Comments on: Reading Beyond Yourself http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/ A mutual support group for SF/F Novelists Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:30:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Jess http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-911 Jess Wed, 31 Oct 2007 20:38:49 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-911 I actually liked having reading levels in school because I was competitive and would read higher to show off. :D Does anyone remember/Have you ever heard of SRA's? I Googled them and they don't like a thing like what we had, but they were done per grade level and I remember reading the entire series through seventh grade level when I was in third grade, rather smugly. But then I read unabridged Victor Hugo at thirteen. I don't understand why people would say you may not do that if it's clear that you CAN. I just don't understand the reasoning behind it. Is this like in The Incredibles movie where you can't be special so nonspecial kids don't feel bad? I think there's two sides to the coin, actually. I have the mentality that you tackle something difficult first so that everything else is easy and you don't scare yourself out of trying, stretch to start with. But there's merit in the actual stepstone approach, where you start where you're at and work your way up. Does that make sense? I actually liked having reading levels in school because I was competitive and would read higher to show off. :D Does anyone remember/Have you ever heard of SRA’s? I Googled them and they don’t like a thing like what we had, but they were done per grade level and I remember reading the entire series through seventh grade level when I was in third grade, rather smugly. But then I read unabridged Victor Hugo at thirteen. I don’t understand why people would say you may not do that if it’s clear that you CAN. I just don’t understand the reasoning behind it.

Is this like in The Incredibles movie where you can’t be special so nonspecial kids don’t feel bad? I think there’s two sides to the coin, actually. I have the mentality that you tackle something difficult first so that everything else is easy and you don’t scare yourself out of trying, stretch to start with. But there’s merit in the actual stepstone approach, where you start where you’re at and work your way up. Does that make sense?

]]> By: Alice Audrey http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-887 Alice Audrey Sat, 27 Oct 2007 21:58:54 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-887 I have said it many times to my children and every time it was because they wanted to read below their level. Dr. Suess anyone? I have said it many times to my children and every time it was because they wanted to read below their level. Dr. Suess anyone?

]]> By: S.C. Butler http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-877 S.C. Butler Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:05:55 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-877 Simon - You're a boy. They're girls. They can't give up doing homework, it's not in their genes. Simon -

You’re a boy. They’re girls. They can’t give up doing homework, it’s not in their genes.

]]> By: Simon Haynes http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-850 Simon Haynes Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:57:40 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-850 13-14 is when I really started reading in earnest. It was easy - I just gave up doing homework. 13-14 is when I really started reading in earnest. It was easy - I just gave up doing homework.

]]> By: S.C. Butler http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-848 S.C. Butler Tue, 23 Oct 2007 16:51:13 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-848 Anyone here have older kids? That's the next big battle. Mine read till 12-13, and then pretty much gave up under the mountains of schoolwork they were given in junior high and high school. It wasn't tv or video games that got them either. They just ran out of time. Anyone here have older kids? That’s the next big battle. Mine read till 12-13, and then pretty much gave up under the mountains of schoolwork they were given in junior high and high school. It wasn’t tv or video games that got them either. They just ran out of time.

]]> By: Bran fan http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-847 Bran fan Tue, 23 Oct 2007 16:32:41 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-847 Lyda, yes, it happens. My son never checks books out of the school library because his school goes up to 5th grade and therefore the books don't go much beyond that and all the library books are too easy for him. He doesn't care much because he gets any book he wants from the public library. Our public school is fantastic at helping the struggling kids, but the higher learners often get lost in the shuffle. The parents have to really stay on top of things. But if they do (and I'm sure you will) then it will all work out fine. I keep open communication with my kids' teachers and every single time, they step up and do what's right for the kids. They just need to be informed, that's all. Lyda, yes, it happens. My son never checks books out of the school library because his school goes up to 5th grade and therefore the books don’t go much beyond that and all the library books are too easy for him. He doesn’t care much because he gets any book he wants from the public library.

Our public school is fantastic at helping the struggling kids, but the higher learners often get lost in the shuffle. The parents have to really stay on top of things. But if they do (and I’m sure you will) then it will all work out fine. I keep open communication with my kids’ teachers and every single time, they step up and do what’s right for the kids. They just need to be informed, that’s all.

]]> By: Simon Haynes http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-845 Simon Haynes Tue, 23 Oct 2007 10:43:29 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-845 No, but I had a junior library card which meant I couldn't take out adult books. No, but I had a junior library card which meant I couldn’t take out adult books.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-840 Lisa Tue, 23 Oct 2007 01:40:01 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-840 I feel lucky now that my library (both school and public) never enforced "reading levels." We had an AR program in elementary school, but I tested into the highest level and ended up with very few books to read, heh. The adult section of the library was "off-limits" for a while, to my young mind, but not literally... do libraries actually ban children from wandering into the adult shelves? I feel lucky now that my library (both school and public) never enforced “reading levels.” We had an AR program in elementary school, but I tested into the highest level and ended up with very few books to read, heh.

The adult section of the library was “off-limits” for a while, to my young mind, but not literally… do libraries actually ban children from wandering into the adult shelves?

]]> By: Simon Haynes http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-839 Simon Haynes Tue, 23 Oct 2007 00:02:53 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-839 Our kids had to read their way through thirty levels of books at primary school. But at the same time they were reading the enforced 'Spot likes the ball' stuff they were carting around 80,000 word novels for fun reading. My mum used to take me to the library every week, and her suggestion was that I should read the first page of any book I was interested in. That worked well - and I used the same suggestion when browsing their shelves for new reading material at home ;-) I do the same with my kids now. My ten-year-old just finished the Potter series and wanted something else. I stacked up Temeraire #1, the Golden Compass, A Bear called Paddington, The Hobbit, Just William and a few others. She read Paddington and is now finishing the Hobbit. Next - who knows? We have over a thousand childrens' books in this house. Our kids had to read their way through thirty levels of books at primary school. But at the same time they were reading the enforced ‘Spot likes the ball’ stuff they were carting around 80,000 word novels for fun reading.

My mum used to take me to the library every week, and her suggestion was that I should read the first page of any book I was interested in. That worked well - and I used the same suggestion when browsing their shelves for new reading material at home ;-)

I do the same with my kids now. My ten-year-old just finished the Potter series and wanted something else. I stacked up Temeraire #1, the Golden Compass, A Bear called Paddington, The Hobbit, Just William and a few others. She read Paddington and is now finishing the Hobbit. Next - who knows? We have over a thousand childrens’ books in this house.

]]> By: lyda morehouse http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-838 lyda morehouse Mon, 22 Oct 2007 22:36:06 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/10/22/reading-beyond-yourself/#comment-838 Egad! Seriously? I'm going to make sure that's not the case at Mason's grade school. That's the most amazingly WRONG thing I've ever heard. Does anyone know why this started? My memory of my high school media center was that I could check out any book there, no restrictions. And thank god. That's where I found Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars series. Egad! Seriously? I’m going to make sure that’s not the case at Mason’s grade school. That’s the most amazingly WRONG thing I’ve ever heard. Does anyone know why this started? My memory of my high school media center was that I could check out any book there, no restrictions. And thank god. That’s where I found Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars series.

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