Keeping kids well-supplied with books they love is part of Ink Spells’ Raison d’Être (note: I really don’t know French, in case that wasn’t obvious). Which might make you think my home is lined with bookshelves neatly organized and ringed with the whispery sound of paper pages turning (or Nook page-clicks – seriously, what is with that sound?).
But no.
The boys have all week off school (I’m on the school board, I approved this, I still don’t like it), and there is a lot of video game playing, lego building, and general mayhem in the basement that may involve cats. And I realize (once again) that my boys aren’t reading as much as they should. Especially the youngest (Mighty Mite, age 7), who would rather come home and act out a ten player story from Reader’s Theatre (a cool read-aloud program at school). Now Reader’s Theatre is all kinds of awesome, but Mighty Mite needs to read more of those puppy books he likes, if he’s going to keep progressing in his ability to read. Once his reading level gets high enough, he can tackle more difficult reads like The Lightning Thief and Harry Potter, that will keep him turning pages without my constant intercession.
I’m a huge fan of unstructured play time (when do you think I write??), but small consistent slices of time also need to be given to reading, in order for that to become a priority for them. So I’m giving my pre-Thanksgiving thanks for having three bright, beautiful boys that are uniquely wonderful in their skills and talents. And I’m re-dedicating myself to reading to/with them, until they are firmly entrenched readers as well.
I figure it’s the best gift I can give them.
ergh. I'm doing battle w/the DSi these days. I hate it! My ladies loved to read, but now if I don't read aloud to them at bedtime, it doesn't happen…
darned DSi…
@LTM I need you to talk to my husband! I tell him that's what will happen if we get the DS, but he doesn't believe me. Meanwhile, I think he just wants to play Halo … 🙂
Keep reading to them, Sue! Heck, even my junior high students love it when I read aloud to them.
(And as a teacher, I thank all school boards, including mine, who approved an entire week off. Lordy, Lordy, how I needed it!)
So what did you think of this NYT article – makes me want to hold off on DS/Wii as long as I can!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/technology/21brain.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=homepage
Congratulations! It is the best gift.
Keep those kids reading!
A big hug from
Read Aloud Dad
http://www.ReadAloudDad.com
@Darby Enjoy your week! 🙂 And kids DO love when you read to them – it's amazing how entranced they become. Awesome.
@Liz I think the use of tech, especially for teens, can be as deleterious as the NYT article reports. And yet … and yet … teens have always been distractable, and irreverent of the need to study and apply themselves. This is why they need adults to guide them. Holding off on tech (cell phones in particular) until and unless they are able to use them responsibly, without damaging grades and motivation, is a challenge for modern parents – but it's not impossible.
@ReadAloudDad Thanks for the encouragement! Your blog is coming along nicely! And go you, for reading to those little ones!! 🙂
Hear hear.