| Topic: |
Sociology > Education |
| User: |
"Wide Eyed in Wonder" |
| Date: |
03 Feb 2008 08:24:02 AM |
| Object: |
Boys Not Readers or Lack of Materials |
There is a running myth that boys are less interested in reading than
girls. However, who are sports magazines, business magazines,
financial newspapers, and other such publications written for...men.
Men are great readers. I think the problem lies with the CONTENT
provided to them for book reports and such early in their life. When
I was young, I read comic books like they were gum wrappers and had a
HUGE collection of them. I did read a few book series' like
Encyclopedia Brown, Hardy Boys, and such. However, there wasn't much
written that would interest a boy. This is even more the case,
today. I think the problem lies less in the interest of the boy
student than in the book publishers' interest in boys.
Kenneth Clifton
christiansuperhero.com
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| User: "MJMC" |
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| Title: Re: Boys Not Readers or Lack of Materials |
03 Feb 2008 04:21:23 PM |
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"Wide Eyed in Wonder" <writingken@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c785d520-14f2-4363-89d1-c8f5ebce48c9@f47g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...
There is a running myth that boys are less interested in reading than
girls. However, who are sports magazines, business magazines,
financial newspapers, and other such publications written for...men.
Men are great readers. I think the problem lies with the CONTENT
provided to them for book reports and such early in their life. When
I was young, I read comic books like they were gum wrappers and had a
HUGE collection of them. I did read a few book series' like
Encyclopedia Brown, Hardy Boys, and such. However, there wasn't much
written that would interest a boy. This is even more the case,
today. I think the problem lies less in the interest of the boy
student than in the book publishers' interest in boys.
Kenneth Clifton
christiansuperhero.com
I disagree. My 7th grade students read self-selected books in class every
week, and I see a HUGE range of books that appeal to boys. There are sports
books by Mike Lupica and Walter Dean Myers. There are fantasy books: City
of Ember (and two more in that series), Eragon/ Eldest, Golden Compass (and
its series), the Artemis Fowl books, and the Percy Jackson books, to name a
few. There are nonfiction books about cars, motorcycles, warfare, and sports
figures. There are social issue books by Christopher Paul Curtis, Chris
Crutcher, and Carl Hiaasen. There's SE Hinton, Robert Cormier, and JK
Rowling.
I definitely don't see a lack of publishers' interest in boys' topics.
Melissa
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| User: "stevericks" |
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| Title: Re: Boys Not Readers or Lack of Materials |
03 Feb 2008 06:27:46 PM |
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Exactly! I do think that the majority of experts in reading (and I work in
a building filled with them) would readily agree with you. Girls like one
type of topic, guys another. It is like"Dancing With Wolves" (chick flick)
and "The Three Stooges "(guy comedy). Most guys would rather jump off a
cliff than watch a chick flick where women typically hate The Three
Stooges -a top comedy for guys. The same goes with reading.
Steve
"Wide Eyed in Wonder" <writingken@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c785d520-14f2-4363-89d1-c8f5ebce48c9@f47g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...
There is a running myth that boys are less interested in reading than
girls. However, who are sports magazines, business magazines,
financial newspapers, and other such publications written for...men.
Men are great readers. I think the problem lies with the CONTENT
provided to them for book reports and such early in their life. When
I was young, I read comic books like they were gum wrappers and had a
HUGE collection of them. I did read a few book series' like
Encyclopedia Brown, Hardy Boys, and such. However, there wasn't much
written that would interest a boy. This is even more the case,
today. I think the problem lies less in the interest of the boy
student than in the book publishers' interest in boys.
Kenneth Clifton
christiansuperhero.com
.
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| User: "toto" |
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| Title: Re: Boys Not Readers or Lack of Materials |
04 Feb 2008 09:20:05 AM |
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On Sun, 3 Feb 2008 18:27:46 -0600, "stevericks"
<stevericks@bellsouth.net> wrote:
Exactly! I do think that the majority of experts in reading (and I work in
a building filled with them) would readily agree with you. Girls like one
type of topic, guys another. It is like"Dancing With Wolves" (chick flick)
and "The Three Stooges "(guy comedy). Most guys would rather jump off a
cliff than watch a chick flick where women typically hate The Three
Stooges -a top comedy for guys. The same goes with reading.
Steve
However, there is no lack of books for boys. The classics are still
available. Check out http://guysread.com/
--
Dorothy
There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..
The Outer Limits
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| User: "Bob LeChevalier" |
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| Title: Re: Boys Not Readers or Lack of Materials |
03 Feb 2008 10:14:35 AM |
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Wide Eyed in Wonder <writingken@yahoo.com> wrote:
There is a running myth that boys are less interested in reading than
girls. However, who are sports magazines, business magazines,
financial newspapers, and other such publications written for...men.
