The Reading Record

I'll never forgot how much my daughter HATED to read in 1st and 2nd grade especially. She would get very frustrated because the different sounds letters make didn't make sense to her. She was (and still is somewhat) a very black and white person. To her an "A" should make an "A" sound, it didn't work for her that sometimes it was "aw" or "a" or whatever. Now she is in 7th grade and we can't keep her in books. She LOVES reading more than anything in the world and reads hundreds (it's true) of books in a year. She is obsessed and is never without a book or her Kindle in her hand. I am SO GRATEFUL! Anyway, my point is I used to dread the reading log because she hated doing it and I hated that she hated it...but it all worked out in the end. She found her groove and sadly, on the rare occasion she gets in trouble we dont' bother taking away her iPod or her cell phone...those things don't matter to her...we have to threaten her books....what a strange turn of events, huh?

I LOVE this story!! (the story of Simon finding a book he loves, although, How to Train Your Dragon is a much loved book by my Alex, too) My nine year old would much rather do ANYthing than read a chapter book...both my husband and I LOVE to read and so when he finds a book he's excited about, it's a great feeling.

Amy

The Dragon books were a great find for us, too. You know there are 7 of them, right? They significantly increased my daughter's reading level because they were a challenge to read. She loved them all.

Way to go Simon!!

i just had a weird realization when I saw that picture (first of all - hooray, Simon!) that what I consider your "autograph" is really your signature ;) and being a parent you use it to sign things like reading logs.

Awesome story! It totally brought tears to my eyes! Way to go simon. That is one thing I pray for my children...a love of reading. Thanks for sharing Ali.

That last lane is priceless---I think I see a layout in its future! My son loved the Dragon series, way better than the movies in our opinion.

I'm wondering if he's given the Harry Potter series a try. I know you're both fans, and I've found getting them in paperback (and even ripping them in two if necessary) makes them more kid friendly. He'll be amazed to learn how much is left out. Sometimes when I start reading aloud, my son will run with it because he's too impatient to wait until I have time to read aloud again.

There's nothing better than the RIGHT book finding the right kid at the right time. Awesome that you captured this!

I wonder if Simon has discovered the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books? My 9-yeard old son never wanted to read until we discoved this book series last fall. He has read them all and now I'm trying to find something as funny and entertaining for him so he continues to read.

sooooo sweet!!! maybe he would like more books about dragons! or harry potter?! go simon!
tara

[...] I scanned Simon’s Reading Record and included the journaling from this post. [...]

Oh ALi you got me with 'sunshine.' Thanks for the smile.

This post makes me say HIP HIP HOORAY SIMON! Awesome.

What a sweetheart. I'm so glad he's beginning to like reading, what a joy for you to share together!

Ali- My grandmother was a librarian and I grew up loving books- it was hard for me to grasp the fact that my first born (son) hated reading.. I tried so hard to find books that would interest him so that he too could love loosing himself in a story. But it never happened.. until half way through college!! And now while I still wouldn't call him an avid reader he does enjoy sports biography and some mystery novels.. so there is hope for all those non readers out there.
So cool that Simon found something he could embrace!

we've been through the same battle w/ our middlest. first it was getting him into chapter books, then it was getting him to read something (ANYTHING) other than the weird school daze series by dan gutman. my biggest will read anything and everything so this has been a new experience, and i've definitely learned a lot about current youth literature as we've tried to find books that are a good fit. i've got a (sporadic) series on my blog covering some of our favorites : http://gluestickgirl.typepad.com/moments/on-the-shelf/

Yeah Simon so proud of you!

Wonderful and the '...and the last word was sunshine' quote seems like the perfect start for a LO!

Oh how i wish my bonus son would love reading as much as I do. Its a struggle every single weekend every time he comes over to our house for the weekends, and has to catch up hours of home reading homework. Lets just say that his mom doesn't really encourage it (or anything educational for that matter)...He tries to delay the time he has to read, and keeps looking at the clock. He just hates to read. I'm so sad about that, and hope that he will change his mind as he gets older. Loved what Simon said about finishing the book and the last word was sunshine :) Good job Simon!

I also have one child who devours books, and one who does not (also a 9 year boy). I barely even ask him to do his nightly reading assignments anymore. (shh!) And at first I was bummed, because we all want our kids to be the type that love to read, to be curious, and that can always entertain themselves (quietly) with a book. But at some point, I realized that when my older son began to read all the time, I worried then too. Because he didn't run around and play like he used to. So, why am I trying to get my younger son to stop playing and running in order to sit and read? Yes, wouldn't it be lovely if he did, but he's not wasting time when he's not reading. His play is physical and creative and takes a different kind of mental skill and talent.

Yay Yay for Simon! I am still hoping to find that for my JJ. He just would rather look at the pictures than read it or be read to. Maybe someday he will find the sunshine!