Keeping Boys Reading

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Nick
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Re: Keeping Boys Reading

Post by Nick » December 19th, 2009, 9:10 pm

Susan Quinn wrote:And I'm curious about the flaw in the AP system . . .
In a nutshell, they think if the work is up to your level of intellect, you'll be more inspired to do well in class. I'd rather take the average-level courses and get away with writing three pages of lazy analysis of a story that's not particularly interesting and be given words I learned years ago as vocab words than take the AP courses and be made to write ten page analyses of something I abhor, like Shakespeare. Really what it boils down to, more than anything, is the school system itself. There is positively nothing in school to make me want to do an ounce of work beyond the bare minimum of what the teacher wants. I just look to see what the minimum requirements are and shoot for that. And on top of that, some AP courses are exactly the same as the average-level courses, they just have a higher workload. I stopped after ninth grade because AP English and AP History were exactly the same as the normal courses, just with longer essays and more homework. Tried again last year and stopped after the first quarter because of the former reasoning. The administrative staff still like to call me down from time to time and talk about bumping me back up; they think I'm bored because I'm too smart for the class, when in truth I'm bored because the material is boring. Novel concept, that.

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Susan Quinn
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Re: Keeping Boys Reading

Post by Susan Quinn » December 19th, 2009, 10:00 pm

Trini: . . . the measure of cool in his world is in what people are reading
I heart this.
Trini: . . . kids are dropping off reading because its not being modelled by the adults in their lives
This is 1000% true. This is why my oldest reads the paper every day . . . because I do.
Nick: . . .when in truth I'm bored because the material is boring
Sounds like they don't have AP classes in the subjects that you like. Which, as you are on Nathan's blog, is writing, no? Finding what you love, and pursuing it with zeal - that was always the only way for me. I spent most of high school scribbling epic stories on scraps of paper and passing them to friends, doing the minimum. Still got A's, but didn't really find my passion (engineering, science) until college. It worked out in the end, but I worry that all the bright kids - you know, the ones we're depending on to solve the world's problems 10-20 years from now - are languishing in a school system that doesn't spark their passions. Ultimately, you have to find that for yourself. I'm still seeking it, lo these many years later.
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knight_tour
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Re: Keeping Boys Reading

Post by knight_tour » December 30th, 2009, 2:16 am

Personally, if boys are not reading enough, I think it is on the parents. My boys read voraciously, and I think it is because my wife and I read constantly, including reading to them. Even now that they are 9 and 11, and read a ton on their own, I still enjoy reading to them at bedtime.

My younger son, when he seemed a touch too young for Tolkien yet, absolutely loved Dennis McKiernan's Iron Tower trilogy and Silver Call duology.

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Susan Quinn
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Re: Keeping Boys Reading

Post by Susan Quinn » December 30th, 2009, 10:30 am

knight-tour: I think you are right about the parents, although the temperment of each child certainly weighs in. I have 3 boys, and they having varying levels of attraction to the written word. We parent them the same, or at least try to, and yet they stubbornly insist on being their own people! :) Seriously, parental influence is the #1 factor in why children read (or don't) - and part of that is finding great books to put in their hands and keep them interested.

Thanks for the rec's! I will add them to my list!
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kristi
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Re: Keeping Boys Reading

Post by kristi » December 30th, 2009, 1:10 pm

My 5-year old is very into The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe series right now which I read aloud to him. He also loves any books related to Star Wars so Santa just brought him a few!

trini
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Re: Keeping Boys Reading

Post by trini » December 30th, 2009, 9:34 pm

It is New Years Eve day here. Its a beautiful day. The sun is shining, nothing to do but hang with friends (or tidy the house for the company tonight). I just walked past my 16yr old boy's room to find him stretched out on his bed reading one of the Vampirates books. "What are your plans for today?" I asked him.

"I am reading my book."
"It was a dark and stormy nightmare..."

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Susan Quinn
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Re: Keeping Boys Reading

Post by Susan Quinn » December 30th, 2009, 11:36 pm

Awesome.
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Crystal
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Re: Keeping Boys Reading

Post by Crystal » December 30th, 2009, 11:43 pm

I haven't read all of this so IDK if it has already been mentioned but...

