tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post7862514430284580006..comments2024-03-08T20:57:25.380-08:00Comments on Julie Musil, Author: Teens and Required Summer ReadingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-25601302025547803582012-08-08T06:31:49.586-07:002012-08-08T06:31:49.586-07:00Barry, thanks so much for your input. I tell ya, t...Barry, thanks so much for your input. I tell ya, these lists are really turning my kids off of reading. They used to enjoy it, but now they think it's boring. And I know it's because they're reading books they don't like. Why not let them choose their summer reading? Then during the year, assign them the boring books. Oy.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-44861008163925237422012-08-08T03:22:48.527-07:002012-08-08T03:22:48.527-07:00I am opposed to summer reading lists, especially i...I am opposed to summer reading lists, especially if it's dry 19th century "classics" that today's kids can't relate to. If they must be read those should be read during the school year. What I do support is to require kids to read a certain number of books (let's not be ridiculous, though -- besides enjoying the summer there are many kids who work full-time jobs) of their own choosing. Right now the YA field is flooded with books (some excellent, some not so good) and I think kids are astute enough to put a book down that doesn't attract their interest and to voraciously read those that do interest them. My 11-year old granddaughter has been reading all summer from YA books to Stephen King. There was one book, though, that was part of a series. She began the second book and put it down . . . just as I did (I didn't tell her). There's nothing wrong with not finishing a book. If an author of a series has so many characters and doesn't put them into context (their backstory) in the second book all you have is a name. Tyler didn't have a reading list. She just chose books that interested her. That's what the summer is for. Reading for enjoyment. Just reading is what's important.Barry Hoffmanhttp://shamrachronicles.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-59136745662938878342012-07-30T21:58:57.482-07:002012-07-30T21:58:57.482-07:00This has been so fascinating. Thanks so much for y...This has been so fascinating. Thanks so much for your input. I hope that one day, when they're not forced to read, that my three sons will read for pleasure.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-83018823509328540232012-07-30T19:17:07.915-07:002012-07-30T19:17:07.915-07:00I completely relate to your mixed emotions. Luckil...I completely relate to your mixed emotions. Luckily, my 1st grader and 4th grader just have to read and we read at bedtime anyway. But it makes me sad that my little guy doesn't seem to love it as much as the rest of us do. It's been much harder to find books he enjoys. <br /><br />I hope you and your son find a balance between summer fun and required reading. Good luck!Vicki Tremperhttp://www.vbtremper.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-52919053922147943972012-07-30T17:58:55.395-07:002012-07-30T17:58:55.395-07:00Julie, Summer is a time for fun, and pleasure. And...Julie, Summer is a time for fun, and pleasure. And what would be so wrong to allow a child to read a book for pleasure? One of their choice. If we force our children to read something distasteful to their palate, then we turn them off to the flavor of reading. Allowing them to read what they want, keeps them reading. I totally disagree with this teacher. Reading is fun. We want our kids to feel that way too.Karlene Petitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910702587514001827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-45565745066973253332012-07-30T08:09:19.615-07:002012-07-30T08:09:19.615-07:00There IS a direct corelation between forced readin...There IS a direct corelation between forced reading and reading habits. I'm have an English degree and am a law school drop which means I read very well before I ever started writing. But I didn't do it often, because I hated it. I'd never truly enjoyed anything I'd been forced to read, which meant I'd read a lot of books I didn't like. If I were a teacher I'd have the kids read X number of books over the course of the year in hopes they'd find something they enjoyed and could continue reader after the class.Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09962862566388212238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-89487498148846202912012-07-30T04:31:11.565-07:002012-07-30T04:31:11.565-07:00I haven't experienced that quite yet but as my...I haven't experienced that quite yet but as my son advances into middle school and I look for books in the teen section for him...um, I can understand why teen boys skip to adult books. There are a few and maybe he'll read them but nothing like the great books for boys that are upper middle grade. it's really too bad.Laura Paulinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06503090226508079501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-46739638566502517682012-07-29T17:57:24.443-07:002012-07-29T17:57:24.443-07:00Ha, I loved reading as a teen, but I really didn&#...Ha, I loved reading as a teen, but I really didn't like the books I had to read for school. And I stubbornly didn't read them. Of course, once school was finished, I read many of those school texts and loved them, lol. I think it's a teen thing.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-41646429156461073972012-07-29T14:15:40.396-07:002012-07-29T14:15:40.396-07:00I used to hate reading in middle school, simply be...I used to hate reading in middle school, simply because I wasn't aware of the genre and the type of books that I love reading today. I didn't want to have to read "classics" that took forever to read just because it was so hard to comprehend back then. Sure, I ended up liking a couple of the books I read. But I dreaded summer reading. Like you mentioned, it just hung over my head and wouldn't get done until a couple weeks before school started. So many kids and teens today think they hate reading for that same exact reason that I did. I think it would be a good idea to instead allow kids to read what they want in the summer, like you mentioned, and write a report on it. I didn't actually start loving to read until I started homeschooling in 9th grade.Tessa Emily Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08625256104634830104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-39361436694792686972012-07-29T12:40:49.333-07:002012-07-29T12:40:49.333-07:00My kids all love to read, but two of them were rel...My kids all love to read, but two of them were reluctant at one point and I do believe that was largely due to required reading assignments in school. But then my oldest son got an English teacher that allowed some freedom in choosing reading material. He chose books about zombies and aliens and has been an avid reader ever since. My other son prefers how-to books and biographies of inventors. Doesn't care for fiction. He'll check out stacks of books about how jets are made, but barely finish a chapter in a novel. I say hey that's terrific. Drives my nuts when his teacher insists that she can only give him credit for reading fiction. What???? I tell him to read whatever he wants, and he does.Laurisa White Reyeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12500840034913586508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-14731879372403307062012-07-29T07:44:28.357-07:002012-07-29T07:44:28.357-07:00Traci, isn't it amazing how writers can have k...Traci, isn't it amazing how writers can have kids who don't love reading? I don't understand! My boys think I'm crazy for wanting to read all the time.