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TradCathMom
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| Posted: Jan 05 2006 at 11:57am | IP Logged
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How do you begin writing with your children? I've heard that some start with oral narrations with Mom writing/typing their words out and then graduating them to writing/typing their own words. I feel overwhelmed at how to put this all together. How to draw out the greater "depth" in a book and yet put it all together. Ok, in otherwords I don't know where to begin to teach them to write 
Is there a book or site that helps teach such things? Are study guides the way to go? I'd love advice in this area!
Julie
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TracyQ
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Julie,
There are so many ways you can do *book reports*, and the nice thing is that you can vary them too, both for interest to be kept, and also to work on different skills. 
Here is a wonderful website with ALL kinds of ideas for *book reports* that is fun, and helpful Ideas for Book Reports There are three pages of them there (see the second and third page links at the top of the page I linked).
This one shows how to do 3-dimensional book reports.3-D Book Reports
Here's another great one too!Book Report Links
Enchanted Learning is my favorite site. It has some great graphic organizers you could use for book reports. Drawing the plot, characters, and setting could be done on graphic organizers, for instance. I have a membership, and love it, but you may be able to use part of their site without membership. Enchanted Learning
I like Donna Young's explanation of book reports. She has some explanation, and report forms there as well. Donna Young book report section
To teach book report writing, you could use these sites to help...
Teaching Book Reports (this one has two links toward the bottom of the page for elementary and middle or high school too.
How to Teach Book Reports
Another how to write a book report site
I hope these websites help some, but the best thing to remember is to start out very simple, and teach them a little bit more each time. I always find discussion, and narration are really helpful in helping them formulate their ideas. And not making it stress-filled, but an opportunity for them to give their opinion on the book sometimes makes it easier for them. I truly think there is no right or wrong way to do it, there are many ways. But it's also good for them to learn written ways of writing a book report as well, in small, baby steps.
I hope this helps!
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Mary G
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| Posted: Jan 05 2006 at 6:21pm | IP Logged
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What is the point of "book reports"?
When I was little, it was a way of making sure you'd read the book.
Later in life, it was a way of making sure you understood the book.
But, why would a homeschooler require a "book report"? We know they've read the book (we maybe even read it to them).
Mine ittles aren't at the book report stage (and my olders are too old) but I think it would be better to have your children do a book project -- build "Narnia", scult the angel in "From the Mixed UP Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" or have them do something from the story. The standard, elementary school book report is a waste of time -- for writer and reader. It doesn't show ownership of the book....
Does this make sense to anyone?
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TradCathMom
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| Posted: Jan 05 2006 at 7:23pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for all the links Tracy! I'll look into them.
Mary G.~ I think Seton calls them "book analysis" which is probably a better word? I figure they should learn to write a paper and that book reports or studies would be a good way to learn to put their thoughts together. So IMO more than just showing that they read the book. But draw out the virtue of characters and so on. I also like the idea of making it more than just a report with the things like you mentioned.
I guess I figure if they learn to do papers on books on their level when they are little it will be easier to formulate a well written paper when they are older.
But like you said, I love all the ways they can show "ownership" of a book. Though I'm sure I lack severely in creativity!!
Julie
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Erin
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| Posted: Jan 30 2007 at 5:41am | IP Logged
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Tracy
Just came here to search to see if anyone could help and there are all your fantastic ideas.
thank you 
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TracyQ
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| Posted: Jan 30 2007 at 7:42am | IP Logged
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Erin, I'm glad I could help.
Julie, I love that! Book Analysis is a much better word. We discuss the books they read, so there is a lot of narration, and I know they've read the book, and love their analysis through the narration (conversation) with me.
But I believe it's good for them to be able to formulate their ideas through an outline, and write a concise, understandable analysis of the book, because I think it's a skill they need to know in their further education.
It's also nice to be able to show their analysis of the book they read in more creative ways as well, because there's not only one way to show analysis. I love that after they read a book, we're celebrating that they've read it through their report/project, and they can have memories stored of it. This way, books just don't become a another assignment they may consider a drudgery, but instead can become something they show ownership in having done, and even if it's not their favorite book, can become something that has helped allow them have a richer understanding of literature.
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homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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marihalojen
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Mary G, I totally agree with you, the fill in the blanks old style book report is a yawn. I have been having Marianna practice various writing styles by writing what might be considered book reports though. For instance, she compared two versions of Pegasus last week, simple picture books, took her 15 minutes to read and comprehend both but the rest of the morning to turn out an actual comparison essay with attached Venn Diagram. Would it be considered a book report/analysis or a writing exercise? As I've been typing this and glugging my coffee this morning, I've come to the realization that it probably isn't really a book report but a writing exercise that sprung from the reading of books. I'm going to post this anyway and go get more coffee!
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lapazfarm
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I'm with you, too, Mary. We don't do book reports either. Don't see the point.
But we do, like Jennifer says, often do writing that is inspired by a book.
Ex: ds (11) read a book and watched a DVD about Benedict Arnold.His paper assignment is this: "Lucifer, Judas, and Benedict Arnold are names that are synonymous with betrayal. If you were to rank the three in order from least to worst offensive betrayal, how would you rank them and why?"
