Any suggestions for students who choose books that do not lend themselves to the reading strategies we teach? For example, many boys in my 3rd grade class cannot get their hands off the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series. In the past, many boys (especially lower level readers) have gravitated towards Captain Underpants. I try to not keep many of these books in my classroom library, but they order them from Scholastic, buy them at the bookstore, or check them out at the school library.
I like that series like these motivate the students, but they are not the best books for asking thick questions or making inferences, for example.
Any feedback would be much appreciated!
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid is an EXTREMELY popular choice among my boys, too. It is the graphic novel element that attracts them- and I am okay with that choice because it does not have as much "bathroom humor" as Captain Underpants. Luckily, my kids don't really gravitate towards the other choice. I am positive right now because there are books they can eventually read like Dork in Disguise or the Hank Zipzer series, which is still humorous and light like they prefer. Additionally, I am positive about book choice because they will soon be exposed to historical fiction and they may like it more than they think.
As for the thick questions, it can be done, but I'll have to think of how, exactly. My kids are working on writing thick questions right now, but they have never written them in the past. A few understood it well from the beginning, but a few haven't- or they aren't trying as hard as they could be. I believe this Friday for our reading centers, I am going to see how they can write thick questions from the chapter books and non-fiction selections they are currently reading. I need to model the writing of questions A LOT more than I have.
We've made a lot of progress since this post about book choice- they are a lot better than they were at the beginning of the year.
I'll try to think of more to advise you. Any other thoughts are appreciated! - Victoria
Any suggestions for students who choose books that do not lend themselves to the reading strategies we teach? For example, many boys in my 3rd grade class cannot get their hands off the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series. In the past, many boys (especially lower level readers) have gravitated towards Captain Underpants. I try to not keep many of these books in my classroom library, but they order them from Scholastic, buy them at the bookstore, or check them out at the school library.
I like that series like these motivate the students, but they are not the best books for asking thick questions or making inferences, for example.
Any feedback would be much appreciated!
...
Diary of a Wimpy Kid is an EXTREMELY popular choice among my boys, too. It is the graphic novel element that attracts them- and I am okay with that choice because it does not have as much "bathroom humor" as Captain Underpants. Luckily, my kids don't really gravitate towards the other choice. I am positive right now because there are books they can eventually read like Dork in Disguise or the Hank Zipzer series, which is still humorous and light like they prefer. Additionally, I am positive about book choice because they will soon be exposed to historical fiction and they may like it more than they think.
As for the thick questions, it can be done, but I'll have to think of how, exactly. My kids are working on writing thick questions right now, but they have never written them in the past. A few understood it well from the beginning, but a few haven't- or they aren't trying as hard as they could be. I believe this Friday for our reading centers, I am going to see how they can write thick questions from the chapter books and non-fiction selections they are currently reading. I need to model the writing of questions A LOT more than I have.
We've made a lot of progress since this post about book choice- they are a lot better than they were at the beginning of the year.
I'll try to think of more to advise you. Any other thoughts are appreciated! - Victoria