If they get to choose, then chances are, they will read something they want to read. Hopefully, this will encourage them to become curious about other forms of literature *coughfantasycough* and will eventually have a great vocabulary and reading/writing skills. Like me! Although, my dropout older brother is better read and sounds more like a college grad than a guy I know who is writing his Master's next year.
I definitely agree, but I wonder who should choose the books. "Them there books with the medals on 'em" are given those medals by adults. Would kids reward the same books? Hmmm....I'm not sure. I suspect more advanced students would appreciate the Newbery winners, but the average student might pick a more "crappy" book.
I guess it depends what the goal is. And certainly that goal is debatable. Should the goal be just to get kids to read? Or should it be to get kids to read great books? With so few kids reading anything at all, I lean towards the former, but I am certainly sympathetic other arguments.
Of course, those two goals aren't mutually exclusive. Many of my favorite childhood books were medal winners - Prydain, The Dark is Rising, etc.
Sorry. I seem to have rambled.
But I think that the ones I remember the most were the ones that I read on my own. I don't think there should be a set list of novels that all kids should read. I think being "well read" is becoming more and more difficult. Every year great new books come out, and in the last few years there have been several books that I think could easily have showed up on a "must read" list, and that scares me. How many more books have to be added to lists like this before it's almost impossible to read them all? So, with that in mind, I would say read whatever people are giving great reviews. Parents and teachers should be able to tell the difference between crappy and great literature. If not, I guess just make them read, "them there books with the medals on 'em."
I definitely agree, but I wonder who should choose the books. "Them there books with the medals on 'em" are given those medals by adults. Would kids reward the same books? Hmmm....I'm not sure. I suspect more advanced students would appreciate the Newbery winners, but the average student might pick a more "crappy" book.
I guess it depends what the goal is. And certainly that goal is debatable. Should the goal be just to get kids to read? Or should it be to get kids to read great books? With so few kids reading anything at all, I lean towards the former, but I am certainly sympathetic other arguments.
Of course, those two goals aren't mutually exclusive. Many of my favorite childhood books were medal winners - Prydain, The Dark is Rising, etc.
Sorry. I seem to have rambled.
What books should students be forced to read in school?
- 10/09/2009 06:35:46 AM
1243 Views
I honestly don't remember being assigned any books to read in elementary school.
- 10/09/2009 06:43:59 AM
850 Views
I remember being forced to read a few novels
- 10/09/2009 08:41:47 AM
854 Views
Should the parents or the students choose the books?
- 10/09/2009 05:05:45 PM
840 Views
Let the students choose.
- 11/09/2009 06:14:29 AM
946 Views
Not many - they should be made to read, yes, but why not let them choose themselves?
- 10/09/2009 11:35:09 AM
920 Views
in elementary school, we weren't forced to read certain books until around 4th or 5th grade
- 10/09/2009 02:22:34 PM
927 Views
Don't leave us hanging! What was the ONE book? *NM*
- 10/09/2009 05:27:40 PM
420 Views
Beverly Cleary should be good for that age. She did Mouse and the Motorcycle.
- 10/09/2009 04:09:42 PM
813 Views
I don't think forcing books on kids is the way to get them to enjoy reading
- 10/09/2009 10:44:08 PM
1652 Views
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is da bomb!!! Should be mandatory for elementary. *NM*
- 11/09/2009 02:59:38 AM
402 Views
Which movie do you like better? (Now with lickable wallpaper!)
- 11/09/2009 05:23:45 AM
950 Views