| Author | |
kristinannie
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 27 2011
Location: West Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1363
|
| Posted: May 21 2013 at 9:39pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
My son is going to be starting 2nd grade. He is fairly comfortable reading. He spends a lot of time reading science and history books on his own (mostly level 3 and 4 readers). He reads aloud to me daily from the Catholic National Reader. He also sometimes will help me read the family read-alouds.
I would like to start having him do his own reading for some subjects in school this coming year. Morning basket time will still be a huge part of our day, but I would like him to start taking some responsibility for his own learning. I would also like to start him on chapter books. I know he CAN read them, but I want a easy as possible transition. I also don't want to overwhelm him by requiring too much too quickly. At this point, I have not mandated that he read anything on his own. I let him have complete freedom of choice.
Which books do you use for this purpose? How much should a 2nd grader be doing on his own? Should he narrate everything he reads? Any help you can give is greatly appreciated. This is my oldest so I am in new territory!
__________________
John Paul 8.5
Meredith Rose 7
Dominic Michael 4.5
Katherine Elizabeth 8 months
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
cathhomeschool
Board Moderator
Texas Bluebonnets
Joined: Jan 26 2005
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7303
|
| Posted: May 21 2013 at 10:44pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
The Old Mother West Wind books by Thornton Burgess were always big hits with my boys and great for getting them to read independently.
Boxcar Children series
Poppy books by Avi (Chapters are short, so that's nice when they are starting out.)
One of mine loved Pippi Longstocking and was willing to do the work of reading because it was so funny.
I don't think he should narrate everything he reads. Some narrations should be written down (by you) and some can be illustrated (by him). Are you looking for chapter book suggestions for different subjects or just easy transition chapter books in general?
__________________
Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
greengables
Forum Pro
Joined: May 12 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 108
|
| Posted: May 21 2013 at 11:32pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I haven't posted in a very long time and lately have visited very little as well (just so busy trying to keep all the fires out/ teaching/ sewing/gardening! etc...) so I should probably reintroduce myself! My screen name is greengables (my real name is Jill) and I have been homeschooling many years!
This post caught my eye because, growing up, I was not a reader! Then somehow I have children who love love love to read! I am sure someone from this wonderful group has already mentioned this little tip, but here it is just in case.
Of course, reading aloud to our children helps to pave the way for them to read on their own, but what really seemed to be the turning point for all of my children (turning them into independent reading lovers) is this: When I know the children are capable of moving to that next step in reading, I spend some time focusing our reading into exciting chapter books where I still do read (initially), but, for whatever reason ??? HUM???, I am unable to complete more than one or two chapters in a sitting - always stopping at a very exciting part, of course!
For my daughters, the Little House books, were a great match. For both sons and daughters, many of the Bethlehem books are also ideal! The children could not stand the suspense and would then take the book and complete it! I also use this tip when I would like to guide them into a different genre of book as sometimes they get stuck on something for a long time (like Ranger's Apprentice), for example. Then I find a good saint book or historical fiction and off they go again. It really works quite well for us. (I use this for their pleasure reading as they usually don't have a choice with their assigned reading.)
Happy Reading!
God bless,
Greengables
__________________
May God bless you,
Greengables - wife to best friend and mother to 11 blessings on earth
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
cathhomeschool
Board Moderator
Texas Bluebonnets
Joined: Jan 26 2005
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7303
|
| Posted: May 22 2013 at 8:22am | IP Logged
|
|
|
greengables wrote:
| I haven't posted in a very long time and lately have visited very little as well (just so busy trying to keep all the fires out/ teaching/ sewing/gardening! etc...) so I should probably reintroduce myself! My screen name is greengables (my real name is Jill) and I have been homeschooling many years! |
|
|
Welcome back! 
greengables wrote:
| what really seemed to be the turning point for all of my children (turning them into independent reading lovers) is this: When I know the children are capable of moving to that next step in reading, I spend some time focusing our reading into exciting chapter books where I still do read (initially), but, for whatever reason ??? HUM???, I am unable to complete more than one or two chapters in a sitting - always stopping at a very exciting part, of course! |
|
|
YES! This is exactly what got my 2nd son hooked on Pippi Longstockings. (And it has worked many other times too.) What has also worked is when one child has read an exciting book and talks and talks about it until the new reader just has to read it too. 2nd son dove into The Wizard of Oz because of that. Since you are working on getting your oldest to be an independent reader, perhaps his friends could mention exciting, good books that they are reading.
__________________
Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
kristinannie
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 27 2011
Location: West Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1363
|
| Posted: May 22 2013 at 9:03am | IP Logged
|
|
|
cathhomeschool wrote:
| Are you looking for chapter book suggestions for different subjects or just easy transition chapter books in general? |
|
|
Both!!!  I was hoping to start the habit over the next 6 weeks without school (our long sort of summer break) with just easy chapter books. Then, in July, have him start doing some of his own reading as part of the normal school day (in addition to continuing with the chapter books on his own).
__________________
John Paul 8.5
Meredith Rose 7
Dominic Michael 4.5
Katherine Elizabeth 8 months
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
greengables
Forum Pro
Joined: May 12 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 108
|
| Posted: May 22 2013 at 10:18am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks for the welcome, Janette.
I just love the age where the children grow into the independent reading. For us, another key is the tools (phonograms) in the toolbox! They make a huge difference too!
God bless,
Greengables
__________________
May God bless you,
Greengables - wife to best friend and mother to 11 blessings on earth
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Forum Locked) 
4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Introducing independent reading