Men are great readers. I think the problem lies with the CONTENT
provided to them for book reports and such early in their life. When
I was young, I read comic books like they were gum wrappers and had a
HUGE collection of them.
And your reading skill hasn't improved since.
I did read a few book series' like
Encyclopedia Brown, Hardy Boys, and such. However, there wasn't much
written that would interest a boy. This is even more the case,
today.
Baloney. Having actually raised a son, and also being an avid reader,
I know that there are plenty of books out there for boys (I read not a
few of them myself). But books don't compete very well against TV and
sports and video games for boys. (As I know all too well).
My son did a brief foray into Goosebumps and Animorphs series, and he
loved reading Harry Potter even when they became tome-sized. My wife
and I read several other books to him that he found interesting enough
to read on his own, but usually didn't have the vocabulary to really
understand. But by his teens, when it became really important to
read, he completely stopped. That is what seems to be typical -
getting boys to read isn't that hard up until early puberty starts to
set in, but afterwards they often completely stop reading, and their
reading skill plateaus at the 6th grade level, or even falls back
(like yours).
I think the problem lies less in the interest of the boy
student than in the book publishers' interest in boys.
Book publishers publish what will sell. There are more than enough
books out there than boys are likely to read even if they wanted to.
You mentioned Hardy Boys. There are over 400 in the various Hardy
Boys series, and all of them were written specifically for boys
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hardy_Boys
There are 54 Animorphs books. R L Stine wrote something over 60
Goosebumps books, and dozens of others.
There are still comic books, but the best ones are done by the
Japanese these days. A parent has to be careful, because the Japanese
publish adult comic books, and the sometimes it isn't obvious what the
audience will be. But Japanese comics and anime often keeps kids
interested even in their teens and adulthood, possibly because they
aren't so carefully censored. (That is probably one reason why boys
stop reading at puberty. In real life they are exposed to adult
ideas, and are interested in them, but parents and publishers of kids
books carefully censor out precisely the things they find most
interesting. Evidence for this is found in the sorts of videogames
and movies they play and watch when they escape from parental
supervision, which increasingly happens as they get older.)
lojbab
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| User: "Wide Eyed in Wonder" |
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| Title: Re: Boys Not Readers or Lack of Materials |
03 Feb 2008 12:10:39 PM |
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On Feb 3, 10:14 am, Bob LeChevalier <loj...@lojban.org> wrote:
Wide Eyed in Wonder <writing...@yahoo.com> wrote:
There is a running myth that boys are less interested in reading than
girls. However, who are sports magazines, business magazines,
financial newspapers, and other such publications written for...men.
Men are great readers. I think the problem lies with the CONTENT
provided to them for book reports and such early in their life. When
I was young, I read comic books like they were gum wrappers and had a
HUGE collection of them.
And your reading skill hasn't improved since.
I did read a few book series' like
Encyclopedia Brown, Hardy Boys, and such. However, there wasn't much
written that would interest a boy. This is even more the case,
today.
Baloney. Having actually raised a son, and also being an avid reader,
I know that there are plenty of books out there for boys (I read not a
few of them myself). But books don't compete very well against TV and
sports and video games for boys. (As I know all too well).
My son did a brief foray into Goosebumps and Animorphs series, and he
loved reading Harry Potter even when they became tome-sized. My wife
and I read several other books to him that he found interesting enough
to read on his own, but usually didn't have the vocabulary to really
understand. But by his teens, when it became really important to
read, he completely stopped. That is what seems to be typical -
getting boys to read isn't that hard up until early puberty starts to
set in, but afterwards they often completely stop reading, and their
reading skill plateaus at the 6th grade level, or even falls back
(like yours).
I think the problem lies less in the interest of the boy
student than in the book publishers' interest in boys.
Book publishers publish what will sell. There are more than enough
books out there than boys are likely to read even if they wanted to.
You mentioned Hardy Boys. There are over 400 in the various Hardy
Boys series, and all of them were written specifically for boyshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hardy_Boys
lojbab
Your point would be, what. You reject the boys-read-less stereotype
(since you read). You accept the stereotype, since your son lost
interest (even though you are a man and read)? You, as a reader, are
the exception to the rule?
Do you think young reader books are equally balanced for both
genders? What, exactly, is your objection to my post? First, it
seems like you are saying that young kids ARE interested in reading
and books are out there for that. Then, it seems you are saying
publishers only sell books that sell, as an excuse for not having more
boy books out there. Which is it?
I'm really at a loss with exactly what you find objectionable about
saying there should be more boy-interest books out there to encourage
reading.
