Kids -- Topsy.com Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:59:24 +0000 http://simplekids.net/?p=1776#comment-3238 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Helana Cauliffe, Susan Heid. Susan Heid said: RT @simplekids Help for Struggling, Reluctant Readers http://bit.ly/dcwCoa [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Helana Cauliffe, Susan Heid. Susan Heid said: RT @simplekids Help for Struggling, Reluctant Readers http://bit.ly/dcwCoa [...]

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