lgliser Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 One of my 3rd grade girls is a really good reader but she prefers fluffy books like Diary of Wimpy Kid, Goosebumps, etc. I do have her read "good" books but she always groans about it! How does everyone create a nice balance here? I feel like every time I force her to read something, it kills her love of reading a little bit. Obviously I can't just let her read ONLY fluff books. I have them read 30 min a day - a book that I assign. Then 20 minutes of book basket time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelenNotOfTroy Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 When I require reading, it is reading that I want done. I do not require fun reading, that happens on its own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelaVA Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I read quality books to her and she has a chapter or two from a selected reader assigned and then the rest of the time she can read whatever she likes. And sometimes we take breaks from what I have assigned to read what she likes even if I don't love it, because compromise is good :) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yucabird Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Does she have any hobbies or interests? My 9 yo developed a love of history (due to SOTW -- thank you SWB!). She has now read all the history and mythology books on our shelves. I also find that if I do a read-aloud that really appeals, she will sneak off with it and read ahead (She doesn't mind hearing it again.). I assign certain readings, but I don't put a time limit on it (i.e., she must to read a certain story or X number of chapters in a book). She also loves the Goosebumps series, but I don't sweat it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caribbean Queen Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Maybe lower the time requirement. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lgliser Posted September 22, 2015 Author Share Posted September 22, 2015 Thanks guys! I hadn't thought of lowering the time requirement. She'd appreciate that :) I'll check out the suggestions too - thanks so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MistyMountain Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 My oldest is the same way. She likes a lot of fluff. I make suggestions but that does not usually work. I read aloud from good books and get audiobooks for the car so she is exposed that way. I also get good picture books from the library and she will read what interests her from those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 I do some reading aloud and they get read-alouds at school. I don't care if she reads fluff. That's great. That's all I read. I have never gotten below an A- on a lit paper in spite of having read the Babysitter's Club entire series (there are over 100 books in that series, FYI--okay, looked it up on Wikipedia, over 200 but I read about 100 or so of them several times) 5 to 6 times between the ages of 9 and 10. I have no idea why I liked them so much. I was reading at a much higher level for school. I say, let her read. If you want her to read non-fiction for school, ask her to read it. Otherwise, who cares what she reads for fun (provided it's not pornography or something)? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKT Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 I let my kids read whatever they want. I believe their own reading should be freely and enthusiastically chosen. When I read aloud to them (which is daily), I read from the classics. So everyday, they are getting both "fun" and the classics. This has blended seamlessly into my children choosing the classics on their own. (That is, my older daughter...my younger is only in kindy!) For instance, my older daughter tends to read "fun" books to herself, but after I read aloud The Secret Garden, she enthusiastically began Burnett's A Little Princess on her own. It also helps that our house is filled with great choices; basically, you can't find a "bad" book on our shelves. If an occasional "fluffy" book comes home from the library, I don't sweat it. (After all, I myself enjoy things like Gone Girl right alongside my Jane Austen or whatever...) Adults like beach reads...kids should get them, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lgliser Posted September 22, 2015 Author Share Posted September 22, 2015 I don't care if she reads fluff. That's great. That's all I read. I have never gotten below an A- on a lit paper in spite of having read the Babysitter's Club entire series (there are over 100 books in that series, FYI--okay, looked it up on Wikipedia, over 200 but I read about 100 or so of them several times) 5 to 6 times between the ages of 9 and 10. I have no idea why I liked them so much. I was reading at a much higher level for school. I say, let her read. If you want her to read non-fiction for school, ask her to read it. Otherwise, who cares what she reads for fun (provided it's not pornography or something)? LOL ok good point. On my bedside table, you'll find things like "Sophaholic Takes Manhattan." As for who cares though.... I guess I've heard (maybe in TWTM) that books like that are like junk food. Ok in moderation. And I'm certainly not saying that kids should never get to read fun books like that. But just like I try to feed my kids healthy meals, and ultimately learn to choose healthy food over junk, I'd like them to sometimes choose good books as well. Thanks again guys! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 We always did a book aloud together "popcorn style" ("you read a page, I read a page") as part of daily school reading, so that's one way to get the quality books in there. And usually without complaint, as it is really fun to share a book together that way. On-their-own reading is free choice -- whatever the child wants to read, if the child wants to read. At this age/stage of reading (3rd grade), a lot of students really benefit from reading books below their actual reading level (increases speed and flow of reading), and reading those predictable series (helps them develop a sense of what to expect, how a story builds) -- it all works to build reading comfort and confidence. Other than keeping utter "book trash" out of a child's hands, there's really nothing wrong with occasional fluff or even -- ::gasp:: -- twaddle on their own time. ;) Also agree that at that age, required solo reading needs to be short -- maybe something roughly like this: 2nd grade = 10-15 min. 3rd grade = 15-20 min. 4th grade = 20-30 min. 5th grade = 30 min. 6th-8th grade = usually somewhere in this stage, this involves literature, history, science readings, and moves towards reading so many pages per week for each subject, and not so much a need for required reading for the purpose of competency and confidence And of course, lots of read-alouds. We did read-alouds all the way through high school graduation, and then the occasional read-aloud even with DSs' in college. As long as the DC will tolerate it, do it! :) Read alouds also develop all kinds of brain functions that DC will use later on in the skills of analyzing and problem-solving. ENJOY your reading journey with DD! Warmest regards, Lori D. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEK Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 I made a reading tac-tac-toe for my 3rd grader this year. It is a 5 by 5 grid with one book in each square of my choice. She gets to chose which book to read from the chart (giving her a choice rather than saying here is your book, read it) and when she finishes an entire row/column she gets a small treat as incentive. There is no requirement to read every book on the chart however if she does she will get a bigger treat for completing them all. This has been a massive success and I am already planning the books we will put on the next chart. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaConquest Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 You might also check out the Junior Great Books series and Mosdos Press literature. They have 3rd grade reading selections that are high quality and inspire good conversation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pehp Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 We dig biographies here....my son is allowed some fluff (magic tree house!) but I encourage reading other books. http://www.valerieslivinglibrary.com/garrard.htm you may also check out Clyde Robert Bulla's books. My son likes them, and I read them as a child! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Well, I wouldn't lower the time requirement. But I say bring on the fluff! The fluff is how kids gain fluency. Even if she's a "good" reader, she's probably still building her comfort level and fluency and the easy stuff does that - predictable plots, fewer vocabulary words, easier sentences - it's easier on the mind yet keeps her practicing those words. Read aloud the quality stuff. And strew a little here and there - the stuff that's easier though. The One and Only Ivan is a good easy but thoughtful book. Or how about Mr. Popper's Penguins or The Toothpaste Millionaire or Ramona... Just aim for the shorter, easier stuff that's also good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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