Dear Mom, Thank you for this question. I am delighted to address this issue. For me, reading is the most fundamental of all skills. I rank the ability to read and comprehend what has been read as the highest priority in the life of educating a child. I experience great joy when a child 'catches' on to reading. The freedom of being able to sit for an extended amount of time and lose oneself in the pages of a book is beyond words to describe. When children reach the middle school years they are entitled to a certain amount of freedom with regard to the rigors of assigned work. Reading is one of those subjects whose joy is quickly extinguished by too much 'micro managing'. However in the same respect we certainly want to be assured that our children are not abusing the privilege of having a certain amount of freedom when they work on their studies. My suggestion would be to rethink the way you are ensuring that the books have been read. Since we are in the summer time, you might think about having a book club. Have your middle schoolers select special friends that might want to be in the book club. Agree upon a book and then have the children meet each week to discuss what they have read. Another twist on this idea is to have a book theme for the month. For example the theme for June could be 'Mystery Books' (Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Boxcar Children, etc.). Each time they get together they could share with the group the books each has read. I know a woman here in my town who is 83 years old. Her book club has been meeting once a week since she was a teenager. Imagine that!! What joy. Along with that idea, it may be a good time to find a recommended reading list for different age groups. CHC has a product called Creative Book Reports which contain many hands-on ways to give book reports and includes book lists by age (the library has such a list as well but sometimes the books are not of my liking).
Making reading a natural part of the day is the best way to ensure that your children will grow to be independent readers eager to discover the worlds of information, adventure, and relaxation through the pages of a book. We like to read right after lunch. We usually spend the morning in the garden or yard working. After lunch it is time to stretch out for small amount of time to read. The afternoons of reading are so pleasurable. When the children were very young I would read aloud to them. Our older son read aloud to his younger sisters Little Women, Marco Polo, James and Giant Peach and many more. He has since left for college and those days of his reading to the girls is a very special memory. You might have the middle schoolers read aloud to the little ones. I agree with your daughter, 'Let them read the book and enjoy it,' for in this sentiment we become lifelong readers. Thank you again for bringing up this very important subject. Let us pray a Hail Mary for all those families that find the task of reading to be beyond their time and talent. Let us pray that all children are helped to become literate and capable of reading. Lord, we ask that all that we read brings us ever closer to You and the wonder of Your great love for us. Lord, we praise You and thank You for the gift of literacy and the ability to share that gift with those we meet. Amen. Sending out a prayer,
Rita Munn |
