4Real Forums: Boys During Read Aloud Time

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Topic: Boys During Read Aloud Time

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pumpkinmom
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Posted: July 05 2013 at 5:19pm \| IP Logged

Need I say more?

One struggle I (we?) have is read aloud time with my two active boys. The oldest is the worse and he must fidget and be active at all times it seems. It drives me insane. I try hard to let some of it go and I do, but then the youngest get distracted and then they start communicating between the two of them with hand motions, facial expressions or whatever items I allow them to have during this time. Then I blow up.

I have even more reading planned this year and I'm determined to come up with a solution!

We only do thirty minutes to forty-five minutes at a time and I would like to keep it at the time, but would love to get in a hour. We are reading from 2-4 books during this time. I allow thinking putty to be played with while I read. I use to have a basket of coloring books and drawing books too, but that seemed to take to much energy to focus on plus the reading.

What works for you to keep your active boys still (and listening) during read aloud time?

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Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
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Servant2theKing
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Posted: July 05 2013 at 5:47pm \| IP Logged

Feed them!!! Preferably something that requires lots of chewing and hand to mouth action (think popcorn)! Seriously, eating keeps them busy and less able to talk or interrupt! Ask me how I know!

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jawgee
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Posted: July 05 2013 at 5:50pm \| IP Logged

Watching this.

I was thinking of having some sort of incentive. My boys are so distracting during morning readings - odd noises, wrestling, "I need a bathroom break," etc. Oh, it drives me mad!

I'll be watching this. It used to be my girls who were the distraction. They still are...sometimes...but I expect more of that from littler ones.

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pumpkinmom
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Posted: July 11 2013 at 8:08am \| IP Logged

I hadn't thought about eating. We normally do read aloud before our lunch break. Perhaps they can get a head start on eating. I also bought a bad of Starburst for a special treat. I guess we will find out if they will sit still for a piece of candy.

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Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch

Becky Parker
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Posted: July 11 2013 at 8:38am \| IP Logged

I have active boys too. Five of them to be exact, so I know what you are going through! Remember that, for most boys, activity doesn't mean they aren't listening. My ds with ADHD actually finds it more difficult to listen if he is concentrating on being still.

I agree with the feeding. One friend told me she called it "Read and Feed" time. I also allow my kids to color. I find that works best when each child has their own coloring materials so there is no "can I have the green?" sort of thing.

One thing that really took off one year is when I had my kids make "sketch journals" while I read. They each had a drawing notebook and pencil. They were to draw a picture of what I was reading about. They turned out fabulous. One did a drawing per page, another did it collage style with lots of little drawings on a page. I found it interesting to see what struck them as interesting while I read. It could be a scene that was taking place, or one item from the scene like a truck, or animal. These notebooks then lended themselves to great narrations!

That's the other thing. Have your kids narrate and remind them they will be asked to do so. That helps them focus a little better.

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