Kenneth Clifton
christiansuperhero.com
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Boys Not Readers or Lack of Materials |
03 Feb 2008 01:09:54 PM |
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A good idea was made about using a book as a reward. We do this in
suzuki violin lessons. Say, "if you can do 15 pinky lifts, then we
will do the bow song!" Reward music with music... reward book reading
with another book. Brilliant.
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| User: "Bob LeChevalier" |
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| Title: Re: Boys Not Readers or Lack of Materials |
03 Feb 2008 04:21:48 PM |
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Wide Eyed in Wonder <writingken@yahoo.com> wrote:
I think the problem lies less in the interest of the boy
student than in the book publishers' interest in boys.
Book publishers publish what will sell. There are more than enough
books out there than boys are likely to read even if they wanted to.
You mentioned Hardy Boys. There are over 400 in the various Hardy
Boys series, and all of them were written specifically for boyshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hardy_Boys
Your point would be, what.
Who said I had a point? I responded. If someone sees a point, then
all the better.
You reject the boys-read-less stereotype since you read).
No, I don't reject it.
But I don't blame the publishers.
You accept the stereotype, since your son lost
interest (even though you are a man and read)? You, as a reader, are
the exception to the rule?
I'm quite exceptional ^%)
Do you think young reader books are equally balanced for both
genders? What, exactly, is your objection to my post?
You are objectionable.
You think you can duck out of a thread, immediately start a new one,
and have no one comment, dodo?
But your post wasn't objectionable. It just lacked any sort of
insight. Your explanation for the phenomenon lacked any sort of
credibility. "Setting an example" makes sense, but it didn't work in
my kids' case.
First, it seems like you are saying that young kids ARE interested in reading
and books are out there for that.
Books are out there, whether they are interested in reading or not.
Then, it seems you are saying publishers only sell books that sell
That is their goal.
If there were any shortage, in books on a topic, that would be why.
as an excuse for not having more boy books out there.
Why do they need an excuse? As I said, there are a lot of boy books
out there.
Which is it?
Why must I choose?
I'm really at a loss with exactly what you find objectionable about
saying there should be more boy-interest books out there to encourage
reading.
There is no shortage of boy-interest books, and having more of them
would not encourage reading. 2 objections for the price of one.
lojbab
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| User: "Rowley" |
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| Title: Re: Boys Not Readers or Lack of Materials |
03 Feb 2008 09:07:50 AM |
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Wide Eyed in Wonder wrote:
There is a running myth that boys are less interested in reading than
girls.
Do you have a link to any of these myths? Would like to read a few
before really commenting on them.
However, who are sports magazines, business magazines,
financial newspapers, and other such publications written for...men.
Men are not boys - but you are somewhat right. In my classes, a lot of
students (boys included) did not like to "read" - at least not for the
class. Many of those "non-readers" however would read for their own
interests. The boys tended to read sports related publications and the
girls ones dealing more with fashion and relationships.
But magazines are not all that were being read by these "non-readers", I
saw many with actual books - most being the "Harry Potter" / "Lord of
the Rings" / "Eragon" variety - but also some with books by Tom Clancy
or Steven King.
Men are great readers. I think the problem lies with the CONTENT
provided to them for book reports and such early in their life.
I do too, but the problem I see is how to get them to "like" the content
that we are task with teaching them, or get the Powers-that-Be to accept
the content that the kids are interested in. I just don't see a lot of
people wanting the history of Harry Potter taught in public schools.
When
I was young, I read comic books like they were gum wrappers and had a
HUGE collection of them.
Hmm, nowadays they are "graphic novels" & "manga" and yeah, a lot of
kids read these - some even write their own. keep in mind though, some
of these sort of books contain pretty intense "adult" material - just
because it might sort of look like a comic book from your past - the
stories might not be.
I did read a few book series' like
Encyclopedia Brown, Hardy Boys, and such.
There are series similar to that nowadays too - mostly aimed at girls
though.
However, there wasn't much
written that would interest a boy. This is even more the case,
today. I think the problem lies less in the interest of the boy
student than in the book publishers' interest in boys.
Personally, I think the main root of the problem is the massive choice
of media that kids have available to them today. I read a lot as a kid,
but then there really wasn't many other alternatives back then. We
didn't have the internet, game consoles, cable tv, dvds, I-Pods/mp3s, or
computer games. If I was a kid today, I doubt I would be reading as much
as I did as a kids.
But saying that, parents can have some influence. One of the guys I work
with mentioned the other day that he couldn't wit till summer to get his
cable back - "why are you waiting?" I asked. Turns out his wife and he
has all those sort of things turned off during the school year so as not
to be a distraction for his kids. The kids can't play any video /
computer games during the school week either. They do have Ipods, but
can only keep them if they keep their grades up. He said he and his wife
been doing this from the start and so far it has worked great - his kids
are doing great in school and making great grades.
