I'm reading a book called The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child. The author, Donalyn Miller, is a sixth-grade teacher who also writes a blog for teachermagazine.org.The book is great and I would highly recommend it to any teacher, reading specialist, librarian, or parent interested in helping children discover the joy of reading without being overbearing. I am also enjoying some of the quotes scattered throughout the book. Here are a few:
"To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life. " -- W. Somerset Maugham
"Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing." -- Harper Lee "Reading is not a duty, and has consequently no business to be made disagreeable." -- Augustine Birrell
"No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance." -- Atwood H. Townsend
Miller also includes this little list written by Daniel Pennac. Do you disagree with any of these points?- The right not to read
- The right to skip pages.
- The right to not finish.
- The right to reread.
- The right to read anything.
- The right to escapism.
- The right to read anywhere.
- The right to browse.
- The right to read out loud.
- The right not to defend your tastes.
8 comments:
This book sounds great. I am going to see if the STL co public library has it. I need it for a couple "reluctant readers" at my house.
Do you have any good middler historical fiction suggestions? Nevin (6th grade)has been finding some in the teen section at the library, and we are not thrilled with that since we don't know how much inappropriate stuff are in them. If you have any thoughts, that would be great.
Just reserved the book from the County library. Thanks. :)
Jennifer,
Do you want historical fiction specific to the United States, or anywhere in the world? I'll bet he is reading above level, right?
The fifth grade boys at my school enjoy the My Name is America series, written by various authors. They seem to like these because they are written in first person, journal style, with historical photos and documents in the back of the books. To see a complete list of titles go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Name_is_America. They are probably 5th to 7trh grade RL.
I also would recommend The Land I Lost: Adventures of a Boy in Vietnam by Nhuong Huynh. I just read this book last year and it is a riveting, easy read.
Oh, and anything by Joseph Bruchac...his books usually have to do with Native Americans. I couldn't keep his books on the shelf last year.
I'll be sending you some more later, so check back. Maybe this will get that guy of yours started! :-)
Rhonda,
Nevin is reading above grade level, but he still enjoys reading books that are at or below his grade level if they are good.
He said he has read some My Name is America books and one of the Joseph Bruchac books. But I am glad to know about them so I can remind him about them and help him to reserve them at the library.
He's also interested in the Vietnam book.
In other types of fiction, he is not devouring all the Erin Hunter books.
My reluctant reading boy has agreed to read one Erin Hunter book. He is also reading a self-published book that his granddaddy wrote.
I picked up the audio of My Friend Flicka tonight at the library for Evangeline. She and I were reading it together, but she would get bogged down. So now she is going to try to read along some with the cds. We'll see.
Thanks for your recommendations.
Hmmm...not a fan of that list at all. Probably because of its rights-based construction. Not a big fan of that approach. Having said that, I think everyone ought to at least attempt to defend their literary tastes. If you love a thing, you ought to know why! Explaining why in a way that is adequate enough to entice others, can be difficult, but should at least be attempted. Hey...you asked.
By the way...I"m sure you'll be delighted to know I have deemed your blog worthy of my time, and have even added it to my favorites. Ooooohhh...
Any objections to putting a link from my blog to yours? Hmmm?
Lori,
Oh, I'm honored! Go ahead and link away. I need to link your's to mine also.
Lori, Exactly (on the construction of the rights of readers). I find most of the points valid but the "right" thing feels agressive/in-your-face. I have to say, we get so much of that type of language in the public school environment that I am a bit desensitized. But as far as the points go, I have a problem with these:
#5 - For several reasons, I would not say to my child or even a child at my school "you can read anything you want."
#7 - No, no, no! This is why I get soiled and soaked and sticky library books back.
#9 - Excuse me? All together now, librarians: Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Post a Comment