What kind of books is your second grader reading on her own?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like PP said there is a HUGE variety at this age. My own child is mainly reading non fiction now in second grade. He raced through the Harry Potter series at the end of kindergarten, which isn't representative. Most second graders aren't yet reading for meaning yet. Basic chapter books are common.

You should have him retread them in a few years when he will understand much more...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like PP said there is a HUGE variety at this age. My own child is mainly reading non fiction now in second grade. He raced through the Harry Potter series at the end of kindergarten, which isn't representative. Most second graders aren't yet reading for meaning yet. Basic chapter books are common.

You should have him retread them in a few years when he will understand much more...

Reread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like PP said there is a HUGE variety at this age. My own child is mainly reading non fiction now in second grade. He raced through the Harry Potter series at the end of kindergarten, which isn't representative. Most second graders aren't yet reading for meaning yet. Basic chapter books are common.

You should have him retread them in a few years when he will understand much more...

Reread

He already has. But, yes, probably will again! He's also reread the Narnia books lately and the Little House books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like PP said there is a HUGE variety at this age. My own child is mainly reading non fiction now in second grade. He raced through the Harry Potter series at the end of kindergarten, which isn't representative. Most second graders aren't yet reading for meaning yet. Basic chapter books are common.

You should have him retread them in a few years when he will understand much more...

Reread

He already has. But, yes, probably will again! He's also reread the Narnia books lately and the Little House books.

I'm glad. He will get so much more out of them reading them with more life experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you buying for your own child or a relative/friend? If you know a reading level, that will help tremendously. There is such a wide variation -- one kid reads Harry Potter, another Ivy & Bean, and another is still decoding words. All within the expected range for 2nd grade.

OP please realize the kids reading the Harry Potter chapter books may be reading most of the words, but they do not truly understand it and the depth of the books, especially book 3 onwards. I think some parents enjoy pushing books that kids can read but not comprehend for some odd reason.

There are so many chapter series out there but I think going back to old-school books are nice gifts. Donald Rahl, Judy Blume, Nancy Drew etc... Even if they are too hard, most parents still read chapter books to kids this age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you buying for your own child or a relative/friend? If you know a reading level, that will help tremendously. There is such a wide variation -- one kid reads Harry Potter, another Ivy & Bean, and another is still decoding words. All within the expected range for 2nd grade.

OP please realize the kids reading the Harry Potter chapter books may be reading most of the words, but they do not truly understand it and the depth of the books, especially book 3 onwards. I think some parents enjoy pushing books that kids can read but not comprehend for some odd reason.

There are so many chapter series out there but I think going back to old-school books are nice gifts. Donald Rahl, Judy Blume, Nancy Drew etc... Even if they are too hard, most parents still read chapter books to kids this age.

Umm, we're talking about second graders, not kindergartners. Some children may be decoding the Harry Potter books without any comprehension, but others are actually reading them.

I wouldn't suggest Harry Potter as a gift, though, unless you're considering those new illustrated versions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you buying for your own child or a relative/friend? If you know a reading level, that will help tremendously. There is such a wide variation -- one kid reads Harry Potter, another Ivy & Bean, and another is still decoding words. All within the expected range for 2nd grade.

OP please realize the kids reading the Harry Potter chapter books may be reading most of the words, but they do not truly understand it and the depth of the books, especially book 3 onwards. I think some parents enjoy pushing books that kids can read but not comprehend for some odd reason.

There are so many chapter series out there but I think going back to old-school books are nice gifts. Donald Rahl, Judy Blume, Nancy Drew etc... Even if they are too hard, most parents still read chapter books to kids this age.

Umm, we're talking about second graders, not kindergartners. Some children may be decoding the Harry Potter books without any comprehension, but others are actually reading them.

I wouldn't suggest Harry Potter as a gift, though, unless you're considering those new illustrated versions.

NP here...yes, we know. A second grader may get the fist from knowing the general story, but will miss a tremendous amount of the intended I formation. I know, I know...not your kid.

[Anonymous]

My kid has enjoyed the Ramona series, Stink / Judy Moody, Geronimo Stilton, Laura Ingalls Wilder (read aloud), some of the A to Z mysterys and Cam Janssen, Roald Dahl. Some we listen to on audiobook, most are read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you buying for your own child or a relative/friend? If you know a reading level, that will help tremendously. There is such a wide variation -- one kid reads Harry Potter, another Ivy & Bean, and another is still decoding words. All within the expected range for 2nd grade.

OP please realize the kids reading the Harry Potter chapter books may be reading most of the words, but they do not truly understand it and the depth of the books, especially book 3 onwards. I think some parents enjoy pushing books that kids can read but not comprehend for some odd reason.

There are so many chapter series out there but I think going back to old-school books are nice gifts. Donald Rahl, Judy Blume, Nancy Drew etc... Even if they are too hard, most parents still read chapter books to kids this age.

Umm, we're talking about second graders, not kindergartners. Some children may be decoding the Harry Potter books without any comprehension, but others are actually reading them.

I wouldn't suggest Harry Potter as a gift, though, unless you're considering those new illustrated versions.

NP here...yes, we know. A second grader may get the fist from knowing the general story, but will miss a tremendous amount of the intended I formation. I know, I know...not your kid.