Martin
Kenneth Clifton
christiansuperhero.com
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| User: "Wide Eyed in Wonder" |
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| Title: Re: Boys Not Readers or Lack of Materials |
03 Feb 2008 11:28:00 AM |
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On Feb 3, 9:07 am, Rowley <industry3dREM...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Wide Eyed in Wonder wrote:
There is a running myth that boys are less interested in reading than
girls.
Do you have a link to any of these myths? Would like to read a few
before really commenting on them.
However, who are sports magazines, business magazines,
financial newspapers, and other such publications written for...men.
Men are not boys - but you are somewhat right. In my classes, a lot of
students (boys included) did not like to "read" - at least not for the
class. Many of those "non-readers" however would read for their own
interests. The boys tended to read sports related publications and the
girls ones dealing more with fashion and relationships.
But magazines are not all that were being read by these "non-readers", I
saw many with actual books - most being the "Harry Potter" / "Lord of
the Rings" / "Eragon" variety - but also some with books by Tom Clancy
or Steven King.
Men are great readers. I think the problem lies with the CONTENT
provided to them for book reports and such early in their life.
I do too, but the problem I see is how to get them to "like" the content
that we are task with teaching them, or get the Powers-that-Be to accept
the content that the kids are interested in. I just don't see a lot of
people wanting the history of Harry Potter taught in public schools.
When
I was young, I read comic books like they were gum wrappers and had a
HUGE collection of them.
Hmm, nowadays they are "graphic novels" & "manga" and yeah, a lot of
kids read these - some even write their own. keep in mind though, some
of these sort of books contain pretty intense "adult" material - just
because it might sort of look like a comic book from your past - the
stories might not be.
I did read a few book series' like
Encyclopedia Brown, Hardy Boys, and such.
There are series similar to that nowadays too - mostly aimed at girls
though.
However, there wasn't much
written that would interest a boy. This is even more the case,
today. I think the problem lies less in the interest of the boy
student than in the book publishers' interest in boys.
Personally, I think the main root of the problem is the massive choice
of media that kids have available to them today. I read a lot as a kid,
but then there really wasn't many other alternatives back then. We
didn't have the internet, game consoles, cable tv, dvds, I-Pods/mp3s, or
computer games. If I was a kid today, I doubt I would be reading as much
as I did as a kids.
But saying that, parents can have some influence. One of the guys I work
with mentioned the other day that he couldn't wit till summer to get his
cable back - "why are you waiting?" I asked. Turns out his wife and he
has all those sort of things turned off during the school year so as not
to be a distraction for his kids. The kids can't play any video /
computer games during the school week either. They do have Ipods, but
can only keep them if they keep their grades up. He said he and his wife
been doing this from the start and so far it has worked great - his kids
are doing great in school and making great grades.
Martin
Another option to parents is to make new books a reward for kids to
reach. That puts it in the kids mind that books are a good thing to
use.
Kenneth Clifton
christiansuperhero.com
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| User: "Rowley" |
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| Title: Re: Boys Not Readers or Lack of Materials |
03 Feb 2008 11:36:21 AM |
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Wide Eyed in Wonder wrote:
On Feb 3, 9:07 am, Rowley <industry3dREM...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Wide Eyed in Wonder wrote:
There is a running myth that boys are less interested in reading than
girls.
Do you have a link to any of these myths? Would like to read a few
before really commenting on them.
However, who are sports magazines, business magazines,
financial newspapers, and other such publications written for...men.
Men are not boys - but you are somewhat right. In my classes, a lot of
students (boys included) did not like to "read" - at least not for the
class. Many of those "non-readers" however would read for their own
interests. The boys tended to read sports related publications and the
girls ones dealing more with fashion and relationships.
But magazines are not all that were being read by these "non-readers", I
saw many with actual books - most being the "Harry Potter" / "Lord of
the Rings" / "Eragon" variety - but also some with books by Tom Clancy
or Steven King.
Men are great readers. I think the problem lies with the CONTENT
provided to them for book reports and such early in their life.
I do too, but the problem I see is how to get them to "like" the content
that we are task with teaching them, or get the Powers-that-Be to accept
the content that the kids are interested in. I just don't see a lot of
people wanting the history of Harry Potter taught in public schools.
When
I was young, I read comic books like they were gum wrappers and had a
HUGE collection of them.
Hmm, nowadays they are "graphic novels" & "manga" and yeah, a lot of
kids read these - some even write their own. keep in mind though, some
of these sort of books contain pretty intense "adult" material - just
because it might sort of look like a comic book from your past - the
stories might not be.
I did read a few book series' like
Encyclopedia Brown, Hardy Boys, and such.
