Awful reading rut

[Anonymous]

that is Who Swallowed Harold

[Anonymous]

Definitely weird school - I think funny is the way to go

[Anonymous]

Try graphic novels, comic books, guide books for video games. Maybe get some kid magazines that have shorter articles so the length is not overwhelming. All reading is good.

I think if you told the teacher that having him read alone was making reading a battle, she would agree that it is far better to have your child not hate reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 7 year old second grader has never liked reading - at all. He is very smart, but is just on grade level for reading, because he does not try. I have tried to find books that interest him and have come to the conclusion that there really aren't any. I have to make him read for at least 20 minutes a day, because it is both required by school, and necessary to ensure he does not fall behind. He really doesn't try during these sessions, and whines a lot. He also refuses to keep his finger under the text, and keeps losing his place because he is not paying attention, and whines. This is becoming a miserable experience for both of us. Over the summer it was a bit better because we would alternate reading pages of a book (he's do one and I'd do one) which he found more tolerable, but his teacher asked us not to do that for his assigned reading this year.

Teachers work hard to discourage this behavior, past a late Kindergarten level as it impacts fluency.

[Anonymous]

Three words: Sonic the Hedgehog.

[Anonymous]

I would keep alternating until he improves and finds something he likes. It's better than him not reading at all.

[Anonymous]

My 1st grader loves the Smithsonian Readers series. Lots of different topics, short write-ups on a ton of different subjects.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/157-6137092-3676347?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=smithsonian+readers

[Anonymous]

Teachers work hard to discourage this behavior, past a late Kindergarten level as it impacts fluency.

Just curious, but why does it impact fluency? DS loses his place and just drifts off unless he does it.

[Anonymous]

Teachers work hard to discourage this behavior, past a late Kindergarten level as it impacts fluency.

Thanks, those look like they would be accpetable to him.

[Anonymous]

Graphic novels for sure. Anything that involves underpants and bodily functions . The Riot Brothers is a good one that isn't crazy disgusting.

Go talk to the children's librarian. give her an idea of his reading level and just bring home a stack of junk. It doesn't matter what he's reading as long as he's reading!

Can he do Sports illustrated for Kids? Perhaps the magazine length would be better. My kids liked Ask magazine and then the one that comes after, title is escaping me (but yours sounds like the Ask level is appropriate).

[Anonymous]

My kids liked Ask magazine and then the one that comes after, title is escaping me (but yours sounds like the Ask level is appropriate).

OP here, Ask looks like something he would actually like. The yearly subscription price is painfully high, given the small number of issues, but if our library doesn't have it, I'll bite the bullet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ignore the teacher on this one. Your son isn't going to become a better reader when he views it as a chore that he hates.

I agree with this. I ask my son to read the first 2-5 pages, depending on reading level and age, and then I read to finish out a half hour. He's enthralled with the stories. And we listen to audio books, too, as a supplement, not a replacement. Plus, he will develop fond memories of having relaxing, fun time with his mom while reading.

My son is 9 now, and I've been doing it forever. He's one year above grade level in reading ability. There are many kids in his class who are much better, but I think this is pretty good for a kid who really doesn't enjoy reading that much.

Some boys like magazines better. And I'd get different levels, some easier, to help boost fluency and confidence. And don't be afraid to let him read the same things over and over.

+1 to this. It sounds like your son is already at the point where he views independent reading as a hated chore that he tries to avoid. It's not just about him learning how to read, it's about helping him to develop a love of reading. You need to back off and give him some space for a few days on this. It is perfectly fine for you to read one page and him to read one page. Reading to kids helps them develop their own reading skills.

And you should talk to your teacher because the strategy she recommended is not working.

Cricket Magazines make great magazines for that age - I think Ask is the one for the 7YO age group. Also try comic books like Tiny Titans, Calvin and Hobbes, and Hilo: The Boy Who fell From Space.

[Anonymous]

My 8 year old is an ok reader but he really lost interest in it this summer. I was getting worried about it and then his teacher this year gave them a worksheet with apples to color in for every 20 minutes he reads. I'm not a fan of tracking reading (I think it should just be something to enjoy, not monitor) but it really motivated him. The teacher gives little toys when the paper is turned in -- and then they get a new paper.

You could do a similar thing. Keep it on the fridge so he can color in each time he reads 20 min.

[Anonymous]

OP, check out What Do We Do All Day's index of reading recommendations:

http://www.whatdowedoallday.com/books-for-kids

There may be recommendations under the "Easy Readers" and "Early Chapters" that may be enticing to your son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Teachers work hard to discourage this behavior, past a late Kindergarten level as it impacts fluency.

Just curious, but why does it impact fluency? DS loses his place and just drifts off unless he does it.

Its because it limits the speed at which you read, and keeps your eyes from taking in whole lines of text, and above and below, which fluent readers do. So you don't want it to become an ingrained habit in an otherwise good reader. But for a kid who looses his place unless he uses it - yeah, use it! Absolutely. It will help him, not hurt him. They also make bright colored plastic windows that show only a portion of the text at once and you move down the page.