View Full Version : Reading....them vs us to them
ds has been reading to us in the evenings....I think he is doing great....alot of Dr. Suess books....he still likes stories read to him thought and I am wondering when its a good idea to start reading books that use your imagination to him...like Pippi longstocking....Treasure Island...those kinds of stories...he is six is that too young? just curious...
I didn't start those books until I was in 3rd grade and could read them myself. My dd gets more of a rush reading to me ande likes when I read short books to her. Im not sure if she would actively listen to chapter books without pictures yet. If you think he would do that, then Pippi books and such would be fun!
wow, Amy come to think of it, I think I was in the third grade also when we started the "Little house" books....He will sit for "The Iron Giant" but it has a few pictures....He too gets a big kick out of reading a whole story to us....he really surprised me when he could read the work "impressed" the other night with no help from us.....now thats impressive....guess I am just so excited by the reading skills and fun it is that I am a little quick to jump the gun into big books....LOL...thanks for your input...
My ds is five and I do both. First he reads to me, then I read to him. I choose books to challenge him as he is a strong reader, but then I let him kick back and I show him how fun it is to read. I tried to read Harry Potter a while back but he didn't have the attention span for it. He asked for it a couple of nights ago so I started it again. He asked me to stop after the parents died, and poor Harry had to go live with those awful people. It was too sad for him. I told him I'd get some other books to read. I think Pippi Longstocking is a great idea! I also got Charlottes Web, but that was a little slow moving for him. He likes Captain Underpants, but that's not so much fun for me to read.
Amy
I just wanted to add that even when they do get older and are into chapter books, always continue to model good reading to them. When ds was into chapter books I always read a section, then he'd read a section. We still do that now in middle school during the summer months.
TXmom
10-18-2001, 04:53 PM
His receptive language skills are much higher than his expressive, so reading those 3rd grade books would be great for him. See if your dh will read to him - my boys love it when their Dad reads to them.
really, I have noticed that with the "Iron Giant" book he is really into it...it has a few pencil drawn pictures but not many...he also does better listening to Daddy read.....I read the many adventures of" Winnie The Pooh" today after school...and it was a good attention getter for at least 1/2 hour with both kids....not a lot of pictures in the book I have...but they have some idea mentally what Pooh and Rabbit look like....thanks I will have dh try one of these books this weekend....
Diane
10-18-2001, 10:17 PM
Originally posted by kat
I just wanted to add that even when they do get older and are into chapter books, always continue to model good reading to them. When ds was into chapter books I always read a section, then he'd read a section. We still do that now in middle school during the summer months.
This is what we always did with our girls... pretty much took turns reading paragraphs. We did this for quite some time until they decided that they wanted to read themselves. All of my dd's are big readers... and that's probably because they were read to so much when they were young. I wish I had more time to read... :)
Diane... :wave:
I am reading the "Chronicles of Narnia" to my 4 and 5 yo. Its kinda scary the 4yo says but is still game. 5yo loves it. We burn through 20-30 pages a night.
Lynda/WA
10-19-2001, 12:56 AM
I agree with the others who say to do both. It's important for children to not only read but also to hear. When they listen they learn alot about adding expression and making the tone of your voice set the scene. It's also important that they see YOU reading.
I read ALOT. And I mean ALOT. The norm is a 400 page book a day. It really helps when the kids see you reading. DS is starting to follow in my footsteps. Last year (3rd) he read all of the Harry Potter books at school I tried reading the first to him when he was in 1st. He enjoyed it but not as much as many others. Now he loves them! His current BIG book is William Bennett's Book of Virtues. I think its 820+ pages. Not bad for a fourth grader! Of course he mixes in many smaller books.
I'd recommend Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIHM as a great book to read to a 6 yr old. DD (6 today!) has already heard all three in the series. What child doesn't like animals that talk?
Recently I tried reading Me and My Brain to the kids. I loved the series as a kid. While reading it I found that I needed to stop to often and explain archaic words and terms. We probably spent 5 minutes talking about what a water closet is! Especially for DD (then 5) it was really hard to stick with the story.
For DD I mix books. Frequently I read books with pictures. Even more frequently DS reads them to her. For along time I was reading a longer chapter book to both. That's sort of lagged lately.
A great series is The Magic Treehouse series. That's one that you can alternate reading. I think it's grade level 2. DS and the other top reader in his class both still enjoy reading the ewest in the series when it comes out and he started them as a 1st grader.
arianna
10-19-2001, 08:40 AM
Originally posted by Lynda/WA
I agree with the others who say to do both. It's important for children to not only read but also to hear. When they listen they learn alot about adding expression and making the tone of your voice set the scene. It's also important that they see YOU reading.
I read ALOT. And I mean ALOT. The norm is a 400 page book a day. It really helps when the kids see you reading. DS is starting to follow in my footsteps
I'd recommend Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIHM as a great book to read to a 6 yr old. DD (6 today!) has already heard all three in the series. What child doesn't like animals that talk?