There are series similar to that nowadays too - mostly aimed at girls
though.
However, there wasn't much
written that would interest a boy. This is even more the case,
today. I think the problem lies less in the interest of the boy
student than in the book publishers' interest in boys.
Personally, I think the main root of the problem is the massive choice
of media that kids have available to them today. I read a lot as a kid,
but then there really wasn't many other alternatives back then. We
didn't have the internet, game consoles, cable tv, dvds, I-Pods/mp3s, or
computer games. If I was a kid today, I doubt I would be reading as much
as I did as a kids.
But saying that, parents can have some influence. One of the guys I work
with mentioned the other day that he couldn't wit till summer to get his
cable back - "why are you waiting?" I asked. Turns out his wife and he
has all those sort of things turned off during the school year so as not
to be a distraction for his kids. The kids can't play any video /
computer games during the school week either. They do have Ipods, but
can only keep them if they keep their grades up. He said he and his wife
been doing this from the start and so far it has worked great - his kids
are doing great in school and making great grades.
Martin
Another option to parents is to make new books a reward for kids to
reach. That puts it in the kids mind that books are a good thing to
use.
That might work for some kids - for awhile. A better tack (IMO) would be
for the parents to set an example and themselves read. I think that if
kids see their parents 'valuing' something themselves - that some of
that might rub off on the kids. then again, I'm a voracious reader and
have been as far back as I can remember - yet I don't recall seeing
either of my parents reading a book. But, then again, books were all
over the house - someone must have read at some time.
Martin
Kenneth Clifton
christiansuperhero.com
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| User: "teachrmama" |
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| Title: Re: Boys Not Readers or Lack of Materials |
03 Feb 2008 11:55:07 AM |
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"Rowley" <industry3dREMOVE@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:sYmpj.10132$EZ3.1904@nlpi070.nbdc.sbc.com...
Wide Eyed in Wonder wrote:
On Feb 3, 9:07 am, Rowley <industry3dREM...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Wide Eyed in Wonder wrote:
There is a running myth that boys are less interested in reading than
girls.
Do you have a link to any of these myths? Would like to read a few
before really commenting on them.
However, who are sports magazines, business magazines,
financial newspapers, and other such publications written for...men.
Men are not boys - but you are somewhat right. In my classes, a lot of
students (boys included) did not like to "read" - at least not for the
class. Many of those "non-readers" however would read for their own
interests. The boys tended to read sports related publications and the
girls ones dealing more with fashion and relationships.
But magazines are not all that were being read by these "non-readers", I
saw many with actual books - most being the "Harry Potter" / "Lord of
the Rings" / "Eragon" variety - but also some with books by Tom Clancy
or Steven King.
Men are great readers. I think the problem lies with the CONTENT
provided to them for book reports and such early in their life.
I do too, but the problem I see is how to get them to "like" the content
that we are task with teaching them, or get the Powers-that-Be to accept
the content that the kids are interested in. I just don't see a lot of
people wanting the history of Harry Potter taught in public schools.
When
I was young, I read comic books like they were gum wrappers and had a
HUGE collection of them.
Hmm, nowadays they are "graphic novels" & "manga" and yeah, a lot of
kids read these - some even write their own. keep in mind though, some
of these sort of books contain pretty intense "adult" material - just
because it might sort of look like a comic book from your past - the
stories might not be.
I did read a few book series' like
Encyclopedia Brown, Hardy Boys, and such.
There are series similar to that nowadays too - mostly aimed at girls
though.
However, there wasn't much
written that would interest a boy. This is even more the case,
today. I think the problem lies less in the interest of the boy
student than in the book publishers' interest in boys.
Personally, I think the main root of the problem is the massive choice
of media that kids have available to them today. I read a lot as a kid,
but then there really wasn't many other alternatives back then. We
didn't have the internet, game consoles, cable tv, dvds, I-Pods/mp3s, or
computer games. If I was a kid today, I doubt I would be reading as much
as I did as a kids.
But saying that, parents can have some influence. One of the guys I work
with mentioned the other day that he couldn't wit till summer to get his
cable back - "why are you waiting?" I asked. Turns out his wife and he
has all those sort of things turned off during the school year so as not
to be a distraction for his kids. The kids can't play any video /
computer games during the school week either. They do have Ipods, but
can only keep them if they keep their grades up. He said he and his wife
been doing this from the start and so far it has worked great - his kids
are doing great in school and making great grades.
Martin
Another option to parents is to make new books a reward for kids to
reach. That puts it in the kids mind that books are a good thing to
use.
