Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

11:25 you are responding to a different PP than the person who asked you about this first. I am the original PP. Personally I think you think they are tiring to do, but actually can see the benefit of them. The new way to do book reports is particularly helpful in understanding books because children are asked to give opinions, make connections to themselves and really try to understand the characters or infer from the text in a non-fiction book. Not just listing facts. Being that you like to read book reviews, you must get something out of them that helps you understand that book better. Otherwise, why read them? While my children don't particularly like writing about books, it really helps them with their writing as well as their comprehension and even their social skills. There are obvious merits which is why they've been assigned in schools for decades and perfected as years go by.

To find out whether I want to read the book.

So then you enjoy people being able to discuss books and what they liked about them correct? This skill came from reading and writing about books throughout school.

I wish that you wouldn't tell me that I like things that I don't like.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

11:25 you are responding to a different PP than the person who asked you about this first. I am the original PP. Personally I think you think they are tiring to do, but actually can see the benefit of them. The new way to do book reports is particularly helpful in understanding books because children are asked to give opinions, make connections to themselves and really try to understand the characters or infer from the text in a non-fiction book. Not just listing facts. Being that you like to read book reviews, you must get something out of them that helps you understand that book better. Otherwise, why read them? While my children don't particularly like writing about books, it really helps them with their writing as well as their comprehension and even their social skills. There are obvious merits which is why they've been assigned in schools for decades and perfected as years go by.

To find out whether I want to read the book.

So then you enjoy people being able to discuss books and what they liked about them correct? This skill came from reading and writing about books throughout school.

Anonymous wrote:

11:25 you are responding to a different PP than the person who asked you about this first. I am the original PP. Personally I think you think they are tiring to do, but actually can see the benefit of them. The new way to do book reports is particularly helpful in understanding books because children are asked to give opinions, make connections to themselves and really try to understand the characters or infer from the text in a non-fiction book. Not just listing facts. Being that you like to read book reviews, you must get something out of them that helps you understand that book better. Otherwise, why read them? While my children don't particularly like writing about books, it really helps them with their writing as well as their comprehension and even their social skills. There are obvious merits which is why they've been assigned in schools for decades and perfected as years go by.

To find out whether I want to read the book.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you dislike writing in general? I would think book report is one of the least painful way of writing. Do you feel the same way with both fiction and nonfiction books?

No, I like writing. Writing is a big part of my job. I also like reading. I just don't like reading a book when the purpose is to write a book report about it, and I also don't like writing the book report. I don't know why this is so difficult to understand?

11:25 you are responding to a different PP than the person who asked you about this first. I am the original PP. Personally I think you think they are tiring to do, but actually can see the benefit of them. The new way to do book reports is particularly helpful in understanding books because children are asked to give opinions, make connections to themselves and really try to understand the characters or infer from the text in a non-fiction book. Not just listing facts. Being that you like to read book reviews, you must get something out of them that helps you understand that book better. Otherwise, why read them? While my children don't particularly like writing about books, it really helps them with their writing as well as their comprehension and even their social skills. There are obvious merits which is why they've been assigned in schools for decades and perfected as years go by.

Anonymous wrote:Do you dislike writing in general? I would think book report is one of the least painful way of writing. Do you feel the same way with both fiction and nonfiction books?

No, I like writing. Writing is a big part of my job. I also like reading. I just don't like reading a book when the purpose is to write a book report about it, and I also don't like writing the book report. I don't know why this is so difficult to understand?

Anonymous wrote:Do you dislike writing in general? I would think book report is one of the least painful way of writing. Do you feel the same way with both fiction and nonfiction books?

Are you telling me you look back fondly on The Scarlet Letter, and reread it, remembering how much fun it was to dissect it in fine detail in school? I don't.

And yes, I love reading and writing in general, I'm happy to discuss books with friends, writing is part of my job, etc.

Do you dislike writing in general? I would think book report is one of the least painful way of writing. Do you feel the same way with both fiction and nonfiction books?

Anonymous wrote:

It sounds like you had some difficulty with book reports and your teachers didn't offer you enough support. Do you only have an early elementary child? By 4th grade, children are blogging about their books regularly. If they've had no experience writing about books prior, they cannot do tasks like these. There are a lot of necessary evils in school. A good teacher helps children get over their humps and works with them to enjoy school tasks.

I am the PP you are responding to. I have no problems with book reports, books, reading, or writing. I just don't want to write a book report after I have read the book. There are many people like me -- although, as you point out, there are also some people who love writing book reports. They can grow up and become book reviewers and get paid for it, and I will be grateful, because I like reading good book reviews.

My children are in upper elementary school and in middle school, they are very enthusiastic readers, and they also think that a book report takes all of the joy out of reading that book. Maybe they got that idea from me and otherwise would adore doing book reports, who knows.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Book reviews do not discourage children from reading except in your own world especially in the 2nd and 3rd grade. Book reviews help children with comprehension on a regular basis so they don't have comprehension problems later and end up hating school.

I've heard many, many children say that they do not want to read books if they have to do book reviews for those books. I will tell them that you said that they're wrong about their own feelings.