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-53466033278264217392012-07-29T07:43:19.367-07:002012-07-29T07:43:19.367-07:00Loree, I sooo wish my son loved reading novels...e...Loree, I sooo wish my son loved reading novels...especially classics. My hope is that he'll love some of these books, despite not wanting to read them :/Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-67419736780784436752012-07-29T07:41:55.236-07:002012-07-29T07:41:55.236-07:00This is my position. It's summer!!! Instead of...This is my position. It's summer!!! Instead of creating readers who love books, this is creating kids who look at reading as a chore. Hopefully they'll eventually learn to love reading again :(Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-85469090023300447532012-07-29T07:37:33.551-07:002012-07-29T07:37:33.551-07:00That's my hope...that the kids will like the b...That's my hope...that the kids will like the books, and eventually be glad they read them.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-69556475567337344502012-07-29T07:36:10.586-07:002012-07-29T07:36:10.586-07:00Yeah, this is for AP english, but they're not ...Yeah, this is for AP english, but they're not the only ones with summer reading assignments. All english classes at this school were assigned summer reading. For many students, it's setting them up to fail. I know many of these kids aren't doing the required reading this summer. Heck, the honors students don't even want to do it :(Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-22596364080470921022012-07-29T07:33:05.174-07:002012-07-29T07:33:05.174-07:00Jemi, this is exactly the unintended consequences....Jemi, this is exactly the unintended consequences. These summer reading assignments are definitely turning kids OFF reading. It's sad.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-35501801497973202092012-07-29T07:32:00.979-07:002012-07-29T07:32:00.979-07:00That's my big beef...it's summer. I can un...That's my big beef...it's summer. I can understand it during the school year...Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-42032869077234575822012-07-29T07:30:50.052-07:002012-07-29T07:30:50.052-07:00I think that idea...picking their own book. The ki...I think that idea...picking their own book. The kids would like that much better.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-25141987830931916182012-07-29T07:27:32.997-07:002012-07-29T07:27:32.997-07:00Alex, that's exactly what happened with my son...Alex, that's exactly what happened with my son. Once he was forced to read what he didn't like, he stopped reading for pleasure. Sad consequence.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-40534674198305580342012-07-29T07:26:56.892-07:002012-07-29T07:26:56.892-07:00That's great that your daughters love to read....That's great that your daughters love to read. Unfortunately, "forcing" usually ends up with unintended results, such as "hating" :(Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-6546315342879676682012-07-29T05:44:43.963-07:002012-07-29T05:44:43.963-07:00My son has trouble with reading too but he's n...My son has trouble with reading too but he's not at the required reading stage--he'll be going into that soon however and I'm worried about it. He does read on his own here and there but he's not a big "book" person. My daughter, on the other hand, loves to read, though she's not crazy about the classics classrooms assign.Traci Kenworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07336373871521363649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-10701167183437782672012-07-28T22:17:43.070-07:002012-07-28T22:17:43.070-07:00I"m fascinated by this discussion. Thanks so ...I"m fascinated by this discussion. Thanks so much for your input!Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-82078278888428735152012-07-28T22:15:20.033-07:002012-07-28T22:15:20.033-07:00My kids were always readers. I remember visiting s...My kids were always readers. I remember visiting some old classics along with them when they were in high school.<br /><br />To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my favs too.<br /><br />I remember reading - A Tree Grows In Brooklyn - during the summer of my sophomore year. I was so touched by the voice in that book. I had never experienced the poor, hard, city life that Francie had to live. I was hooked. It's another of my favs.Loree Huebnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09845600356878587780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-25809970143672222942012-07-28T17:25:52.621-07:002012-07-28T17:25:52.621-07:00Been there, done that. My son, who's now going...Been there, done that. My son, who's now going into college, had required reading & it destroyed his love of books. When he was little, he always had a book in hand. He read the first 4 available Harry Potter books in 5 weeks, and that's when he was 7. But later, the requirement meant that reading was a chore. I'm against it. I think kids should have the summer off. It's already a lot shorter than it was. They need that time to recharge. Requiring them to read books they aren't interested in during their free time does no real good. There's no lesson to learn without class discussion. It's fine to ask them to read, but let them read exactly what they want to read. For pleasure.Nancy Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05735642863696266005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-68243350306107186092012-07-28T14:46:18.822-07:002012-07-28T14:46:18.822-07:00As a teen, I don't really mind required readin...As a teen, I don't really mind required reading. Some classics or other assigned works, while I don't usually fall in love with them, are quite interesting in their own right.Golden Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721520451194318436noreply@blogger.com