That might work for some kids - for awhile. A better tack (IMO) would be
for the parents to set an example and themselves read. I think that if
kids see their parents 'valuing' something themselves - that some of that
might rub off on the kids. then again, I'm a voracious reader and have
been as far back as I can remember - yet I don't recall seeing either of
my parents reading a book. But, then again, books were all over the
house - someone must have read at some time.
My parents read all the time. Our TV was rarely on. I think that all of my
sibs are great readers, too. I know I am, as is my husband and my children.
I agree with you that setting the example is very important.
.
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| User: "SumBuny" |
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| Title: Re: Boys Not Readers or Lack of Materials |
04 Feb 2008 11:46:15 AM |
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"Rowley" <industry3dREMOVE@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:sYmpj.10132$EZ3.1904@nlpi070.nbdc.sbc.com...
Wide Eyed in Wonder wrote:
Another option to parents is to make new books a reward for kids to
reach. That puts it in the kids mind that books are a good thing to
use.
That might work for some kids - for awhile. A better tack (IMO) would be
for the parents to set an example and themselves read. I think that if
kids see their parents 'valuing' something themselves - that some of that
might rub off on the kids. then again, I'm a voracious reader and have
been as far back as I can remember - yet I don't recall seeing either of
my parents reading a book. But, then again, books were all over the
house - someone must have read at some time.
Martin
Modeling works---to a degree--I am a voracious reader myself, my kids have
always seen me with a book. I keep one with me all the time (if I get stuck
waiting at the doc's office, end up somewhere early and have to wait, if the
television program the family is watching is boring, if the commercials are
boring, etc). However, my kids do not read all that much. My husband does
not read for pleasure either. His family did not see the sense of it
either--they saw it as a "waste of time." Trying to show my kids that there
can be pleasure in books as well as movies (which can be as much of a "waste
of time" as books are, depending on one's point of view--I find it ironic in
a family that could go to a movie but would find reading wasteful <sigh>)...
I agree with some of the other posters that finding the right material is
key...
--
Buny
--Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be
normal." ~ Albert Camus
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| User: "Wide Eyed in Wonder" |
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| Title: Re: Boys Not Readers or Lack of Materials |
03 Feb 2008 11:59:34 AM |
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On Feb 3, 11:36 am, Rowley <industry3dREM...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Wide Eyed in Wonder wrote:
On Feb 3, 9:07 am, Rowley <industry3dREM...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Wide Eyed in Wonder wrote:
There is a running myth that boys are less interested in reading than
girls.
Do you have a link to any of these myths? Would like to read a few
before really commenting on them.
However, who are sports magazines, business magazines,
financial newspapers, and other such publications written for...men.
Men are not boys - but you are somewhat right. In my classes, a lot of
students (boys included) did not like to "read" - at least not for the
class. Many of those "non-readers" however would read for their own
interests. The boys tended to read sports related publications and the
girls ones dealing more with fashion and relationships.
But magazines are not all that were being read by these "non-readers", I
saw many with actual books - most being the "Harry Potter" / "Lord of
the Rings" / "Eragon" variety - but also some with books by Tom Clancy
or Steven King.
Men are great readers. I think the problem lies with the CONTENT
provided to them for book reports and such early in their life.
I do too, but the problem I see is how to get them to "like" the content
that we are task with teaching them, or get the Powers-that-Be to accept
the content that the kids are interested in. I just don't see a lot of
people wanting the history of Harry Potter taught in public schools.
When
I was young, I read comic books like they were gum wrappers and had a
HUGE collection of them.
Hmm, nowadays they are "graphic novels" & "manga" and yeah, a lot of
kids read these - some even write their own. keep in mind though, some
of these sort of books contain pretty intense "adult" material - just
because it might sort of look like a comic book from your past - the
stories might not be.
I did read a few book series' like
Encyclopedia Brown, Hardy Boys, and such.
There are series similar to that nowadays too - mostly aimed at girls
though.
However, there wasn't much
written that would interest a boy. This is even more the case,
today. I think the problem lies less in the interest of the boy
student than in the book publishers' interest in boys.
Personally, I think the main root of the problem is the massive choice
of media that kids have available to them today. I read a lot as a kid,
but then there really wasn't many other alternatives back then. We
didn't have the internet, game consoles, cable tv, dvds, I-Pods/mp3s, or
computer games. If I was a kid today, I doubt I would be reading as much
as I did as a kids.
But saying that, parents can have some influence. One of the guys I work
with mentioned the other day that he couldn't wit till summer to get his
cable back - "why are you waiting?" I asked. Turns out his wife and he
has all those sort of things turned off during the school year so as not
to be a distraction for his kids. The kids can't play any video /
computer games during the school week either. They do have Ipods, but
can only keep them if they keep their grades up. He said he and his wife
been doing this from the start and so far it has worked great - his kids
are doing great in school and making great grades.
