The dance we dance
Today James needed to pick a new book; it’s always a struggle. In fact, I made a book jar to cut down the agony. I used to bring him stacks of books, all of which he would discard as not being right, unless I had managed to find him a series he was enjoying. I would then narrow it down to a few and say, “You must pick from these.” Oh, how he would struggle.
His problem lies not in that he doesn’t love books, but in that he loves them too much. Nothing could possible engage him, live up to, be as good as those he had read in the past. Age six and he has read the best that the literary world has to offer. How is he ever supposed to pick from the slim picking left over that I have offered him?
Enter the book jar. Slips of paper, in a mason jar, each with a book title, rolled like a snail. He picks one, he reads it. If, after two days, he doesn’t like it, he moves on (always the “rule” by the way, but still picking a book was life and death).
Here is the book jar dance:
He picks, he reads.
“I don’t like it.”
“That’s what you said about the last one and you love it.”
“Yes, but I remember looking over this one before. I’m sure I won’t like it.”
“Well, if you won’t like it, you can stop reading it after two days.”
“I know I love the book I’m reading now. But I won’t like this one. I won’t finish it.”
“O.k.”
For the record, in the past year, 40 “school” books, he has not finished 2. This conversation? 42 times.
book jar = brilliant
(that you know the total for this year…. I don’t think I’m worthy)
((the jar is perfect for Lucy))
Question ~ do you make up your own “school booklist” or are you following a suggested list.. sorry if you’ve already answered that question somewhere.
I only know the total because I report to a school monthly, although I have to say, I love that I can look back and see the “school” books he’s read (no way I could track everything – he reads constantly). I plan to start tracking our read alouds better as well just because I love it so much.
I do make my own booklist. I’ve used books he’s loved in the past as a starting point, finding similar books (of course, amazon and librarything are both good for this), adding in “classics,” things I loved as a child. It’s a mix of levels as well, easy, just right, and challenging. I look over what’s left every 6 months or so and add titles.
You are brilliant!
I can hardly wait till Becca starts to really read! I know she will love having that world open up to her. She is so close but lacks the confidence (?) to believe she can do it all the time. That and she loves that I read to her all the time.
James was very similar at her age. He worried that I would stop reading to him if he learned to read and that he couldn’t read as well as “his team mates (Darren and I).” Once we convinced him there was a learning curve, he relaxed quite a bit. Now, I’m the one who gets offended if he wants to read to me instead of the other way around
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That young man certainly has his own mind and personality, doesn’t he? The book jar is a great idea. I wish I had thought of it 10 years ago. It may be a little hard to implement now, LOL.
I’m struck once again by how well homeschooling works.
You know him so well that you were able to work around his (I’m sorry, but I find it hysterical) feelings of hesitance about new books and reading them.
I know there are good people in school and all that, but how many of them would have taken the time or effort involved to help him through this?
Bravo.