[LM_NET] Motivating kids to read at their level

[Carol Van Brocklin <carolannvan@MOTIMAIL.COM>]

Good morning all:
         OK--I searched the archives for something on this 
and didn't see anything so I will throw the question out 
there.
         Yesterday I had a 3rd grade class in here who 
once again frustrated me. They are at that age where they 
think that they can just read "anything" and get mad when 
I tell them that Redwall and Tolkien are probably above 
their level. "But I can read it" they tell me and proceed 
to read the first paragraph. When I then ask them to 
explain what they have just read they of course have no 
idea but won't give up. As a result, they then go to the 
picture book section and check out the same books they 
have checked out for the last 2 years.
         I have tried booktalks...I have followed them 
around in the shelves pulling books that are on topics 
that they would like only to have them rejected...I have 
read them the first books in series during story time to 
try to get them interested...I even read them a medical 
textbook one week and informed them that even though I 
knew all the words, I didn't understand it and thus didn't 
enjoy it. I have talked with their teacher who tells me 
that they do like to read, just don't want to read stuff 
that is recommended to them so I am turning to you see 
what others do.
       Part of the problem with this class is that many of 
them are the "babies" of the family and they want to read 
the same books that their Jr. High brothers and sisters 
read but I keep trying to tell them to save those for when 
they can truly enjoy them (as in Jr. High) and read 
something else now that they will outgrow later on.
       Please don't tell me to let them just read them 
anyway. The parents are trying to get me to avoid that 
type of thing and personally, I want them to read stuff 
that they will enjoy, not just read a thick book simply 
because they can sound out the words and impress their 
friends with how hard of a book they can read.
       If anyone has a tried and true idea out there that 
they can share, I would love to hear it by next week when 
I have this class again.

Thanks to all!

Carol Van Brocklin
Librarian
Faith Academy-Mindanao
Davao City, Philippines
carolannvan@motimail.com

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