Martin
Another option to parents is to make new books a reward for kids to
reach. That puts it in the kids mind that books are a good thing to
use.
That might work for some kids - for awhile. A better tack (IMO) would be
for the parents to set an example and themselves read. I think that if
kids see their parents 'valuing' something themselves - that some of
that might rub off on the kids. then again, I'm a voracious reader and
have been as far back as I can remember - yet I don't recall seeing
either of my parents reading a book. But, then again, books were all
over the house - someone must have read at some time.
Martin
My mother read a lot, but my father, likewise, didn't read, much. I'm
not sure this applies, though, since I stopped reading as much about
the same time I rejected my abusive, alcoholic father (we reconciled
in life, after he hit rock bottom and sought forgiveness). That being
said, there is probably a lot of truth to your model-example
suggestion.
Kenneth Clifton
christiansuperhero.com
.
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| User: "Rowley" |
|
| Title: Re: Boys Not Readers or Lack of Materials |
03 Feb 2008 03:10:18 PM |
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Wide Eyed in Wonder wrote:
On Feb 3, 11:36 am, Rowley <industry3dREM...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Wide Eyed in Wonder wrote:
On Feb 3, 9:07 am, Rowley <industry3dREM...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Wide Eyed in Wonder wrote:
There is a running myth that boys are less interested in reading than
girls.
Do you have a link to any of these myths? Would like to read a few
before really commenting on them.
However, who are sports magazines, business magazines,
financial newspapers, and other such publications written for...men.
Men are not boys - but you are somewhat right. In my classes, a lot of
students (boys included) did not like to "read" - at least not for the
class. Many of those "non-readers" however would read for their own
interests. The boys tended to read sports related publications and the
girls ones dealing more with fashion and relationships.
But magazines are not all that were being read by these "non-readers", I
saw many with actual books - most being the "Harry Potter" / "Lord of
the Rings" / "Eragon" variety - but also some with books by Tom Clancy
or Steven King.
Men are great readers. I think the problem lies with the CONTENT
provided to them for book reports and such early in their life.
I do too, but the problem I see is how to get them to "like" the content
that we are task with teaching them, or get the Powers-that-Be to accept
the content that the kids are interested in. I just don't see a lot of
people wanting the history of Harry Potter taught in public schools.
When
I was young, I read comic books like they were gum wrappers and had a
HUGE collection of them.
Hmm, nowadays they are "graphic novels" & "manga" and yeah, a lot of
kids read these - some even write their own. keep in mind though, some
of these sort of books contain pretty intense "adult" material - just
because it might sort of look like a comic book from your past - the
stories might not be.
I did read a few book series' like
Encyclopedia Brown, Hardy Boys, and such.
There are series similar to that nowadays too - mostly aimed at girls
though.
However, there wasn't much
written that would interest a boy. This is even more the case,
today. I think the problem lies less in the interest of the boy
student than in the book publishers' interest in boys.
Personally, I think the main root of the problem is the massive choice
of media that kids have available to them today. I read a lot as a kid,
but then there really wasn't many other alternatives back then. We
didn't have the internet, game consoles, cable tv, dvds, I-Pods/mp3s, or
computer games. If I was a kid today, I doubt I would be reading as much
as I did as a kids.
But saying that, parents can have some influence. One of the guys I work
with mentioned the other day that he couldn't wit till summer to get his
cable back - "why are you waiting?" I asked. Turns out his wife and he
has all those sort of things turned off during the school year so as not
to be a distraction for his kids. The kids can't play any video /
computer games during the school week either. They do have Ipods, but
can only keep them if they keep their grades up. He said he and his wife
been doing this from the start and so far it has worked great - his kids
are doing great in school and making great grades.
Martin
Another option to parents is to make new books a reward for kids to
reach. That puts it in the kids mind that books are a good thing to
use.
That might work for some kids - for awhile. A better tack (IMO) would be
for the parents to set an example and themselves read. I think that if
kids see their parents 'valuing' something themselves - that some of
that might rub off on the kids. then again, I'm a voracious reader and
have been as far back as I can remember - yet I don't recall seeing
either of my parents reading a book. But, then again, books were all
over the house - someone must have read at some time.
Martin
My mother read a lot, but my father, likewise, didn't read, much. I'm
not sure this applies, though, since I stopped reading as much about
the same time I rejected my abusive, alcoholic father (we reconciled
in life, after he hit rock bottom and sought forgiveness). That being
said, there is probably a lot of truth to your model-example
suggestion.
I could see someone in that sort of situation going the other direction
too - escaping an unpleasant and retreating into a book. I know some of
my own early reading was sort of prompted because of doing that.
So is this still the case? Are you still not much of a reader? I was
going to ask what was the last book that you've read, but maybe that is
not a good question to ask.
