giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Oct 9, 2014 21:13:31 GMT -5
I love Dr Seuss, but even some of his older and lesser known stories can be questionable. I do the preschool story hour, and one time my theme was moose. Turns out the only moose book in our collection was Thidwick the Big-hearted Moose. Ok. Not sure why. But ok. There's the story about how the dude is afraid of a pair of pants. "What was I scared of." I get the moral, but pants walking around by themselves with no one in them?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 11:05:30 GMT -5
Firebird, I am not familiar with the book you mentioned, so can't comment. I want my kids to be able to distinguish between well written books and books that while might maintain your interest are just not great. I made a very conscious effort from the early on to pick and choose what I read to them. They are not reading on their own yet, so I am not dealing with that yet. My IL's go to library book sales and buy garbage books by the bag. And then I have to find a way to get rid of it all. And btw, I don't usually shy away from a context of the book, even if it's something that might be considered "wrong", like slavery example BSB gave. so do you only read book that are well-written and good literature or do you sometimes just read something for enjoyment? there is a book club I declined to join because they only read books that are 'serious' literature rather than just something that's enjoyable. nothing takes the fun out of reading more than being told you can't read something because it's not up to a certain standard.
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swamp
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THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
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Post by swamp on Oct 10, 2014 11:06:40 GMT -5
Ok. Not sure why. But ok. There's the story about how the dude is afraid of a pair of pants. "What was I scared of." I get the moral, but pants walking around by themselves with no one in them? I remember that book. Pants walking around with no person in them is pretty freaky.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 11:09:03 GMT -5
Firebird, I am not familiar with the book you mentioned, so can't comment. I want my kids to be able to distinguish between well written books and books that while might maintain your interest are just not great.I made a very conscious effort from the early on to pick and choose what I read to them. They are not reading on their own yet, so I am not dealing with that yet. My IL's go to library book sales and buy garbage books by the bag. And then I have to find a way to get rid of it all. And btw, I don't usually shy away from a context of the book, even if it's something that might be considered "wrong", like slavery example BSB gave. How will they know if they don't read them both? Maintaining interest was my primary goal when older son was first learning to read.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 11:11:38 GMT -5
My 4 year old thinks the empty pants in the Dr. Seuss book are hilarious. We read it quite a bit. I heard him one day in his room getting dressed in the morning. "Poor empty pants with nobody inside them."
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Oct 10, 2014 11:13:19 GMT -5
Firebird, I am not familiar with the book you mentioned, so can't comment. I want my kids to be able to distinguish between well written books and books that while might maintain your interest are just not great. I made a very conscious effort from the early on to pick and choose what I read to them. They are not reading on their own yet, so I am not dealing with that yet. My IL's go to library book sales and buy garbage books by the bag. And then I have to find a way to get rid of it all. And btw, I don't usually shy away from a context of the book, even if it's something that might be considered "wrong", like slavery example BSB gave. so do you only read book that are well-written and good literature or do you sometimes just read something for enjoyment? there is a book club I declined to join because they only read books that are 'serious' literature rather than just something that's enjoyable. nothing takes the fun out of reading more than being told you can't read something because it's not up to a certain standard. Why do you think that good literature is not enjoyable? I, personally, read of books that I find very enjoyable. Some of them are written very poorly and some of them written very well. But I also had a good enough foundation that I am able to distinguish between the two. And that's what I am trying to accomplish with my kids.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Oct 10, 2014 11:15:10 GMT -5
nothing takes the fun out of reading more than being told you can't read something because it's not up to a certain standard. I stopped putting pressure on myself to read "good" books a long time ago if they weren't working for me. Honestly, I read a lot of books that are (IMO) really great and well-written, books I think everyone should read - and then I also read a lot of "crap." I have probably 50-100 books I consider "placeholder books" meaning that I read them between more serious stuff. Sometimes you just want to read something fluffy and fun after reading about the Nuremberg trials or sex trafficking or unsolved murders. Thus I have a really odd Kindle library
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 11:17:22 GMT -5
so do you only read book that are well-written and good literature or do you sometimes just read something for enjoyment? there is a book club I declined to join because they only read books that are 'serious' literature rather than just something that's enjoyable. nothing takes the fun out of reading more than being told you can't read something because it's not up to a certain standard. Why do you think that good literature is not enjoyable? I, personally, read of books that I find very enjoyable. Some of them are written very poorly and some of them written very well. But I also had a good enough foundation that I am able to distinguish between the two. And that's what I am trying to accomplish with my kids. that's what's learned in English class, not in reading for enjoyment.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Oct 10, 2014 11:17:27 GMT -5
