So what do you like to read boys, or I should ask what did you like to read as a young boy? What genre, author...
In doing a little reading online I stumbled accross
this article, Matching boys with books.
I thought it was interesting, but I really enjoy educational research stuff. I know its not everyones cup of tea. This aricle is user friendly, not technical. It made me think about my boys, including my husband. I have always loved reading, it helps that I was good at it as a kid. Found it more difficult in recent years. My kids love reading. I have never worried about that. I know from our home that all my kids will be lifelong readers. Andrew complained the other day that I didn't get him a book from the library when I went, like I usually do. I didn't even realize that I did that. Isaac has to be pulled away from the latest Lemony Snicket book, The End, when its time for dinner. It came as such a shock to me that Isaac's teacher told me he has a hard time settling down with a book and reading at school. When wondering why that is I came accross this article.
Here are some quotes I liked from the article "Researchers and educators blame the gap between books and boys on everything from a built-in fidgetiness to low expectations"
Oh come on. Built in fidgetiness. How about unrealistic expectations for sitting still? I confess I am guilty of this, its so much easier to teach kids who sit and listen. But the next paragraph of the article cracked me up.
"But now more are suggesting that the problem may not lie entirely within the boys themselves. Some educators believe that the way schools teach reading tends to favor girls, both in terms of teaching style and reading materials chosen."
I thought it was funny that we would just decide to blame the problem on boys!! Oh that would be letting everyone off easy. "Why can't you read Johnny." "Well if you hadn't noticed I'm a boy."
I think, as an educator, that it is definately true that schools favor girls. Think about it. How many male elementary teachers did you have? I'm guessing you had more female teachers. A teacher naturally teaches to their learning style. Not on purpose but it just happens. So if most teachers are female it stands to reason that more of the time they are teaching a style that is more naturally female oriented.
"But it's not just the books, some insist. The classroom experience needs to be far more interactive...Boys are naturally drawn to action and movement, he points out, and teachers need to find ways of integrating their energy into the reading process."
When my boys were 3-4 they used to act out the story while I read it. They were completely engaged in the story just moving. It does present a management issue in the traditional classroom. When you have 30 kids its hard to read and track what they're doing, be it on task or not. When they're suppossed to be sitting and listening the movement can catch your eye. When I student taught we let everyone draw about the book. I think that is a good strategy but I also think boys need more gross motor movement than drawing provides.
My boys like non-fiction, especially when they were younger. Bugs, dinos, snakes, etc. Anything that is 'bathroom' humor(captain underpants). Adventure is big now. You should check out
The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless by ahmet zappa.
