November 6, 2006

Kids read more when they choose their own books

All my grandkids live nearby and I buy them books to celebrate report cards, good deeds and birthdays. Last week, my daughter told me that it's a waste of money to get books for her two sons in the fourth and fifth grades. She says that as much as she regrets saying it, they "hate to read" and prefer to spend their free time on video games and ESPN on TV. I refuse to buy them video games and I think they watch way too much TV. My whole objective is to get them to read and to value books and I don't want to give up on that! I think there are classics every child should read. Any advice?

You're a generous grandmother. You don't have to give up. Just take a different tack. Here are some ideas to engage your grandsons in reading.

"Research shows that a child's motivation to read is influenced by four interrelated factors," says Linda Gambrell. professor of education at Clemson University. One, their experience with books: if they've struggled or view books as something they only use in school, they're more likely to "hate reading." Two, their access to books. Three, their social interactions about books -- do they see that books can bring pleasure or more knowledge about topics they're interested in? And last, the ability to choose the books they read.

"Letting them choose their reading is very important," says Carl Harvey, a library media specialist at North Elementary School, in Noblesville, Ind. an adviser to Library Media Connection. Put the classics on the back burner. Try instead to find out what interests them and let them choose what you'll buy. "Don't worry if it looks like 'junk' to you. Wouldn't you rather have them read a comic than not read at all?"

Harvey suggests making a field trip to buy books. "Take the boys with you, give them a dollar amount they can spend. Ask what they like about video games and ESPN. Perhaps there are books that might help them with strategy or maybe some of the plots from the games have been turned into books. Or you might find a comic or graphic novel about a sports star they admire. It won't be quality literature, but it might hook them on reading."

When you know their interests, you can continue to share reading ideas, says Harvey. "Let them know you found another book that has a character just like the one in a favorite video game, and ask if they'd like to try it. They might get interested in a series and you can buy volumes as they are published."

If trips to a store aren't possible, give them gift certificates they can redeem through online booksellers. Just make sure their Internet shopping is guided by an adult.

Gambrell's point about the power of social interactions in getting kids to read is causing educators to rethink that familiar school directive: "Read a book with your child 15 minutes a night". In today's multi-literacy environment, families use a range of media and have to stop thinking of "reading" as something that only happens when kids crack a book. Teachers need to tap all the media experiences to get kids to boost their reading and writing power, says Jennifer Roswell, Assistant Professor of Literacy Education, Rutgers Graduate School of Education, in her new book, "Family Literacy Experiences" (Stenhouse, 2006).

When we point out, for example, that the Star Wars stories started as scripts that were made into a series of movies that spawned books, illustrations, video and computer games, puzzles, comics, even costumes, children start to see that written language is a thread woven throughout their lives. Roswell suggests that we encourage families to use a range of media -- books, magazines, newspapers, blogs, movies, e-zines, TV, music lyrics, comics, texting, video and computer games and collectors cards -- to help turn kids into readers.

LIBRARIAN TIP

"Matching kids to books is a skill that can take years to build," says Michelle Bayuk of the Children's Book Council. "Make friends with your school library media specialist, local children's librarian or independent bookseller. Their vast knowledge can help a child who shows an interest in one book find the next one they might like. There are also lists of recommended children's books parents can use to guide selections. Children's Book Week, November 13 to 19, 2006 is a good time to check them out." Find thematic lists at cbcbooks.org/readinglists. Independent booksellers post seasonal lists at booksense.com. Find lists with links at ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/ and childrensbooks.about.com/od/toppicks/

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