Firebird, I am not familiar with the book you mentioned, so can't comment. I want my kids to be able to distinguish between well written books and books that while might maintain your interest are just not great.I made a very conscious effort from the early on to pick and choose what I read to them. They are not reading on their own yet, so I am not dealing with that yet. My IL's go to library book sales and buy garbage books by the bag. And then I have to find a way to get rid of it all. And btw, I don't usually shy away from a context of the book, even if it's something that might be considered "wrong", like slavery example BSB gave. How will they know if they don't read them both? Maintaining interest was my primary goal when older son was first learning to read. Bc they do have exposure to both, but I try to keep crap to a minimum. My youngest two are still too young, but I can tell that my oldest is beginning to see the difference between Laura Ingalls Wilder and Spiderman and the Doc Ock. It has been very interesting to observe his "reading" habits. I also read a lot of non-fiction books to them. Like I said - my goal is exposure and good foundation. After that - they are on their own
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Oct 10, 2014 11:18:52 GMT -5
Why do you think that good literature is not enjoyable?
Some of it is. Some of it isn't.
Honestly, I've read dozens of "classic" books. Many (not all) of them are boring as shit. I would never give those to a kid who was just learning to read because if that was all I ever got to read again, I would probably read very rarely or not at all.
A kid who reads books that are "no good" > a kid who never reads at all because the only books he's ever been exposed to bore him to death.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Oct 10, 2014 11:20:27 GMT -5
Why do you think that good literature is not enjoyable? I, personally, read of books that I find very enjoyable. Some of them are written very poorly and some of them written very well. But I also had a good enough foundation that I am able to distinguish between the two. And that's what I am trying to accomplish with my kids. that's what's learned in English class, not in reading for enjoyment. Well, I prefer for my kids to have books and good literature as part of their every day life and not a "English class".
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Oct 10, 2014 11:22:30 GMT -5
I really am not sure what is debated anymore.
I've answered OP, I tried to answer questions that were asked of me.
I think I am done.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 11:22:44 GMT -5
that's what's learned in English class, not in reading for enjoyment. Well, I prefer for my kids to have books and good literature as part of their every day life and not a "English class". and I preferred that my kids want to read, rather than reading just so they could know what good literature was. DD was reading and comprehending at a 5th grade level at the beginning of 1st grade.....she read constantly. if I had told her she could only read certain books, I'm not sure she would have developed the same love of reading.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Oct 10, 2014 11:30:25 GMT -5
I've answered OP, I tried to answer questions that were asked of me.
Don't be done! I like reading your take on things, that's why I ask you. Sometimes I totally agree with your methods and other times I totally disagree. It makes life interesting
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Oct 10, 2014 11:33:40 GMT -5
I've answered OP, I tried to answer questions that were asked of me.
Don't be done! I like reading your take on things, that's why I ask you. Sometimes I totally agree with your methods and other times I totally disagree. It makes life interesting Well, thank you I just don't know what else I can add to this lively discussion.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Oct 10, 2014 11:38:14 GMT -5
If it works for you, that's all that matters.
How old are your boys now?
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Oct 10, 2014 11:55:04 GMT -5
3, 4 and 6 And I have no idea if it works yet. I won't find out for many many years
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 12:03:59 GMT -5
Well, I prefer for my kids to have books and good literature as part of their every day life and not a "English class". and I preferred that my kids want to read, rather than reading just so they could know what good literature was. DD was reading and comprehending at a 5th grade level at the beginning of 1st grade.....she read constantly. if I had told her she could only read certain books, I'm not sure she would have developed the same love of reading. My older son was the same way. He was reading by 3 and his grandmother was a buyer for Barnes and Noble so she would bring him big boxes of books whenever she came to visit (often). He had his nose in a book constantly and I'm sure a lot of them were "crap" on the literary masterpiece scale, but he learned to read very well, very young which let him move on to more complex stuff. By 1st or 2nd grade he was whipping through chapter books at the rate of one a day. Unfortunately, younger son isn't catching on to the independent reading thing as fast as his brother did, so I keep trying to figure out ways to make it interesting for him. He loves to be read to, but rarely goes and grabs a book to page through himself. The other day we were at the car dealer getting an oil change and he saw the rack with the new car brochures, he couldn't believe there were books about cars! He looked through the Toyota Tundra "book" by himself for the longest time and was trying to sound out the words. Next trip to the library we got all books about cars, trucks and tractors. He's way more interested now.
