We've been having some trouble motivating our kids to read lately. Hannah-Bear has always been a challenge, she's in 4th grade and it has always been like pulling teeth to get her to read. JR went all through elementary school being an avid reader. He was reading at an 8th grade level in 4th grade, and he was always finishing the school year with anywhere between 250-300 Accelerated Reader Points (50 per year was the goal) This year he's in middle school, and suddenly the motivation and desire to read is gone.
Mocha-momma went to a resource that we got a few years ago called "Who Should We Then Read: authors of good books for children and young adults;" to try and come up with some ideas for series or interesting topics the kids may enjoy. It's by a local woman from Cokato MN---Jan Bloom. Jan and her husband run a book store, as well as consult and give seminars on home-schooling. Their store is
Books Bloom: **HELPING HOME LIBRARIES GROW THROUGH ENCOURAGEMENT, EDUCATION, AND OFFERING THE BEST INFORMATIVE REFERENCE BOOKS AND AN EXCELLENT SELECTION OF VINTAGE, OUT-OF-PRINT, AND SECONDHAND BOOKS FOR PURCHASE**
BOOKSBLOOM is the family business of Gary and Jan Bloom- book lovers, knowledgable book sellers, homeschool conference exhibitors/speakers, and homeschooling alumni.
The reason I bring it up is that Mocha-momma read a quote that they have cited in this resource, and I found it very interesting. The quote is attributed to a Jerry Hanson, not quite sure who he is.
"Eighty percent of all books have been published since 1980. Eighty percent of those would have been better off left as trees..."
Mocha-momma had done alot of research into home-schooling, and she said everything that she read regarding a classical education recommended that all books and resources used should be those published before 1950. Anything after that and you begin to get into revisionist and rewritten history.
We read books to the kids on an on-going basis, and they love to sit and listen to us read to them; but, we still want them to take responsibility and learn to love reading on their own as well. We just keep plugging away, hopefully we'll spark a fire under both of their butts sometime soon.
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2 comments:
The quote about 80% of books-hilarious. Say, I can recommend a series of books for your kids that they say really gets kids to read. Hope you don't mind that it teaches the elements of the occult, using animal parts and stuff but they're called "Harry Potter" books. Just kidding.
JR has read the Potter books, as well as myself. We use them as great teaching moments, both positive and negative. I think the attributes of friendship, courage, doing what is right in the face of adversity and against all odds, and so many other positive things are in these stories. We do also talk about the supernatural, the occult, and what the Bible says about alot of this stuff as well. Fantasy fiction has been a huge part of many great Christian apologists, including C.S. Lewis. I may or may not be wise in letting him read this stuff; but so far he's demonstrated an understanding and his love of Christian music and participation in youth groups and Boy Scouts leads me to believe that he's still on God's path.
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