[LM_NET] HIT: Books for a Child who is Held Back a Grade

[Neha Dhruv <nehadhruv1@GMAIL.COM>]

First of all, thank you very much to all who responded!

I had originally posted the following query:
____________________
I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend, and I had a question today at
the public library that stumped me.

A mom came in and asked for books for children about being held back a
grade. Her 8 year old daughter will be held back in the fall, repeating 2nd
grade, to work on her reading skills.

The mom is hoping for something at a 1st grade level (so the daughter can
read it herself), about being held back in school. Does anyone have any
suggestions, or ideas? Please email me off list - nehadhruv1@gmail.com.
Thanks!
_____________________________

I received some great ideas, and sent them to the mother. The responses are
below (I hope it is ok that I shared your ideas.).

How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills, about a dog who is taught to read
by a bird. The dog does not want to learn, but the bird reads a part of a
story, and then stops at an exciting point. The dog wants to hear more, so
keeps coming back, and eventually learns to read.

__
Helen Keller failed first grade because she hadn't learned to read braille
well enough.

My son's close friend in first grade failed, but later they moved him up to
be with his age group. He's a college graduate now.

While this isn't about school, this book might be good to use to encourage
her:
http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Friends-Train-Bright-Early/dp/0375856897/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281208442&sr=1-1
__
Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus -  When I was a first grade teacher, we
read that with the students, near the end of the year.  It allowed the
students to see how far they had come, but the hidden agenda some years,
when someone was being retained for another year, was to start putting out
that message - that we all grow and learn at different rates and times.
__
The Beast in Ms. Rooney's Room
, by Patricia Reilly Giff  - It isn't a first grading level, but it would be
a good choice for them both to read together.
__
S O S. Files by Betsy Byars, Betsy Duffey, & Laurie Myers
On page 70  is a short story called "Held Back" The writer was held back in
first grade, and the humiliation was compounded because his little sister
was now in first grade too and already a better reader! His teacher
discovers, early on, that he is dyslexic and works with him to develop
coping strategies and alternate strategies so that he can pass the next
year. At the end of the story we learn that it is the teacher of the class
who has written the story to share with his class and encourage them that,
"You can be anything if your work hard."
__
The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller may also be a book for the parent, it
has tips and ideas to “awaken the inner reader in every child.”
__
And my favorite response (even if it didn't technically have a book
suggestion =)  :
As an MS who just came OUT of the K-2 classroom after 18 years AND as a
parent of many, I can tell you the BEST thing she can do for this child: let
the CHILD pick out her own books along the INTERESTS she has. Tell her to
walk in with the child to the children's section of a library or bookstore,
& watch to see what books her child gravitates toward, and go from there!
She should NOT influence her decision! Kids know what they like and don't
like, and they also know when something is too hard. They put it down or
don't show interest. But if the child should pick a higher level book along
with some lower level, that's ok, too. Studies have shown that when a child
desires a book that is harder, it provides them a challenge & the child will
work harder towards the goal of one day reading that book. I have 10
children, and while I am still no expert, I can tell you this is the best
way to get children reading.

I adopted 3 teen siblings who were low in reading and didn't read AT ALL.
They had reading 'disabilites', too. I took them to a Barnes & Noble. I
turned around to see where they were at. Turns out they were still standing
behind me. One of them said, "What are we here for?" "To get some books," I
replied. "Yuck! Books! What do we need THEM for?" I was told. I told them
we'd be there a while, so make themselves comfortable. I went about my own
reading. About a half hour later, I tracked them down. They were each in a
section READING. One chose a book about reptiles, one chose a book about
cats, and one chose a book about how things work. We are about to start our
fourth year from when they joined our family. Their ages are 20, 19, and
17...and they are now avid READERS.
So tell Mom not to interfere with choice. Just get the child to the library
or bookstore. AND read to/with her DAILY, and use a positive attitude. THAT
is what will work! Forget the levels! (When was the last time Mom chose a
book based upon someone else's interests instead of her own?!?)

Love it!
Thanks again for ALL your help!
Neha Dhruv
Jefferson Elementary Media Specialist,
Berwyn, IL
Children's Librarian,
Lemont, IL
nehadhruv1@gmail.com

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