Author's Word Choices & Students' Book Choices

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2002 : July : 26

Author's Word Choices & Students' Book Choices
By Elaine

I know what you are talking about, Sandra. I've found that books written in the first-person perspective can be difficult for students because the character often uses language that is not familiar to our children. Dialects
and colloquialisms can be very confusing if a student is reading independently, and I'm pretty sure that many (if not most) students will just keep on reading even though the meaning is lost to them.
The only advice I can offer to parents or to teachers who may be concerned about this kind of problem, is to read, read, read. The more books on our shelves we've read, the better.

I've read sooooooo many children's literature books (which I love), but it still doesn't help me when I'm trying to convince lower readers to choose books that are "just right" regardless of what others are choosing.

Here's the problem I've had with struggling readers at the 4th/5th grade level. The books on a struggling reader's level appear to be "baby books" that don't offer too much by way of plot, character development, etc. It's difficult for a struggling reader to pick one of these books when his/her peers are reading exciting books about survival, adventure, mystery, etc. What do you tell your students to convince them that reading a book that is "just right" for him/her is far more important than choosing the books others are reading?

Just sign me puzzled in Missouri,
Elaine