That may be the case, but it doesn't mean they won't read a second book just because a book review was required for the first book. Book reviews do not discourage reading overall. They just think a book review is work which it is. School is work.

Book reviews are work, and they ruin enjoyment of the book. It's a shame that schools require book reports of the classics, thus ruining the classics forever. I only enjoy reading the ones that were never assigned in school. The ones that were assigned, were ruined for me.

I don't even know how to respond to that. You have no understanding that those book reports allowed you to understand other books and the world better and made you a better writer?

I've written a lot of book reports. Even in college! I don't think that these book reports allowed me to understand other books. They might have made me a better writer, in the sense that any writing can make a writer a better writer, especially if there's a reader who makes careful comments. But for me, book reports take all of the enjoyment out of the book. That's one big reason why I decided not to be an English double major. (I'm not the PP you're responding to.)

Are book reports a necessary evil? Yes, probably, for middle school and beyond. But I don't think that they're appropriate for early elementary grades, when the child is supposed to be learning to read and learning to like to read.

It sounds like you had some difficulty with book reports and your teachers didn't offer you enough support. Do you only have an early elementary child? By 4th grade, children are blogging about their books regularly. If they've had no experience writing about books prior, they cannot do tasks like these. There are a lot of necessary evils in school. A good teacher helps children get over their humps and works with them to enjoy school tasks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Book reviews do not discourage children from reading except in your own world especially in the 2nd and 3rd grade. Book reviews help children with comprehension on a regular basis so they don't have comprehension problems later and end up hating school.

I've heard many, many children say that they do not want to read books if they have to do book reviews for those books. I will tell them that you said that they're wrong about their own feelings.

That may be the case, but it doesn't mean they won't read a second book just because a book review was required for the first book. Book reviews do not discourage reading overall. They just think a book review is work which it is. School is work.

Book reviews are work, and they ruin enjoyment of the book. It's a shame that schools require book reports of the classics, thus ruining the classics forever. I only enjoy reading the ones that were never assigned in school. The ones that were assigned, were ruined for me.

I don't even know how to respond to that. You have no understanding that those book reports allowed you to understand other books and the world better and made you a better writer?

I've written a lot of book reports. Even in college! I don't think that these book reports allowed me to understand other books. They might have made me a better writer, in the sense that any writing can make a writer a better writer, especially if there's a reader who makes careful comments. But for me, book reports take all of the enjoyment out of the book. That's one big reason why I decided not to be an English double major. (I'm not the PP you're responding to.)

Are book reports a necessary evil? Yes, probably, for middle school and beyond. But I don't think that they're appropriate for early elementary grades, when the child is supposed to be learning to read and learning to like to read.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Book reviews do not discourage children from reading except in your own world especially in the 2nd and 3rd grade. Book reviews help children with comprehension on a regular basis so they don't have comprehension problems later and end up hating school.

I've heard many, many children say that they do not want to read books if they have to do book reviews for those books. I will tell them that you said that they're wrong about their own feelings.

That may be the case, but it doesn't mean they won't read a second book just because a book review was required for the first book. Book reviews do not discourage reading overall. They just think a book review is work which it is. School is work.

Book reviews are work, and they ruin enjoyment of the book. It's a shame that schools require book reports of the classics, thus ruining the classics forever. I only enjoy reading the ones that were never assigned in school. The ones that were assigned, were ruined for me.

I don't even know how to respond to that. You have no understanding that those book reports allowed you to understand other books and the world better and made you a better writer?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Book reviews do not discourage children from reading except in your own world especially in the 2nd and 3rd grade. Book reviews help children with comprehension on a regular basis so they don't have comprehension problems later and end up hating school.

I've heard many, many children say that they do not want to read books if they have to do book reviews for those books. I will tell them that you said that they're wrong about their own feelings.

That may be the case, but it doesn't mean they won't read a second book just because a book review was required for the first book. Book reviews do not discourage reading overall. They just think a book review is work which it is. School is work.

Book reviews are work, and they ruin enjoyment of the book. It's a shame that schools require book reports of the classics, thus ruining the classics forever. I only enjoy reading the ones that were never assigned in school. The ones that were assigned, were ruined for me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Book reviews do not discourage children from reading except in your own world especially in the 2nd and 3rd grade. Book reviews help children with comprehension on a regular basis so they don't have comprehension problems later and end up hating school.

I've heard many, many children say that they do not want to read books if they have to do book reviews for those books. I will tell them that you said that they're wrong about their own feelings.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Book reviews do not discourage children from reading except in your own world especially in the 2nd and 3rd grade. Book reviews help children with comprehension on a regular basis so they don't have comprehension problems later and end up hating school.

I've heard many, many children say that they do not want to read books if they have to do book reviews for those books. I will tell them that you said that they're wrong about their own feelings.

That may be the case, but it doesn't mean they won't read a second book just because a book review was required for the first book. Book reviews do not discourage reading overall. They just think a book review is work which it is. School is work.

Yes, everything used to be better, even the future.

-Karl Valentin