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Kids who don't like to read

post #1 of 14
9/13/08 at 9:37pm
Thread Starter 
My 13 year old nephew doesn't like to read and it is affecting his grades. He can read just fine and seems to be a smart kid but hates to read. Has anyone here had the same situation with your child? If so, is there anything to get kids to like reading?
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post #2 of 14
9/13/08 at 10:09pm

Re: Kids who don't like to read

Michael doesn't like to read. I haven't been able to figure this out either.
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post #3 of 14
9/13/08 at 10:23pm

Re: Kids who don't like to read

My youngest two don't like reading either, books that is, they will read magazines and for the last year they read an amazing amount on line.

they go to the fan sites for their favourite shows and they have found stories there, some are written by the fans themselves and others are the transcripts of their cartoons (they like the ninja type catoons aimed more at the adult/older teen market) and they will read those for hours. Tony has even begun writing his own stories!

Their are a lot of online sites that have complete books, including the classics, I'm not sure of the address off hand (I have a new computer and have not yet transferred the data from my old one onto this one) but I know that Lenora (Grace) knows where they are.

A google search would probably find them too.

It might be worth a try.
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post #4 of 14
9/14/08 at 10:52am
Thread Starter 

Re: Kids who don't like to read

Quote:
Originally Posted by Liz109 View Post
I've noticed it's hard for boys. There are fewer good books with their interests out there than there are books geared towards girls.

Ethan likes to read RL Stine (sp?) but not the Goosebumps ones. He like the scary/mythical books.

Maybe his parents should MAKE him read for about 15 min a night?? Trying to find something he likes?
I was kind of thinking it was a boy thing too.

They do make him read. He doesn't like reading textbooks and books he might have to do for book reports. My sister said they have to make him read but I guess since he doesn't like reading he doesn't soak in what he is reading (I guess) and doesn't do well when it comes to being tested on it. My sister and bil like to read so they try to set a good example.

My nephew got an F in a literature class he has to take and if he gets any more F's then he is off the football team...they just found that out yesterday. He likes football so maybe that will change his attitude about reading (the threat of being kicked off the team because of his grades). He got a D in history too and that involves quite a bit of reading.
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post #5 of 14
9/14/08 at 11:42am

Re: Kids who don't like to read

Has he had any testing to find out if he has any sort of learning disability? It sounds like he has a serious problem with comprehension and may need additional help.

As far as pleasure reading goes, this is just an opinion of someone who's taken some classes on this subject, but does not have a teenaged son...

Let him read what he likes without judgement. This includes pornography and books on sexual topics. I am not talking Playboy. I mean books like Forever Amber. If he comes home with a book titled "EXploring your homosexuality" or "My Body, Myself" then just leave it alone. If he likes books with lots of violence on wars, martial arts, horror, then leave it alone. If he's reading the Columbine Chronicles: How to Blow up your High School or 50 Easy Ways to Kill Yourself, then that is something to be concerned about. But The Dirty Trick (a book I read in the living room in front of both my parents about a couple of girls who really liked orgies) or Forever Amber or anyone of the thousands of sex books out there that teenagers try to sneak in without getting in trouble, I would just leave that one alone. Teenaged boys (and girls) are very interested in this topic. And if we all don't want to die grandchild/niece and nephewless, it's probably a good thing they are - as hard as that is for us "grrups". Besides, reading is a far cry from doing. I have noticed those who read are often not doing.

I read tons of porno under my parents noses and all my mother said was, "Underline the good parts. I'm not interested in the plot." That was the end of reading porno for me. The point was to get a riser out of my parents and it didn't work.

My point is just let him read what he wants whether it's "Small Engine Repair for Dummies" or "I think I like boys." I am not in anyway suggesting your nephew may be gay or that anyone who reads a book like that is.

It may be he is more interested in serious non fiction rather than fiction and that's okay.

As a historian, I can tell you high school history is so watered down, it is boring. Real history is full of love, sex, definitely loads of violence and political incorrectness. Ugly things often get covered up in high school history, but truthfully, that is some of what makes it so interesting to me. Maybe if he were introduced to real history where Ben Franklin has 200 illegitmate children, Sam Adams is a brewer and George Washington is rather reserved and distant - not these perfect people you read about in High school, he'd like it.

Okay, off my soapbox. This stuff is pretty much all up to his parents. As his Aunt, you may want to send him a few Newbury Award Winners.
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post #6 of 14
9/14/08 at 6:37pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Kids who don't like to read

Quote:
Originally Posted by Liz109 View Post
Funny with the football thing. Ethan is playing this year and loving it. He typically gets an A, a B and a handful of Cs in his classes. This is his first year of middle school. I told him if I see a C on his report card, he will NOT be playing, and letting his team down.

Right now, he has 2 A+, 3 As and 1 B+. The threatening is WORKING
Oh that's good Liz!! Get him before he makes D's or F's. I might suggest that to my sister without trying to butt in. I don't like to butt in but like to help out or give advice when I can. She and I give each other advice sometimes so it will be easier to just give her some suggestions..and she can take it or leave it without me being offended.

