Rosy Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 ...for a child who has grown accustomed to simpler, less substantive works? My daughter is a great reader, but for the longest time I couldn't get her to read more than a few pages of anything before she decided she didn't like it. She did read a few good quality books, but she didn't really start enjoying reading until she found the Magic Tree House books and then the American Girl books. Anyway, I don't mind her reading those books and those like them, but I would like to start steering her toward more substantive books, classics, etc. How do I do that? Thanks for any help you can give! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom4him Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 My dd is nine and just starting to really gobble up chapter books. I have been pretty much letting her read what she wants and I read the classics out loud to both kids. I guess I feel that they will both gain a love for them as they hear them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Let her read whatever she likes most of the time. It will build her enjoyment of reading. Meanwhile, read the higher quality reading to her. We do this at bedtime every night. My kids LOVE bedtime now. When reading aloud, I usually choose books above their grade level and sometimes above their reading level. After she gets used to hearing classics read to her, you can start assigning some classics at her reading level that you think she'd like...or even do it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Start with books that are more interesting / funny/ adventurous, not ones that are sort of ponderous or mired in long, extravagant descriptions. Like "A Bear Called Paddington" as opposed to "Winnie the Pooh." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liza Q Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 (edited) I assign certain books during schooltime and then let her choose her own books for her free reading. Two of the first books I assigned her were The Hundred Dresses and The Best-Loved Doll. Simple, even picturebookish, but thoughtful and beautifully written. hth ETA: I have a pile of books that I want to assign and she can choose from that pile. Sometimes she does not like an assigned book but she now has some new favorites! Edited April 6, 2009 by Liza Q Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 I let my dc read whatever they wanted to read. I read to them the books I thought were important, or not necessarily books they'd choose on their own. We read one chapter a day, right after lunch, from the book of my choice. They always loved the books I chose.:) Eventually, they read more substantive books all own their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 I read aloud to my dc from high-quality literature. Often, when I'm done reading a book, one of my dc wants to reread it. I always let them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 I read aloud to the kids a lot. Most days when they were in elementary school, we had "Lunch & Lit". I also read aloud many of the books in the SOTW activity thing, and a lot of books from the Sonlight lists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Wisc Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 I collected books--used, new--all the classics and great books I could find. I piled them on old and new and more new bookcases. I read these books out loud to them during the day, at lunch time, and in the evening. Then I required my kids to go to bed early and allowed them to read if they were not tired...and then I failed to get to the library for new books often enough that they had to find something to read from my book shelves...and now the classics are simply part of their lives. Me to ds 16: What are you reading tonight? Ds16: The Scarlet Letter ??? LOL! Jean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 When they were just starting with chapter books, I let them read whatever they wanted. Like the other posters, I read good books to them (still do). They have an assigned book they are required to read now, and can pick whatever they want to read for fun. Their required books are good literature. I am bad about not getting to the library as often as I should, so they pick whatever is here in our library at home. Mostly now they will choose to read good quality literature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blessedmother Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 I assign my children one chapter a day out of "classic quality literature" and then the rest of their reading is their choice. I also occasionally read aloud a classic. It has worked well for my kids. For your daughter start off with easy reading children classics: Charlotte's Web Stuart Little The Trumpet and the Swan Little House in the Big Woods Little House on the Praire By the Banks of Plum Creek Farmer Boy Sarah, Plain and Tall Skylark Homer Price The Courage of Sarah Noble Mr. Popper's Penguins Strawberry Girl As your daughter matures and grows in her love of reading then the titles can become longer and more difficult.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Mouse Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 You might look into Junior Great Books from the Great Books Foundation. It is a program that gives short stories or excerpts from longer works for children to read and then discuss. I think it starts as young as second grade or younger. It is a good way to infuse quality literature in smaller doses. Plus they have accompanying discussion questions and activities. JGB can be done with a group or individually. We do JGB with a group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 I do a combo of "assigned" reading, "his choice reading", reading the classics aloud and (although I know some don't agree with this) letting ds read the "great illustrated classics" version or a children's version now in preparation for the real thing later. For instance, this year ds has read: Gilgamesh the Hero Black Ships Before Troy The Wanderings of Odysseus The Aeneid for Boys and Girls To name a few. When we hit these in the next round he will read the real thing. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannah Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 My 9yo loves listening to audiobooks while she is drawing or playing. Our library does not have any, so ours are all bought or downloaded. I also read aloud to her the books I want her to hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosy Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 Thanks everyone! I haven't been great with the read-alouds lately...I can see that being a great way to bring in the kinds of books I want her to love. I appreciate everyone's input (and book recommendations too!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cedarmom Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Another idea is books on cd. These are great fun on car trips,or to relax and listen to in the afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skaterbabs Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 We take a slightly different route. I've discovered that car trips in our family are far less stressful when we listen to audiobooks, so I pick selections that are adult-friendly ;) but meaty children's books. Harry Potter, Aragon, Peter Pan, Treasure Island, Tom Sawyer, Little Women, Great Expectations, Little House on the Prairie, etc. Later when one of the kids picks up a books we've already listened to, it's familiar enough that it's not intimidating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brehon Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 I assign my children one chapter a day out of "classic quality literature" and then the rest of their reading is their choice. I also occasionally read aloud a classic. It has worked well for my kids. For your daughter start off with easy reading children classics: Charlotte's Web Stuart Little The Trumpet and the Swan Little House in the Big Woods Little House on the Praire By the Banks of Plum Creek Farmer Boy Sarah, Plain and Tall Skylark Homer Price The Courage of Sarah Noble Mr. Popper's Penguins Strawberry Girl As your daughter matures and grows in her love of reading then the titles can become longer and more difficult.:001_smile: Oooh...I like this. My son is in the really aggravating (for me ;)) "I don't like to read" stage. He still thinks he can't read despite the fact that he can. :001_huh: :tongue_smilie: It is a confidence issue, I know; I just need to find a way to get him over the hump. And while Calvin and Hobbes has helped, I don't want him to think he can *only* read comics (and I'm not too enamoured of some of the episodes occuring around the house right now). Anyway, I may start something similar to this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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