Merry Christmas!

Tip of the Week (12/20/07)

10 Tips for Choosing Books for Children of All Ages

Source: Family of Readers Advisor's Guide
Ages: 5-8, 9-12, 13+

1. Have children choose their own books as soon as they start showing a preference for one over another..
   
   
2. Find the children's section of your local library. Get to know the librarian, who can be a great resource.
   
   
3. Find out what your child is interested in, and help choose books that are related to his or her interests..
   
   
4. Ask friends, family, and teachers what books their children have enjoyed; try a book swap..
   
   
5. If your child does not like a book you are reading together, put it away. Reading is a fun time to share, not a time to fight..
   
   
6. Again, Again, Again! Children may want to read the same book many times, even if you think they have outgrown it. .
   
   
7. Use book lists generated by various literacy organizations; they usually have good suggestions. For example: American Library Association, International Reading Association, Children's Book Guild.
   
   
8. Look for books that you will like reading aloud. Your enjoyment will shine through and become contagious..
   
   
9. Try out different kinds of books to see what appeals to your children..
   
   
10. Have fun! Show your children the joy of reading and how it can open up a brand new world!

Michael Sullivan Interview

The following is an interview I had with Michael Sullivan, author of the Escapade Johnson series.

This interview was featured in our Fall 2007 E-Newsletter. I thought I would post it here for everyone to enjoy.

If you would like join our free Big Guy Books Reading Club, you can do so by following this link: http://www.bigguybooks.com/readingclub.html.

Through the Reading Club, you will receive our E-Newsletter, like this one, filled with tips and ideas related to children and reading, discounts on our books, freebies, and the first news of our new book releases.

Here's the interview:

Sara:
Michael, let’s get right into this. Can you tell us a little about yourself and what makes you qualified to speak on the topic of boys and reading?

Mike:
I have spent nearly 20 years as a special needs teacher, librarian, chess coach, and storyteller.

I have a Bachelors Degree in History from Harvard, a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from Simmons College.

I have written a book and several national journal articles, and spoken to tens of thousands of teachers, librarians, and parents on how to turn boys into readers.

Sara:
What are some of the trends you have noticed regarding boys and reading?

Mike:
The biggest trend is that people are now acknowledging that boys read, and learn to read, differently than girls. This is making addressing boys’ issues a great deal easier.

There is also more literature available that is boy friendly, specifically books aimed at the reluctant boy reader.

The counter trend is the push to standardize education, and specifically to judge results by standardized testing. This makes it extremely difficult for classroom teachers to address differences in learning style. Since boys fail at reading more often than girls, this rigid approach can only hurt them.

Sara:
What are some tips that you could suggest to others to help encourage reluctant boy readers to read?

Mike:

1. Lighten up. Pressure doesn’t help boys read. If you are less stressed, the boys will be less stressed.
2. Let boys choose the level of their own reading.
3. Let boys choose the type of reading they want to do.
4. Acknowledge and honor the types of reading that appeal to boys: nonfiction, humor, action/adventure, sports, horror, and all things edgy.
5. Connect boys’ reading to the things they like to do. Read about an activity, then do it.
6. Encourage boys to exercise their minds in areas other than reading. The brain is a muscle, it needs exercise. Play chess with your boys.

Sara:
Is there any material out there that you would suggest for others to read about this topic?

Mike:
Sullivan, Michael. Connecting Boys With Books: What Libraries Can Do. ALA Editions, 2003.

Gurian, Michael. Boys and Girls Learn Differently!: A Guide for Teachers and Parents. Jossey-Basse, 2001.

Krashen, Stephen. The Power of Reading: Insights from the Research. (2nd ed.) Libraries Unlimitted, 2004.

Newkirk, Thomas. Misreading Masculinity: Boys, Literacy, and Popular Culture. Heinemann, 2002.

Pennac, Daniel. Better Than Life. Stenhouse, 1999.Sax, Leonard. Why Gender Matters: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know About the Emerging Science of Sex Differences. Doubleday, 2005.

Smith, Michael W. & Jeffrey D. Wilhelm. Reading Don’t Fix No Chevys: Literacy in the Lives of Young Men. Heinemann, 2002.

Sara:
How do we find out more?

Mike:
Check out my website (www.talestoldtall.com) for a constantly updated list of sure-fire boy books. Check out my MySpace page (www.myspace.com/talestoldtall) to subscribe to my Blog on boys and reading, or email me (mike@talestoldtall.com) with any questions.

Sara:
Thank you, Michael. We really appreciate this insider’s view and your willingness to be accessible to answer any of our questions

Reading Ideas for the Summer

It is typical for children, especially boys, to fall back in their reading levels during the summer, between the school years. Well, I do not want that for your children this summer. So I have put together a few tips to help you encourage your kids to read no matter what you are doing or where you are.

Car-Time Skill Builders

1. Alphabet Soup

• When to use it: If you have children you are learning the alphabet, then use this activity with them while in the car or out on a walk.
  
  
• What to Do: Young children can watch license plates and signs, finding each letter of the alphabet in sequence. If you have more than one beginning reader, have them take turns to keep the shouting down.

2. Phonics on Wheels

• When to use it: Use this activity with your children while in the car or out on a walk.
  
  
• What to Do: Using road and business signs that you pass, ask younger readers to look for words with repeated consonants, a long “u” sound, a short “e” sound, a blended consonant sound (sh, sp, bl, etc). A phonics workbook can provide ideas. If contests are handled well by your family, offer a small prize and keep score.

3. Stop, Look, Listen: Books on Tape

• When to use it: Use this activity while in the car.
  
  
• What to Do: Go to your local library and find a tape or CD that your family can enjoy together. Pop this in your car and turn it on, especially on long trips. Audio books will model a smooth and fluent out-loud reading style and will keep your child’s mind active. Listening to a riveting read-aloud can interest your readers in books by the same author. Books on tape allow younger readers to listen to more complex stories than they can read.

4. Get local! Community Search

• When to use it: Use this activity any time you or your kids want to learn more about what is directly around you. I don’t know about you, but I find that I know more about far away places that I have visited than about some of the local areas I’m around everyday. You don’t need to take an extensive vacation to a far away place to have an adventure to remember.
  
  
• What to Do: Use the Internet and your local newspaper to find out more about your town. Hotels and motels often have racks of pamphlets about interesting local attractions. Your kids can read about botanical gardens, museums, zoos, landmarks, an architectural wonder, or a family-run bakery. Check for printable websites. Have your children read aloud as you drive – or at home. Most towns have historical societies, chambers of commerce, hobbyist clubs, and other organizations that might interest your kids. Family research projects encourage self-propelled reading and self-guided learning.

5. My Aunt is Moving…Word Game

• When to use it: Use this activity when you want to build language skills and memory.
  
  
• What to Do:
  Here’s an example:
  
  
  
  • First Child:
    “My aunt is moving to New York and she is taking apples with her.”
    (or any other object that begins with the letter A)
    
  • Second Child: “My aunt is moving to New York and she is taking
    apples and beans.”
    
  • Third Child: “My aunt is moving to New York and she is taking
    apples, beans, and cats.”
    
  • And so on through the alphabet. There are many variations of
    this game. Let your children modify it to suit themselves!

(For more tips and ideas, check out the title above!)