Lenora, I will ask my sister if he has been tested on his reading comprehension. He has done pretty good up until this point so maybe he is just still adjusting to the middle school life? If he picked up any magazines it would be more along the lines of hunting magazines since he goes sometimes with my bil's cousin. Although, hard telling what he will pick up from the other boys at school. I don't know if he has shown any signs at home of being interested in sex or not. I don't ask my sister those kinds of things. I know there is a medical book my parents had in their closet that talked some about reproduction and I use to sneak in and get that book and read it. I learned more about sex at school than from my parents. My parents never gave me the sex talk. I just read about it and kids talked about it at school.

Anyways...thanks girls.
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post #7 of 14
9/14/08 at 10:03pm

Re: Kids who don't like to read

I'd take him to the library or bookstore and let him pick with the understanding that he was going to read something so he'd better pick somthing good. Yes, I'd force him at this point. It is just a matter of him finding something that he's intersted in. Like liz said there are more books out there for girls at this age. Julie of the Wolves, Number the Stars, How to be Perfect in Just Three Days....just off the top of my head are a few I see my 6th graders reading and enjoying. Oh, if he like's hunting and survival--My Side of the Mountain and it's sequal are awesome for boys. I loved them myself.
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post #8 of 14
9/15/08 at 10:13am
Thread Starter 

Re: Kids who don't like to read

Quote:
Originally Posted by teacherinct View Post
I'd take him to the library or bookstore and let him pick with the understanding that he was going to read something so he'd better pick somthing good. Yes, I'd force him at this point. It is just a matter of him finding something that he's intersted in. Like liz said there are more books out there for girls at this age. Julie of the Wolves, Number the Stars, How to be Perfect in Just Three Days....just off the top of my head are a few I see my 6th graders reading and enjoying. Oh, if he like's hunting and survival--My Side of the Mountain and it's sequal are awesome for boys. I loved them myself.
Thanks!!! I'll suggest that to my sister. They usually have to go to Salina to do their shopping. I'm not sure if there is a bookstore there or not. I'm sure they have a library somewhere though. They live out in the middle of nowhere in Kansas so there aren't a whole lot of options.
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post #9 of 14
9/15/08 at 5:12pm

Re: Kids who don't like to read

I hated "Julie of the Wolves" (Drew had to read it in 6th grade), but the rest of his required reading for the past 2 years has been awesome!

We had this problem with Drew. I finally got him interested in reading in 4th grade by getting him the "Captain Underpants" books. Hilarious! From there we have gone on to whatever has caught his fancy. He likes to game (like his dad), so we started letting him read the Warhammer 40K books (even though i was positive they were too advanced for him). We had to help with some fo the words and explain some passages, but he has been plowing thru them for the past 2 years now. It's all a matter of finding something he likes.

Some people just don't like to read. My dad is like that. Man has a degree in philosophy and can debate you death, but is the world's slowest reader so he avoids it whenever possible. But I have noticed that my dad is more like to read things online, as well. Maybe that is your answer, like Maree suggested. Find out what interestes him and find things online that he can read about.

On of our conditions with Drew usign the computer is that he has to spend the same amount of time doing something constructive online as he does playing. He has several "educational" sites that he likes to visit because they have games. So if he spends 2 hours "playing", then he has to spend 2hours on one of those sites. Whatever gets them interested and motivated!
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post #10 of 14
9/16/08 at 9:51am
Thread Starter 

Re: Kids who don't like to read

My friend's two boys has those Captain Underpants books!!! When they came for a visit in June they had a couple of them with them and showed them to me. It is hilarious!!
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post #11 of 14
9/17/08 at 7:40pm

Re: Kids who don't like to read

There is always Amazon. If he likes hunting and fishing then you know what to get him for Christmas. Hunting and fishing magazines. My Dad says he doesn't like to read, but the truth is - he doesn't like to read fiction. He devours the newspaper everyday and has always subscribed to a number of magazines. Maybe magazines and non fiction is a better way to reach him.
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post #12 of 14
11/17/08 at 12:54am

Re: Kids who don't like to read

one way is to read aloud to him and act out some of the scenes in the book, sort of like a mini play, end then just when you're about to go to the climax of the story, stop reading. tell him if he wants to find out what happens next, he has to read for himself because it's so exciting that he has to experience it himself.
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post #13 of 14
11/17/08 at 8:56am

Re: Kids who don't like to read

I'm reading Maniac McGee to my class as a read alound now and it's total silence while I'm reading. They each have a copy. They love it. That one is by Jerry Spinelli.
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post #14 of 14
12/2/08 at 5:34am

Re: Kids who don't like to read

I meant to get to this sooner. When I was a girl, I hated the books written for girls and read all "boy" books.

Here are some of my old favorites free online:

Captains Courgeous - http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu...ookup?num=2225

Tom Sawyer - http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~rgs/sawyr-table.html

The Jungle Book - http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/236

Kidnapped - http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/421

Treasure Island - http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/120

Robinson Crusoe - http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/12623

Black Beauty - http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/11860

Swiss Family Robinson - http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/3836

Journey to the Center of the Earth - http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/19513

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/6538

Around the World in 80 Days - http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/2154

Hopefully, this is a good start.
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