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DagnyT
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Post by DagnyT on Oct 10, 2014 21:25:13 GMT -5
WhoisJohnGalt,
I worked in a public library for 13 years, and I have been homeschooling my children for 15 years. There are lots of good books and lots of garbage books out there. Our opinions will vary on what is good and what is garbage, and that is OK. When the in-laws give your kids what you consider to be garbage books, just donate them to others or to your local library's book sale. I disagree with the opinions here about the book "The Rainbow Fish." Like one other poster, I see it as a book about vanity and sharing, but other librarians I knew felt that it was an assault on individualism. That's what makes for a great book. It makes us all think.
I think it is great that you want your kids to be exposed to great literature. Don't sweat the non-literary stuff. It's just fluff and entertainment. If you introduce them to good literature, they will naturally see the difference as they grow and mature.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2014 2:00:08 GMT -5
I looked at 1) the stats on adults who actually read after school and 2) years of teaching special ed to kids who had come to hate reading as a chore and would never pick up a book if unassigned , and decided early that whatever they wanted to read was fine with me.
We are very eclectic in this house. And while I always get them to read/ listen to some classic literature, we are just as excited about, oh to take a recent example, The Strange Case of Finley Jane... as we are about A Doll's House.
And to be fair, as we were reading essays on Huck Finn, it's very clear that not everyone agrees on what is 'good literature' ...
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geenamercile
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Post by geenamercile on Oct 11, 2014 9:43:58 GMT -5
I do the library story time with our kids and the neighbor kids over the summer. The library sets the limit at 15 books over the summer to go to the ice cream party at the end. I upped it up to 25 for both ODD and her friend (going into third grade). Friend came over with One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish on the list the first week. I said Nope, you can read it but we are not counting it towards the ice cream party list. ODD knew better then to try. At home she gets to mostly pick what she wants to read but if they are towards a goal they need to be on her reading level.
My great aunt once told me that books were brain food. You need to make sure you are always reading some that are healthy for the brain, good for you. But at the same time there were dessert or snack books too.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Oct 11, 2014 10:22:52 GMT -5
I started reading Stephen King around age 12
Me too. I remember a school counseler came by my classroom for whatever reason and when she saw I had Pet Cemetary in my hands she freaked out and demanded to know if my mother knew what I was reading. She became even more horrified when I said "yep". Then she asked me if I understood it. Duh, if I didn't understand it why would I be reading it?
as we were reading essays on Huck Finn, it's very clear that not everyone agrees on what is 'good literature' .
I think Scarlett Letter sucks eggs and no wonder Hawthorne was always depressed, I would be too after writing that book. Yet it's a classic and I know quite a few people who enjoy it. Weirdos.
I love the Canterbury Tales. We read a couple in senior English and I decided to buy the book for my summer reading during vacation. I ended up taking a whole lit class on Chaucer in college.
My goal with my 4 year old is to establish a love of reading period. If that means I have to read Dora the Explorer even though I want to stab myself while I do it, I suck it up. There is plenty of time in life to wade into the heavy stuff and start discussing "literature".
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Oct 11, 2014 10:31:59 GMT -5
Minnesota buy your four year and read to him Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder. There are three in the series. Definetly not Pulitzer material but I can't think of any kid who could resist a book with fart in the title.
Certain 30 year old women can't either. I own all three.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2014 10:49:06 GMT -5
Minnesota buy your four year and read to him Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder. There are three in the series. Definetly not Pulitzer material but I can't think of any kid who could resist a book with fart in the title.
Certain 30 year old women can't either. I own all three. LOL I just told him the title and he cracked up and begged me to get it.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Oct 11, 2014 12:32:34 GMT -5
Minnesota buy your four year and read to him Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder. There are three in the series. Definetly not Pulitzer material but I can't think of any kid who could resist a book with fart in the title.
Certain 30 year old women can't either. I own all three. I bought these for DS to read. He loved them. ETA: I got ours at half price books.
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