tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post3895155528650374896..comments2024-03-14T16:46:14.455-05:00Comments on Becky's Book Reviews: Just a few random thoughts...Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793618692608823102noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-6070674338361666032008-07-22T17:12:00.000-05:002008-07-22T17:12:00.000-05:00I know I'm late to this conversation, but I wanted...I know I'm late to this conversation, but I wanted to put in a couple words. My summer reading post, back when I did it, was a compilation of suggestions for reading - not required reading. Ideas for parents or others to say to a kid, "Hey! You might like this." Nothing more. I've been lucky that some of my required summer reading has been of books I would have loved anyway. I agree with you, however, that required = unpleasant, regardless of how good the book is or is not.Kimberly/lectitanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01978296810351841969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-42345855590343444282008-07-17T05:52:00.000-05:002008-07-17T05:52:00.000-05:00Thank's for the great article. :)You might like to...Thank's for the great article. :)<BR/><BR/>You might like to check out Bayard's range of children's books.<BR/><BR/>In this month's issues <A HREF="http://www.storyboxbooks.com" REL="nofollow">StoryBox</A> has <A HREF="http://storyboxbooks.com/helen-oxenbury.php" REL="nofollow">Helen Oxenbury</A> guest illustrating, <A HREF="http://discoveryboxbooks.com" REL="nofollow">DiscoveryBox</A> has an Olympics Special and there are also some great <A HREF="http://storyboxbooks.com/potatoprinting.php" REL="nofollow">Rainy Day Activities</A>!<BR/><BR/>My kids seem to really be getting on with them well.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again for the great article!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-10558749800850119902008-07-16T09:37:00.000-05:002008-07-16T09:37:00.000-05:00Interesting post! So that's what summer reading li...Interesting post! So that's what summer reading lists are all about. It's not something we practise in my country, Malaysia. I wonder if it's related to the absence of a reading culture.<BR/><BR/>Then again, there are voracious readers here in China and I don't think they have a "required reading list" either. <BR/><BR/>I agree, though, that having parents who read helps a lot. And yes, having access to books. That's why I've started a blog reviewing all the books I've read as a child and when I taught English. <BR/><BR/>I hope that my country folk would find the reviews useful if they are in search of a good read either for themselves or for their children!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-22185304414776700852008-07-16T07:20:00.000-05:002008-07-16T07:20:00.000-05:00yes, "back in the day" we didn't HAVE required sum...yes, "back in the day" we didn't HAVE required summer reading, but I completely agree with your assessment that making a book "required", most likely gives it a negative connotation to anyone who is assigned to read it!<BR/><BR/>...Altho, I must say that had I NOT been "forced" to read "Beowulf", it would not be one of my all-time favorite stories, still today. I was introduced to alot of good books through high school because I was "required" to read them...<BR/><BR/>I don't know...but, I definately enjoyed reading your post - lots of food for thought.Mohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14049202849655223687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-22500048829719092152008-07-15T00:26:00.000-05:002008-07-15T00:26:00.000-05:00I so agree with you Becky. My 16 year old son is i...I so agree with you Becky. My 16 year old son is in Honors classes and the summer assigned reading books in the past have been horrifically boring, dark and gloomy. They could pick one off the list, but none of them last summer was even remotely inspiring. They then had to complete a diadactical journal before school started and come the first day of school ready to write an in class essay. YUCK!<BR/>I have always expected my boys to read in the summer, and I would give them lists to pick off of--(back when I home-schooled) and I did pick books that were fun and light-hearted along with some shorter classics-they also got to mix it up a lot with choices totally picked by them and there certainly were no assignments given! <BR/><BR/>This year, my son's honors classes didn't even bother with the reading list/ summer reading requirements. I think they finally realized most of the kids either didn't do it, cheated, or found a way to wing it! <BR/><BR/>Happy Reading--<BR/>*smiles*<BR/>Kim Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13029664492284742183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-8752205627926143042008-07-14T18:31:00.000-05:002008-07-14T18:31:00.000-05:00Great post, Becky! I'm a lifelong reader who hasn'...Great post, Becky! I'm a lifelong reader who hasn't read most of the "classics" because I was told to do it! And I love historical fiction, too! As a middle school teacher, I have been trying to get rid of "the list" for years. At least our list has more than 25 books and they are asked to read any 2 of their choice. But still...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02582583925813368098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-82567471600245295552008-07-14T18:28:00.000-05:002008-07-14T18:28:00.000-05:00Great post Becky! I totally agree and thank my lu...Great post Becky! I totally agree and thank my lucky stars that I was able to go through my entire school education without required summer reading lists. Maybe I'm behind the times but I didn't even realize that they were doing these until a couple of months ago. The thought makes me cringe!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-47262460187308244982008-07-14T17:48:00.000-05:002008-07-14T17:48:00.000-05:00I, too, fall into that camp of "always have been a...I, too, fall into that camp of "always have been a reader, always will be reader" and I always loathed required summer reading. For under three months every year I could have the freedom to read what *I* wanted to instead of what my teachers were assigning, and it always irritated me to have my reading mandated even through the summer. There are a select few summer reading books that I did read and really enjoyed and am really glad that I was made to read (because I probably wouldn't have read them otherwise) but for the most part summer reading was just an exercise in torture (my *favorite* addition to this exercise was the reading journal patented just to lengthen the awfulness while simultaneously interrupting the "experience" of the book) made worse by my own procrastination. Great post - there's definitely quite a quandary present in the whole summer reading thing, and I think you nailed it. We definitely need to start thinking about ways that will make kids *want* to read instead of just forcing reading upon them.Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07751131767729086158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-41685259033294592092008-07-14T14:56:00.000-05:002008-07-14T14:56:00.000-05:00You know, I've noticed that if I "assign" myself b...You know, I've noticed that if I "assign" myself books to read for a challenge, they become almost instantly unappealing. I don't think it's because of the books themselves, it's just that I'm now "required" to read them. So, yeah, I get what you're saying about required reading lists.<BR/><BR/>BTW: You should check out my post about whether bookworms are created through nature or nurture. I'd be interested in your opinion.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05344704891037668456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-53310968412961580092008-07-14T14:11:00.000-05:002008-07-14T14:11:00.000-05:00Nicely put! My daughter was assigned several book...Nicely put! My daughter was assigned several books as required reading for this fall's honors English and even though she is an avid reader, she's having trouble getting through the list.<BR/><BR/>However, I've already read everything on her list and thoroughly enjoyed most of them - but they weren't required reading for me.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15334812243182354729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-7962150494024459692008-07-14T14:07:00.000-05:002008-07-14T14:07:00.000-05:00I feel the same about about reading list. I love ...I feel the same about about reading list. I love reading and always have but as soon as the teacher assigned something to read, which were usually classics, I always couldn't get through them and to this day I kinda myself away from stuff like Tom Sawyer and To Kill Mockingbird. Anytime I look at these books I cringe.Confuzzled Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06738492612572914119noreply@blogger.com