I’m needing ideas for what to do about Ds’s reading for next year. In the past, we’ve always used the Pathway Readers for beginning reading. He’s finished Grade 4, and the books are way too simple for him now. His reading level is at 7th-8th grade, so having him move on to a Grade 5 level reader seems a waste of his and my time. He is an excellent narrator, both oral and written. I feel it is necessary to begin keeping better record of the books he reads independently, and assigning this type of reading seems to be a good way to go about it. He reads voraciously in his free time (like, rarely wants to do anything else) and also listens to audio books like crazy. I don’t enter these books into the Organizer; maybe I should?
Occasionally, I need to give him some “busy work” to do while his sister finishes up an assignment and we’re waiting to move on to our next family subject. I thought some assigned independent reading could serve dual purposes: give him something to do that he enjoys and build his reading resume with a good track record of books.
Any thoughts or suggestions on this? Missceegee and Bookworm, I’d love to hear your opinions on this.
In his free time he’s already read several times:
Gentle Ben The Indian in the Cupboard Old Yeller Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH Charlotte’s Web Stuart Little The Railway Children All 19 Boxcar Children All Little House books The Cricket in Times Square
And this is not an exhaustive list by any means.
So, some good reading suggestions would be nice as well as maybe some other ideas of additional study for ds.
Wow, that’s a nice variety there. My younger dd reads all the time too, but I don’t record it all, just the non-twaddle. LOL
Some that he may like… Heidi (since he like the Little House books), Black Beauty, Narnia books. I’m hoping others chime in too, my girls are getting to be better readers and it excites me!
Thanks melindab72! As a family, we’ve read Heidi, Black Beauty, and all the Narnia books. In true Ryan-fashion, he has already gone back and re-read all of those too! We just finished Secret Garden yesterday, and I have no doubts that before the week is over, he’ll be re-reading it too. That’s just the way he is!
What a list!! Something inside me just loves useful lists. Thanks!
Lindsay, what a joy is must be for you to watch your son devour good books. My older dd is 10 and she really just this year learned to read. Seriously. Now she’s reading easy chapter books on her own and she rushes in to tell me every time she finishes a chapter. I love watching her learn to love reading, learn to love the library, and lose herself in stories. I’m forming a list of possible future reads, so feel free to let us know when you guys find good ones.
Servingwithjoy, I look at your list and I’m still hit with old attitudes that formed in me when I was young…..”Little Women for a forth grader? Isn’t that a HARD book??”
LOL It’s not easy to let go of it. I hope I don’t inadvertently pass it on to them!
Lindsey, I’m still out of town and using my phone so this will be short. Yes, I assign independent reading as soon as they can manage. For ds9 that was this year (3rd). Here are the types of books ds9 reads independently for assigned reading. When I say reader, I simply mean he reads it to himself instead of me reading it. I assign these books to be read one chapter at a time and narrated.
History Reader – Caddie Woodlawn (actually audiobook since we’re on vacation)
Science Reader – any of my bunches of living science books, currently the CLP Nature Reader during this trip.
Literature Reader – a fun one, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
He also reads additional books on his own that I don’t assign or have him narrate. He isn’t my big reader, but does enjoy reading.
I have used HUFI to make my yearly reading list going forward. There are several scheduled books and a list of additional books. I’ve labeled the spines and put them on the proper year shelves. My kids can read the assigned books when they are scheduled and can read any additional lit. books at their level and below. This was necessary bc my oldest at 12 was reading EVERYTHING! I tired of having to reinvent the wheel when we’d pull out her next book and she would say, “I’ve already read that.” Now, I will say I allow myself flexibility. My youngest dd6 can already read most anything and will likely go through everything faster. No matter, I feel my organization allows for that without giving free reign to my girls.
LOVE that list, ServingWithJoy! We have read many on it, but it gives me a good starting place to plan his first 5-6 books. Our problem is that he often grabs books off our VERY accessible shelves around the house and reads without even telling me until he finishes! So, I’ll go to suggest something for him to read only to be met with, “I’ve already read that!”
@melinda, it is a joy to see my son so enthralled with reading. He’s been this way since he learned to read, around 5 years old. It’s not something we’ve ever had to force; rather, it’s the opposite. It’s not uncommon for me to say, “Ryan, it’s time to close the books and go play outside!”
Christie, did you have your ds do written or oral narrations for his reading? And did he do narrations by chapter? Several chapters? By book?
Lindsey, that is exactly why I have pulled all school books from our main shelves and put them in on off limits shelves. I tired of DD12 always saying, I’ve already read that! I have sticker labels on the spines with Y1, Y2, etc. If I didn’t have some different shelves, I’d put them in plastic bins and put them in our large walk in attic until kids were ready for them. I’ll show you my system in August when you come, if that might be helpful.
My ds9 gives oral narrations on all readings each day (3-4). Each reading is 1-2 chapters in length. He isn’t doing written narrations yet, but will next year.