Jump to content

Menu

Reading? and the downfall of imagination?


alexfam
 Share

Recommended Posts

My ds 7yo reads very well. We did an online test called DORA and his word recognition was 12.8 grade, reading comprehension was 9th grade. He is capable of reading Harry Potter books and so forth however, he only wants to read books that still has pictures. When I asked him why he doesn't want to read Harry Potter or any other book that doesn't have pictures he says "I can't see the story". I told him he had to use him imangination and see the story in his head. He just says that he will wait till he is older and then watch the movies of all the books that don't have pictures. UGH! He started asking me a couple of years ago that he wanted to watch Harry Potter. I have told him that he can't see any of the movies until he reads the books. He will even tell people that he can't watch Harry Potter if they put it on until he reads the book. I have gotten him to read Time Warp Trio. They still have pictures but not that many. How does one transition a child from books with pictures to books without pictures?

 

My ds response made me question if we are raising immediately visual children? They want to watch TV all the time, wait till the books come out in the movies, rather play a gameboy instead of going outside and playing a game, computers, etc.. Everything that our children see if visual nothing is left to the child's imagination. Childen don't read, don't play outside, doesn't do anything that requires them to see the pictures in their heads.

 

Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My ds won't read chapter books w/out pictures to himself, but he'll let me read them till I lose my voice. He said he gets bored, nothing but words words words. It's not a lack of imagination, again, he's fine if it's ME reading. I think it's more how daunting a page of type can look. Try weaning your son away with books that have smaller pictures every page. Get some of the abridged classics with illustrations and things.

 

Oh, and I blame the newer toys for my kids lack of imagination, or I would, if they lacked imagination. All those gears and switches, it's like the kids are supposed to watch the toys play, without any interraction at all :glare: Course, ds 2 has remedied that for most of the toys. He promptly breaks any gears that control movement and pushes buttons until the batteries finally die ;) Then, he plays with the toys.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Relax.

 

Your son might be wired to process things better visually -- my oldest is like that. It has nothing to do with modern culture though it is a great gift to have in these image-driven times. There are also some excellent illustrators of picture books out there whose work is worth taking the time to enjoy.

 

Your son also might not be developmentally ready to take in large blocks of text even if he tests as having a high reading level. Both my kids were like that at age 7 -- they tested high, had advanced working vocabularies, but they couldn't tackle Harry Potter at that age. Instead they would listen to me reading aloud Harry Potter, or listened to audio books for hours on end. They figured out that wonderful stories were to be found in picture-free books, and now prefer reading the book to seeing the movie.

 

Do you read aloud? It is the best way to help kids in bumping up their reading skills and comfort level with chapter books. Start reading a book, but leave it out and your son may decide to finish it for himself. Don't make it an issue if he doesn't, just make the books a happy thing to share. I still read aloud to my 9th grader simply because it is something we both enjoy, or we listen to audio books together.

 

One last idea. You might consider having his eyes tested. A friend's dd was 10 or so when the eye doctor noticed she didn't track properly as she read -- she was smart enough to figure out context and do well in school, but she wasn't actually reading all that was in front of her. Without some visual therapy she wouldn't have been able to move on to middle or high school level reading.

 

And, yes, it is unfortunately true that many kids do not develop their imaginations. I've taught several beginning theater classes to young kids and am always surprised when they only know only of tv characters and are unable to play make-believe games. Imagination isn't dead though -- think of all the production and character designers out there for all those movies and video games!

 

In the meantime, take it from an old-timer -- if you want your son to know a book, read it aloud. He has years of ahead of him for long, dense chapter books!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I remember when I was a kid, I read very well but would only read books with pictures. I remember that exact conversation with my mom- that I could just make the pictures in my mind. I did not want to though- I liked them there for me. Over time, though, I came to love to make my own pictures. I read Ramona Quimby, I read The Secret Garden, I read so many books that had limited pictures and after a while less and less pictures. Give him time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My daughter can also read at an advanced level, but her favorite books are still picture books!

 

The only things she likes to read at advanced levels are the Bible (she prefers the NIV over the child versions--she can read the KJV but claims, like my husband, that it is not in English) and non-fiction books about horses.

 

That being said, if you're getting picture books that are read aloud books, their reading grade level is usually 6 to 12th grade because they're written for an adult to read to child.

 

She also likes to read packaging, she wants to know what's in things and how they work!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I also have a 7 yo boy who reads well, but doesn't often like to read long, dense chapter books. It is funny because Harry Potter is one of the books he does enjoy reading. He also recently read Artemis Fowl, but mostly prefers comic books/graphic novels, or picture books.

 

I don't push my ds too much, but I do insist that he read books - they can be picture books - that aren't comics/graphic novels.

 

Does your ds like the books if you read out loud?

 

Jean

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

You know, he's only 7yo, no matter what his word recognition ability may be. I'd say relax, let him read his picture books. Limit screen time as is prudent for any child, and give him plenty of outdoor play as is good for any child.
:iagree:
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ditto on "he's only 7".

Keep in mind that many picture books are designed to be read to a child, and have a higher reading level than what a child that age would normally read on his own. So, he's getting the reading practice. GS9 was like that at 7, sometime before 9 they usually make the switch over to being able to 'see' the story in their minds. GS now prefers books over the movies.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Isn't it wonderful that you child enjoys reading!!!! He has a long life ahead of him to read long chapter books. I have a very advanced 8 y/o reader. Her scores are off the charts. This is one of her gifts. The other day at her 8 y/o well child visit to our doctor, he asked, "What do you want to do when you grow up?" My dd cheerfully stated, "read and swim!" He got a chuckle and I absolutely believe her. My point here, is the end game isn't to read a chapter book, it's to enjoy reading!!! Imagine, if you husband knew you could cook complicated 7 course meals and then made you do it! What's the joy in that?