A great series is The Magic Treehouse series. That's one that you can alternate reading. I think it's grade level 2. DS and the other top reader in his class both still enjoy reading the ewest in the series when it comes out and he started them as a 1st grader.
MM! I agree with Lynda. Hum, I have the habit of reading in bed at night. Now my sons do the same :-). My 6 is just beginning to read. We alternate words! He reads everyword he knows and I fill in the rest. It's really been building his confidence.
Love the guides to the Magic Tree House series too!
The Boxcar Children are favorites as well.
Almost anything by Judy Blume.
Surprisingly, a Greek Mythology book for kids had become a favorite this month as we are studying Ancient Greece. My 2 can roll the 12 Labors of Hercules off their tongues.
The boys love the Shakespeare for Kids series too. Just the other night they asked if they could watch a Midsummer Night's Dream !!!! I caught them role playing Pyramus and Thisby the next day! ROFL. Who knew Shakespeare was sooooo funny!
Renee, I'd start now reading chapter books to your DC now. If you're not sure what to read, next time you are in the public library, read a couple of pages to them out loud and see if you can hold their attention. Also, hit the second hand shops and yard sales in the area. Hit or miss books that only cost a quarter aren't as bad as when they are $7 a piece. ßß!
TXmom
10-19-2001, 08:57 AM
I loved the Boxcar Children when I was in grade school! Did anybody read Trixie Beldon? They're out of print now - I wish I could find some!
arianna
10-19-2001, 09:00 AM
Originally posted by TXmom
I loved the Boxcar Children when I was in grade school! Did anybody read Trixie Beldon? They're out of print now - I wish I could find some!
MM! I have a few from my childhood. I loved her too! ßß!
thanks for all your advice...we have a thirft shop a couple of towns over that has lots of books for 25 cents....
I have never heard of the boxcar kids? we did Pippi longstockings and the hardy boys....little house books..."Chronicles of Narnia" never heard of this or the Treehouse series...thanks for the suggestions....:p
Originally posted by RCT
.."Chronicles of Narnia" never heard of
They are by C.S. Lewis. First one is called "The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe"
JeannieOR
10-19-2001, 12:20 PM
This is so funny. I had to let the kids sleep in a bit this morning because we were up late reading Harry Potter. I borrowed the English version from a nieghbor and even with all the obscure english slang the kids are so in to it.
Mine are in 1st and 2nd grade. My first grader loves to read to me but my 2nd grade dd would much rather that I read. I try it get her to do 15 minutes a day and when pressed she will always choose to read a hard but interesting book over an easy one.
Diane
10-19-2001, 12:31 PM
Originally posted by RCT
thanks for all your advice...we have a thirft shop a couple of towns over that has lots of books for 25 cents....
I have never heard of the boxcar kids? we did Pippi longstockings and the hardy boys....little house books..."Chronicles of Narnia" never heard of this or the Treehouse series...thanks for the suggestions....:p
My kids use to read all of the "Boxcar Kids" books... also "The Babysitters Club" series. When I was younger I alway's read the Nancy Drew/Hardy Boy's books. We have a used book store by us and it always came in handy when they wanted/needed more books to read and also a good place to bring books your kids no longer need.
Diane... :wave:
TXmom
10-19-2001, 12:59 PM
Oh, the Little House books! Such memories!
arianna
Did you know the Trixie Beldon books weren't all written by the same person? I don't know if they still do this, but the publishing houses would hire writers to work on a series, and if they quit or got fired, then someone else would just take over the series.
I remember The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe series! Love them. Another good one is James and the Giant Peach.
thank you Jeff....we are planning a library trip this weekend....
Diane
10-19-2001, 09:47 PM
I was just remembering one time when my mom/dad came over to watch the girls for us. Dd #1 proceeded to take a story book off from her shelf and told grandma that she would read HER a story. Dd was only 3 years old at the time. What grandma didn't realize was that we had read this particular story to dd so many times that she basically knew all the words by heart. LOL When we came home she started going on and on about how BRILLIANT her grandaughter was. LOL I think she was a little disappointed when she found out that she wasn't actually READING the story... LOL Maybe I should have left her to believe that dd had really read her the story. :biglaugh: Each of our children had certain books that they always liked the best and no matter how many times you'd read it to them... they'd always ask for that same story again night after night. LOL I remember when I was little my all time favorite was The Pokey Puppy or Hats, Hats and more Hats. You can never have enough books to read...
Diane... :wave:
arianna
10-20-2001, 08:44 AM
arianna
Did you know the Trixie Beldon books weren't all written by the same person? I don't know if they still do this, but the publishing houses would hire writers to work on a series, and if they quit or got fired, then someone else would just take over the series. [/B]
MM!
Donna, I did not know this. I have heard of other series being written that way before. Very Interesting. ßß!
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