Martin
Kenneth Clifton
christiansuperhero.com
.
|
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| User: "Wide Eyed in Wonder" |
|
| Title: Re: Boys Not Readers or Lack of Materials |
03 Feb 2008 09:46:00 PM |
|
|
On Feb 3, 3:10 pm, Rowley <industry3dREM...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Wide Eyed in Wonder wrote:
On Feb 3, 11:36 am, Rowley <industry3dREM...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Wide Eyed in Wonder wrote:
On Feb 3, 9:07 am, Rowley <industry3dREM...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Wide Eyed in Wonder wrote:
There is a running myth that boys are less interested in reading than
girls.
Do you have a link to any of these myths? Would like to read a few
before really commenting on them.
However, who are sports magazines, business magazines,
financial newspapers, and other such publications written for...men.
Men are not boys - but you are somewhat right. In my classes, a lot of
students (boys included) did not like to "read" - at least not for the
class. Many of those "non-readers" however would read for their own
interests. The boys tended to read sports related publications and the
girls ones dealing more with fashion and relationships.
But magazines are not all that were being read by these "non-readers", I
saw many with actual books - most being the "Harry Potter" / "Lord of
the Rings" / "Eragon" variety - but also some with books by Tom Clancy
or Steven King.
Men are great readers. I think the problem lies with the CONTENT
provided to them for book reports and such early in their life.
I do too, but the problem I see is how to get them to "like" the content
that we are task with teaching them, or get the Powers-that-Be to accept
the content that the kids are interested in. I just don't see a lot of
people wanting the history of Harry Potter taught in public schools.
When
I was young, I read comic books like they were gum wrappers and had a
HUGE collection of them.
Hmm, nowadays they are "graphic novels" & "manga" and yeah, a lot of
kids read these - some even write their own. keep in mind though, some
of these sort of books contain pretty intense "adult" material - just
because it might sort of look like a comic book from your past - the
stories might not be.
I did read a few book series' like
Encyclopedia Brown, Hardy Boys, and such.
There are series similar to that nowadays too - mostly aimed at girls
though.
However, there wasn't much
written that would interest a boy. This is even more the case,
today. I think the problem lies less in the interest of the boy
student than in the book publishers' interest in boys.
Personally, I think the main root of the problem is the massive choice
of media that kids have available to them today. I read a lot as a kid,
but then there really wasn't many other alternatives back then. We
didn't have the internet, game consoles, cable tv, dvds, I-Pods/mp3s, or
computer games. If I was a kid today, I doubt I would be reading as much
as I did as a kids.
But saying that, parents can have some influence. One of the guys I work
with mentioned the other day that he couldn't wit till summer to get his
cable back - "why are you waiting?" I asked. Turns out his wife and he
has all those sort of things turned off during the school year so as not
to be a distraction for his kids. The kids can't play any video /
computer games during the school week either. They do have Ipods, but
can only keep them if they keep their grades up. He said he and his wife
been doing this from the start and so far it has worked great - his kids
are doing great in school and making great grades.
Martin
Another option to parents is to make new books a reward for kids to
reach. That puts it in the kids mind that books are a good thing to
use.
That might work for some kids - for awhile. A better tack (IMO) would be
for the parents to set an example and themselves read. I think that if
kids see their parents 'valuing' something themselves - that some of
that might rub off on the kids. then again, I'm a voracious reader and
have been as far back as I can remember - yet I don't recall seeing
either of my parents reading a book. But, then again, books were all
over the house - someone must have read at some time.
Martin
My mother read a lot, but my father, likewise, didn't read, much. I'm
not sure this applies, though, since I stopped reading as much about
the same time I rejected my abusive, alcoholic father (we reconciled
in life, after he hit rock bottom and sought forgiveness). That being
said, there is probably a lot of truth to your model-example
suggestion.
I could see someone in that sort of situation going the other direction
too - escaping an unpleasant and retreating into a book. I know some of
my own early reading was sort of prompted because of doing that.
So is this still the case? Are you still not much of a reader? I was
going to ask what was the last book that you've read, but maybe that is
not a good question to ask.
No. I'm a reader, now, but it took a long time to redevelop. I read
a wide variety of things. Other than my textbooks, I read a lot of
other Education publications and books. Then, there is my young
reader books that I started (want to know my audience and their
interests). I've read a few Junie B Jones books, Catkid, Judy Moody,
Stink, and Ramona the Brave. Earlier books include a LOT of Dr Suess
(comes from having a new little one in the house...big gap in kid
ages), Fancy Nancy, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, etc. Every now and then
I read an adult fiction book, but I'm not a big fan of them...too long
and intense.
Kenneth Clifton
christiansuperhero.com
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