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jenncatan
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| Posted: May 12 2010 at 5:07pm | IP Logged
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Does anyone have any ideas for me. My ds does not like reading. It's like pulling teeth to get him to do the required reading. He never picks up a book on his own.
I was worried that perhaps he had a reading problem but he doesn't.
thank you
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: May 12 2010 at 5:36pm | IP Logged
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What does he like?
What does he say about why he doesn't like reading?
Have you checked his eyes? When I first needed glasses I could see fine but the was just enough strain that I would get headaches or my eyes would get tired.
Some people just don't learn visually well, so he may find that he reads and doesn't remember much.. so it seems like a lot of work for nothing.
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guitarnan
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| Posted: May 12 2010 at 8:11pm | IP Logged
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Jim Trelease (reading expert) says that any kind of reading (comic books, magazines, etc.) is still reading. Start him on what he enjoys.
Does he like humor? If so, he might like some of Terry Deary's (crazy, but true) history books.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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jenncatan
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| Posted: May 13 2010 at 7:50am | IP Logged
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thank you for the humor suggestions. He says it takes to long and it's boring.
He is definitely not a visual learner maybe that's the biggest problem. He loves baseball and music.
He is more an auditory learner.
jenn
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guitarnan
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Does he like books on CD? I know many families who enjoy listening to books while they are in the car, for example.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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florasita
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| Posted: May 13 2010 at 8:21am | IP Logged
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3 of our 4 boys do not read fiction , novels etc. that type of reading . My dh is the same . when our older boys were school age they read maybe 3-4 books per yr that is it . Now they like dh might read 1 book per yr.
This absolutely does not mean they do not like reading or cannot read ! They read all the time ! mostly factual books eldest ds read any book on a bug or borany he could get a hold of .He also read tons of comic books and collected them . second eldest ds read anything on computers , computer games , electronics he could get his hands on .He is like his father he loves manuals  now ds14 cannot stop reading survival books & reading about clay ovens . He also was a late reader and had a bit of a thing and down on himself because he has public schooled friends who all read yrs before he did . He'd say I can't read . I finially had enough ! I said to him "look when gramma gives you a birthday card what do you do ? when you are playing runescape , what do you do ? when out and about and looking at all the shops & buildings , streets , what do you do ? " Well the answer was there and all he did was smile and said " read "
Our youngest loves reading he'd read anything if I give it to him no question asked but then he just is very accepting child
our older grils are like me we love reading for info but also love the story the novel etc. the best I can get the boys into a story is if it involves history and sceince geography that type of thing . lost in the barrens , my side of the mountain , swiss family robinson , books like that . Lives of explorers are good too .
I too would ask what is he into ? one of our boys was into fixing bikes and biking so he would read all he could about that .Now that it is summer maybe books on frogs , snakes etc. would interest him .
Think about it back in the day people did not read a zillion books a yr. in school our grandpraents and great granparents may not even have had a book but only stories in a reader . even the well read people did not read a zillion books a yr yes wealthy people may have had thier libraries with oodles of books but people like my gramma who was a writer & school teacher and loved reading she never would have forced huge booklists upon a child. Believing reading a few good books per yr would be far more beneficial . I just wrote about this on my homeschool blog just my motherly struggle being bogged down so many distractions and what is the latest new fad etc. what would CM think ?
I mean yes all these lists are full of books which are supposedly great works , insightful & promote growth but it is the volume and the trying to fit it all in and keep up etc. Some blogs are nothing what so ever simple and leave my mind kaffuffled and overwhelmed ! I honestly think some of these lists would boggle CM .Yes all good books but in the end it clutters the mind . rather look at a list and perhaps pick 3 books .If your child wants more go for it .
ok I'm going off here .
all the best to you
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Kristie 4
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I agree with you Roxie- a child needs some room to breathe!
My dd12 also does not like to read- would almost never pick a book up if I didn't really 'nudge'. But she goes through audio books like crazy- always has one playing on the cd player or her mp3 player. She has mild dyslexia and is also a VERY audio learner. She listens to her history book, A Child's History of England, and knits. She says it goes in better. Ditto the Biology, except I get her to follow along in the book for that.
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JodieLyn
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I would do a lot of things in audio for him. When you're talking about literature, listening to it still allows him to access the story and all that. And limit what he MUST read as much as possible. Since he CAN read, and simply struggles with learning in that medium. So many options these days it's not like reading it himself is the only option.
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cathhomeschool
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I third the suggestion of audio books for whatever you consider to be required reading. You can cover some subjects through videos too. I know Theresa (lapazfarm) has used videos for history and probably other stuff. We do that too and use TONS of books on tape/CD. I'd try to let most of his reading focus on books he enjoys. If he complains that it takes too long, then he's probably not enjoying the story! Maybe something easier or shorter would help too.
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: May 14 2010 at 7:20pm | IP Logged
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jenncatan wrote:
| It's like pulling teeth to get him to do the required reading. |
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Just curious, what is his required reading?
jenncatan wrote:
He is definitely not a visual learner maybe that's the biggest problem. He loves baseball and music.
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This is my 8th grader!
Short stories are working well for us. I've also recently ordered magazines. Both of these formats, when chosen well, are quick to read while also being fabulous examples of excellent writing. Oh, and biography is a big hit with our son.
One more question...what are his goals for his future?
Love,
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jenncatan
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Thank you all for your help. So many great suggestions from everyone...manuals, survival books, short stories!
Angie- this is my first full year of homeschooling. We are enrolled with Seton. We've learned that it really is not a good fit for us. Required reading for them this year, for the purpose of writing book reports, was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Hidden Treasure of Glaston and two saint stories.
I like the short stories suggestions that might spark an interest in him. Future plans-He really loves Guitar and he likes electrical work...taking things apart, circuitry, and of course there is always MLB 
jenn
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guitarnan
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A boy after my own heart!
FWIW, my dd (grade 7, also not too fond of reading unless she's reading animal books) really disliked Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. (Her book club read it. After that experience, I gave her a pass on Lord of the Flies.)
A big hit this year at our house was No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman. Hilarious...might be a good read-aloud...
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margot helene
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jenncatan wrote:
thank you for the humor suggestions. He says it takes to long and it's boring.
He is definitely not a visual learner maybe that's the biggest problem. He loves baseball and music.
He is more an auditory learner.
jenn
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Have you tried the baseball-themed books by Matt Lupica. My sports-minded son loves those!
I'm sure you've tried books on tape. Sometimes after hearing the story, my kids have picked up the book. Or maybe you can provide some of his literature reading (like the Jules Verne, etc) by getting books on tape and then only requiring what's absolutely necessary reading for his courses.
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Topic: 8th grader does not like reading