NP here. My second grader reads for enjoyment and we have to police her room at night or she will stay up until midnight reading. She will refuse a book if she has trouble understanding the content. I can't imagine there are many kids who will force themselves to read something they don't understand. That sounds like torture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you buying for your own child or a relative/friend? If you know a reading level, that will help tremendously. There is such a wide variation -- one kid reads Harry Potter, another Ivy & Bean, and another is still decoding words. All within the expected range for 2nd grade.

OP please realize the kids reading the Harry Potter chapter books may be reading most of the words, but they do not truly understand it and the depth of the books, especially book 3 onwards. I think some parents enjoy pushing books that kids can read but not comprehend for some odd reason.

There are so many chapter series out there but I think going back to old-school books are nice gifts. Donald Rahl, Judy Blume, Nancy Drew etc... Even if they are too hard, most parents still read chapter books to kids this age.

Umm, we're talking about second graders, not kindergartners. Some children may be decoding the Harry Potter books without any comprehension, but others are actually reading them.

I wouldn't suggest Harry Potter as a gift, though, unless you're considering those new illustrated versions.

NP here...yes, we know. A second grader may get the fist from knowing the general story, but will miss a tremendous amount of the intended I formation. I know, I know...not your kid.

NP here. My second grader reads for enjoyment and we have to police her room at night or she will stay up until midnight reading. She will refuse a book if she has trouble understanding the content. I can't imagine there are many kids who will force themselves to read something they don't understand. That sounds like torture.

Many kids get thru it because they have seen the movie or comprehend it a different way, which is fine. But to say a 7yr old can decipher the Goblet, Phoenix or Hallows? Come on now. As a paraeducator, I have seen many kids "read" books quickly but truly can not digest them. This is why so many parents are in an uproar about their child's reading level in school. It is not only reading but comprehension and writing to explain that said comprehension.

[Anonymous]

I agree with 14:21!
My kid can read many things but reading comprehension is different. And it's important. Does the child know everything meaning of every word in the context it's shown. Can the reader understand what could happen next, and the topic that surrounds it. And the ability to retell the story without having to see the book. And what could lead to a different outcome. And if they read it with a certain emphasis according to the punctuation and context of the book.

[Anonymous]

My older kid was reading Magic Treehouse in K and Harry Potter and Percy Jackson in 2nd, but found them kind of dark and is enjoying them more now in 4th.
My younger kid is in 2nd and is finally reading on her own (like, went from basic word recognition and Level 1 books to easy chapter books in 5 months.) She likes the Sue Bentley books (Magic Bunny etc. ) with lots of girlie stuff, fluffy animals and sparkling magic...she also likes the Rainbow Magic series by "Daisy Meadows," the repetitive plot lines - evil Jack Frost steals something important and two girls help some fairies get it back - make it easy for her to read through.

[Anonymous]

Roald Dahl (she's reading Matilda now), American Girl, Magic Treehouse, and graphic novels (just read the new Dog Man book and Ghost).

She wants nothing to do with Harry Potter-- not even have us read the first book to her!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

NP here. My second grader reads for enjoyment and we have to police her room at night or she will stay up until midnight reading. She will refuse a book if she has trouble understanding the content. I can't imagine there are many kids who will force themselves to read something they don't understand. That sounds like torture.

I'm the poster who suggested The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, but I wanted to chime in here and defend PP above. I've been flamed many times on these boards for describing what my son read in these early grades. I was told my son couldn't possibly understand what he was reading, etc. Unfortunately, many of his teachers thought the same, and it's only now in middle school that he's blossomed in a gifted program, and is actually happy and understood by his teachers. It's sad that in this country so many elementary school teachers lack the necessary intelligence and training in their field.

So I believe you, PP. I knew which stair to avoid so it wouldn't creak while I got my book from downstairs (because my mother didn't trust me), and read it under the covers at night with a flashlight My son used to tune out his teachers in elementary school and read his books under his desk. Now he doesn't have to do that, since he is encouraged to read anything he likes and write about all of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP here. My second grader reads for enjoyment and we have to police her room at night or she will stay up until midnight reading. She will refuse a book if she has trouble understanding the content. I can't imagine there are many kids who will force themselves to read something they don't understand. That sounds like torture.

I'm the poster who suggested The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, but I wanted to chime in here and defend PP above. I've been flamed many times on these boards for describing what my son read in these early grades. I was told my son couldn't possibly understand what he was reading, etc. Unfortunately, many of his teachers thought the same, and it's only now in middle school that he's blossomed in a gifted program, and is actually happy and understood by his teachers. It's sad that in this country so many elementary school teachers lack the necessary intelligence and training in their field.

So I believe you, PP. I knew which stair to avoid so it wouldn't creak while I got my book from downstairs (because my mother didn't trust me), and read it under the covers at night with a flashlight My son used to tune out his teachers in elementary school and read his books under his desk. Now he doesn't have to do that, since he is encouraged to read anything he likes and write about all of them.

Yep. Also, it's OK if kids aren't understanding everything they read. There isn't anything wrong with that. My own child reads constantly - he probably understands and truly comprehends about 80% of it. The 20% he doesn't? Whatever, he'll reread it in a year or so and will understand it then.

I really see it as my job as his mom to foster a love of reading, and as his teachers job to work with him on comprehension. We are lucky that his teachers so far know what he's capable of and will challenge him, but who are honest with us about his ability. They agree that kids being exposed to things they don't fully understand is a good thing - it stretches and challenges them which is important to developing a growth mindset.