 

As many have stated, picture books have advanced vocabulary and language concepts. It's been a pleasure for me to rediscover picture books with my children. I often pre-read our history supplements from the library (for appropriateness).I'll admit, I enjoy them. Heck, we just covered the slave trade and these books are intense! The best ones were picture books. The imagery can be so powerful, haunting, inspirational, etc.

 

All that said, my dd loves chapter books. Often she'll read ones that are 4 or 5 years under her reading level as well as books like Harry Potter. She used to have a lot of hesitation and I realized it was based on the mature *content*. It was something I wouldn't consider scary but she did. Harry Potter can be scary with the wizards, and magic and the books are HUGE! Her dad started reading these to her. Eventually they would take turns reading aloud because his throat would get so dry. Now, that she understands the story line, she has read several of them on her own.

 

My youngest who is five just started chapter books like Magic Tree House. She has been capable for quite awhile. It took her sister giving away her old set to my youngest to get her started. One day, she started and now she reads at least one a day. That child has to do everything on HER schedule. Magic Tree house will be WAY beneath your child's reading level. However, they are fun, have lots of pictures and are a great way to see that chapter books don't have to be dry and without pictures. I believe there are 30 plus books in the series..enough for a good start.

 

A few other possibilities are The B is for Betsy series (very 1950's content), Boxcar Children (some pictures) and you could work your way up to Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. Series are great for kids who are just getting into chapter books because they get to know the characters.

 

We have always prescribed to the, "read the book before seeing the movie" concept. Not because we needed our child to read the book (9 times out of ten it's a family read aloud..picture Mary Poppins, Jungle Book, Peter Pan, Charolette's Web) it's because we want our children to understand the power of the written word. They *always* agree that the book was better than the movie.

 

I know I've gone on way to long. Last thing is, it may be worth looking into having his eyes tested. Not only for acuity but tracking, visual field, etc. A development optometrist is best for this. We have only received acuity testing with an opthomologist.

 

Happy reading to you all!

 

Julie in Monterey:o

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wouldn't worry about it at this age.

 

I had a vivid imagination growing up, which caused me some problems at times, and sometimes think in pictures and sometimes think in words. I still don't picture all parts of stories with clear visual pictures, due, in part, to my lack of knowledge of plant names, etc (I never looked up all those flower names, so couldn't picture them.) I never picture faces in books with clear pictures--don't want to--unless I've seen the movie first. I do picture the action, houses, well, honestly, whatever I choose to based on the book. If it takes place in an area I'm familiar with, I picture a lot more. But I'm very sensitive to how a book is written, word flow, etc. If it's awkward or poorly done, I cannot stand it.

 

I don't know if this makes any difference, but I always dream in colour, which is not "normal"--most people dream mostly in b & w. It doesn't matter when I wake up at night, there was colour in the dream.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't know if this makes any difference, but I always dream in colour, which is not "normal"--most people dream mostly in b & w. It doesn't matter when I wake up at night, there was colour in the dream.

 

Not to hijack this thread, but REALLY?? I dream in color too, and I had no idea that wasn't the norm! I *don't* have your ability to visualize, though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not to hijack this thread, but REALLY?? I dream in color too, and I had no idea that wasn't the norm! I *don't* have your ability to visualize, though.

 

There have been dream studies on this. However, on this particular forum, I've learned before that I'm not alone. Almost everyone dreams in colour at some point, usually right before waking up. Most people dream mostly in b&w. And my visualizing, als I've mentioned, is limited (no faces, for example). My dd's can visualize far more than I can.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My ds response made me question if we are raising immediately visual children? They want to watch TV all the time, wait till the books come out in the movies, rather play a gameboy instead of going outside and playing a game, computers, etc.. Everything that our children see if visual nothing is left to the child's imagination. Childen don't read, don't play outside, doesn't do anything that requires them to see the pictures in their heads.

 

Thanks

 

OMG! That's exactly my DS! And he is also 7! That's how I feel! He is extremely visual and do very well that way. He could read above grade level but still prefer books with pictures! I'm interested to know what solutions there will be. Just want to say I feel for you!

 

Mic

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In one unschooling book I remember reading the phrase "strewing the path" as in just try to strew his path with all kinds of different things he might learn. I do this particularly with books as my ds is much like yours. Every once in a while I get just the right book and he ends up exercising his "chapter reading." The last one was a Star Wars Level 4 reader, I read a chapter, then put it down and he couldn't wait to finish it. but like many others here, he generally doesn't choose them on his own yet, prefers picture books or comic books/graphic novel format, and will listen to several chapters of me reading aloud from "Robin Hood" or "King Arthur" for example. I have relaxed about this heavily because of the advice from other parents here. Scholastic's Magic School Bus books are full of info and he will read them over and over. Nate the Great are favorites. High Rise Private Eyes by Cynthia Rylant might be in there too though our system only has 4 of them so we haven't read them in a while. there are good transition books in the "Level 4 reader" section of our library imho. And I can't tell you how much he has learned from the info in Sid Meiers' Civilization game and Zoo Tycoon's Zoopedia - he'll just soak up those encyclopedias that are provided in there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...