So, not a book report, but writing that is inspired by a book.I think these are far more interesting (and probably what you had in mind?).
As far as the steps for learning, I really like The Writer's Jungle by Julie Bogart. It takes you step by step through all the ages and stages and helps teach you how to make writing a joy, rather than a chore. It has totally turned our writing around, for sure!
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MacBeth
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A better name for the "book report" would be, "How to ruin the reader's experience." Lock me in the same rubber room with Mary and Theresa. 
Every summer out library gives the kids book report forms  . These reports get little attention (a sentence or two--just the bare minimum) from my kids, even if they love the book. BUT, ask them to retell the story, or discuss some aspect of the tale, and I get reams of paper.
What would Seton do if you sent a beautiful narration, or a good discussion of a story instead of their report?
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mariB
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Our children have always had good comprehension after our read alouds using retellings and written narrations. I have never required book reports ever with my children because like MacBeth says, "it is how to ruin the readers experience." In fact our children have always written for enjoyment.
We have done copybook and studied dictation. Our oldest went to a private school in 7th grade and had no trouble with writing, in fact he excelled at it!
I think we homeschoolers are so worried about writing. But if I remember correctly, Jane Austin learned to write mainly from great literature. In fact I think she was even a poor speller at first!
Now, I think there comes a time when more formal writing is needed. My oldest son did do book reports for Seton in 8th grade. But we did it mainly for analytical skills in studying literature. After all, when we need to defend our faith, or encourage someone in our faith, we will need these skills ---such as pulling quotes from a doctor of the church and the Bible. That will take a little research.
Was my son thrilled with the book reports? NO! Was he proud of the results? Yes!!! (' ')
Plus he only had to do three book reports and all the rest of his reading was fun!
Will my other children do book reports? I don't know. My fifth grader each week retells his experience at Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences. I give him a topic sentence and he completes the paragraph to support that topic.
Then I read it, recopy it with correct punctuation and spellings, and then the next day he copies it with all the corrections. He is very positive about this exercise and he was not into writing. I love his improvement and it has been painless.
Any other writing he does, I do not correct because I want him to enjoy it!
With our 2nd grader, fun,fun,fun. I've caught copying pages of her favorite books on her own. Once a week I do give her a couple of dictation exercises that I know she will get right. She loves it.
Hope this helps.
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Kathryn
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I'm reviving this thread...it's the only one I found with "book reports" in the title but it is 3 years old so I'm looking for other opinions now.
I had posted previously about re-signing up my kiddos w/ Seton to get their book reports, reviews, anaylysis' etc. graded from a more objective viewpoint. After reading some of these posts, my son's 2nd grade Seton English has def. been more "fill in the blanks" however it has required me to be with him one-on-one and pull this information out of him. With other reading, he just wants to "get through it" so this forces him to slow down and make sure he understands main characters, the setting, the plot, the main points etc. Wouldn't this help comprehension, thereby hopefully building that love of reading? If he's so busy just "learning to read", then he's not "reading to learn" or even enjoy, right? We just finished the "fill in the blank" one for Good St. Joseph and it wasn't torturous for him, he seemed to enjoy it and prob. will remember much more information about St. Joseph because of it. I guess I don't need Seton to grade something like that though.
My daughter's Seton 5 has been much more thorough in terms of taking notes and making an outline and writing out the paragraphs (topic, supporting, conclusion) but again, does seem such a dry, boring process. However, it is only 1 per quarter and does require a certain level of critical thinking so I guess I find that important. For me, it is more a book analysis as well as comprehension and digging deeper than just leisure reading.
Having said all that, I love the idea of more a project based book reports, analysis (whatever to call it) but I need something laid out as opposed to me having to plan what to do for them. Any ideas in that area?
Thanks,
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ekbell
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I think that there are two main concerns to consider when deciding on the type and amount of reading comprehension work.
First- make sure what you are doing actually encourages the child to read carefully.
When using questions, it's not a bad idea to read them through. Does the child actually need to follow and understand what they've read or could they answer all the questions by scanning for target words without reading the intervening material (something which I became very good at as a child when dealing with stuff I didn't particularly wish to read). It's good to have a mixture of questions, some of which address the story as a whole.
Second-what does your child enjoy? If the assignment encourages your child to read the material carefully and your child enjoys it then great!
If the child finds the reading or work difficult but worthwhile, fine! It may however be necessary to be aware of the poossibility of burnout. It's good to do some work at our limits but not to work at our limits all the time.
If your child finds the work and/or the reading burdensome without being worthwhile then it's high time for a change. Otherwise if you are lucky your child will only hate the work and do as little as you will allow them to get away with, less lucky they will hate the books they are forced to study (never, ever will I understand why anyone would freely read Margaret Lawrence's _The Stone Angel_) very unlucky they will lose the pleasure of reading.
As for what we do
We don't write book reports but I do use CHC's study guides with my children (there are a few available from their free curricula webpage).
I've also used some of the study guides from Hillside Education as well.
Normally we discuss the book or story aloud with me using the questions to guide the conversation if necessary as this is most enjoyable for both me and the children. My oldest (grade six) will occasionally be assigned to write a essay based on something we've read (generally by choosing a question or topic from a list).
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Book Reports
