Free Choice

When my daughter began sixth grade, she started a new school. She loved all of her new teachers and made friends easily. She had a fantastic reading teacher that had a classroom full of books (her personal collection). Her reading teacher immersed her students in literature and they loved it. She also had a fabulous librarian (me :) who shared her love of reading. 

Having always been in the G/T program, my daughter was excited about all the things the new school's G/T program offered. Part of this program was Battle of the Books. Students were required to read a certain number of books for this program (in addition to the reading requirement for their reading class). Here lies the problem. Students were being required to read books they were not interested in. At the end of the first nine weeks, my daughter made the choice to drop out of the G/T program because she was being forced to read books that did not interest her. 

When students, especially at a younger age, are forced to read books they are not interested in, they begin to loose interest in reading.  They begin to see reading as a chore or homework instead of reading for pleasure. When students are given a choice in what to read they will read more, they will enjoy reading, and they will read just because! They will begin seeking out books to read instead of waiting for book assignments. 

Students should be allowed to dislike a book. They should be allowed to abandon a book if they choose to do so. And they should not be made to feel guilty about it. 

It's disappointing when a student misses out on a wonderful opportunity because they are being forced to read books they are not interested in. Once you turn a child away from reading it is hard to reel them back in. 

Give them choices, lots of choices!

"Becoming a Classroom of Readers"
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar10/vol67/num06/Becoming-a-Classroom-of-Readers.aspx

"Top 5 Reasons To Let Kids Choose Their Own Books"

https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2012/04/21/top-5-reasons-to-let-kids-choose-their-own-books-2/

"One Size Does Not Fit All" by Shelia Limbaugh

As a "homeschool mom", I have had the joy of teaching my 3 children to read.  One thing became readily apparent - there was no "one size fits all" .  My oldest daughter loved reading from the beginning.  She literally devoured books, and we were "frequent flyers" at the county library.  This was a source of comfort for me as I am a devout reader! It is pure enjoyment for me!!  My second child, also a daughter, did not want to read.  She loved being read to, but did not want to read herself.  She tried to comfort me one day by telling me she was not a reader like her sister or myself and not to expect it. (sigh) She did enjoy the library, even though it was a playhouse for her instead of a source of reading material.  Then when she reached high school age, she "became a reader"!  Wonder of wonders!  In fact, as an adult, she is a high school English teacher and an aggressive  promoter of reading?  (I am still not sure how that came about.)  Now my third child is a boy, and he is the typical male non-reader.  Does he have the ability to read? Of course!  Does he have any desire to read? Of course not!  Is he required to read? Absolutely!  As an adult, will he read for relaxation, comfort, or enjoyment?  Unless something drastically changes, probably not. But he will be able to read comprehensively at any level he needs to.

I have reached the understanding that everyone is not going to be a "reader",  but everyone must have the ability to read.  Of course, the more you read the benefits are wonderful - vocabulary, comprehension, information, etc.; however, those of us who are "readers" do so because it is unthinkable to not pick up that book!  We rarely think about the benefits to us - it is pure enjoyment!  Those who are not "readers" are given great encouragement and support, but the fact is, they may never just pick up a book for the sole purpose of enjoying it. 

It really is true - "one size does not fit all"!  And that is okay!  My son, who only reads library books because it is a requirement, can read schematics and blueprints when he is building computers. (He is 16 year old.) He can literally "read" those things!  Hhhhhmmmm...........  perhaps there are different ways to read that bring enjoyment?  

Read on!