I have an 8 year old boy who HATES to read. It has been a homework requirement for the last few years and a constant struggle to get him to do it. However one day he discovered Diary of a Wimpy Kid and that problem no longer exists. He asked for the whole series for Christmas, which was granted, and I have since caught him reading past his bed time by the light of his electric blanket. lol.

I hope once he is trough them I can find something else he likes.
Working my very first attempt at a mystery novel. 1st draft

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Susan Quinn
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Re: Keeping Boys Reading

Post by Susan Quinn » December 31st, 2009, 8:17 am

Thanks so much for sharing your story! Please stop by the list on my blog of suggested readings to Keep Boys Reading, to find some ideas of other books he might like. The Wimpy Kids books are reading level 5.4, so your eight year old is definitely an advanced reader. And now that you have some idea what he likes, that should make things easier! Also: libraries (and teachers) often have lists, "If you like The Wimpy Kid, you'll love these books . . . " The best way to keep him reading is exactly what you're doing - putting books he loves in his hands!

Good Luck!
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Crystal
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Re: Keeping Boys Reading

Post by Crystal » January 1st, 2010, 12:09 pm

He is advanced for his age, he is in the gifted class this year and doing very well in Math but not so well in English and spelling. I have been exploring your blog and am very excited to finally have an idea of what to get him to try to read. My husband hates to read, unless it is something business related, so I totally understand that boys really do have to enjoy the book in order to want to pick it up. As an avid reader I will read almost anything so it is hard for me to comprehend someone not wanting to read. :) Thanks for your blog. I am sure it will come in handy for me.
Working my very first attempt at a mystery novel. 1st draft

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knight_tour
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Re: Keeping Boys Reading

Post by knight_tour » January 1st, 2010, 2:13 pm

Perhaps try the Percy Jackson books. My kids love the Wimpy Kid books, but the ones they keep re-reading over and over again are these Percy Jackson books. I haven't read them myself...

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Re: Keeping Boys Reading

Post by trini » January 1st, 2010, 2:22 pm

Yes I understand Percy Jackson to be quite the thing these days. My eldest is reading them. She is 18. My 10 year old loves Aussie author Andy Griffiths. The first one she read was The Day My Bum Went Psycho. He has many titles available though and is well worth checking out. He appeals across the genders. When my boy was 8 he was into Captain Underpants. Those books are light and funny and filled with boy humour.
Last edited by trini on January 1st, 2010, 3:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"It was a dark and stormy nightmare..."

WIP: Graphic Novel...sex, death and rock and roll.

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Crystal
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Re: Keeping Boys Reading

Post by Crystal » January 1st, 2010, 2:26 pm

My daughter loves the PJ books. I have read 1 and am reading 2 now. My son however just laughed and said no thanks. He just doesn't even what to try a lot of tomes. I think the size of the book puts him off. IDK.
Working my very first attempt at a mystery novel. 1st draft

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Susan Quinn
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Re: Keeping Boys Reading

Post by Susan Quinn » January 1st, 2010, 7:11 pm

I just finished reading The Lightning Thief (the first Percy Jackson book) and it IS funny - I can see the appeal. The movie is coming out soon . . . sometimes that will draw kids in.

It's amazing how the stick-figure drawings of Diary of a Wimpy Kid attracts kids - and getting them to crack the book open and at least TRY is half the battle. Maybe graphic novels would be a way to get him excited about reading - I blogged about Reluctant Readers and Graphic Novels a while ago.
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LaTerry
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Re: Keeping Boys Reading

Post by LaTerry » January 5th, 2010, 9:48 am

I recently made a blog post about this here http://laterrythewriter.blogspot.com/20 ... -read.html.

I'm a guy who has always loved to read. It was a rarity to see me at school without a book. I never really noticed if boys or girls read more in my school, but I am aware of the seeminlgy smaller supply of books aimed for boys or just everyone in general.

I read a book some time ago called Adventurers Wanted: Slathbog's Gold. If that isn't on your list it should be. The reason I bought it was because the cover had a dragon. If a cover has a dragon on it its almost an instant sell for me so long as I have the money.
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