Why Johnny doesn't want to read

Julie tells me there is a good reason why boys don't read much: the books are for girls.

She says that boys, like men, do not like to read fiction.  But in school most books are fiction.
The easy solution is to let the boys read nonfiction.

Obviously, some boys read fiction.  This month marks the release of the latest Harry Potter book. When someone asked author JK Rawling why she chose a boy as the central character, she replied that girls would read a story about a boy, but boys would not read a story about a girl. 

I mentor Tristan, low income at-risk minority kid from a single parent family.
I discovered the Japanese action comic-book books that read backwards. He reads a book in 3 days and keeps me ordering them on a regular basis. 

I read fiction regularly- - er, once a year. Then it's back to nonfiction for me for the other 50 weeks.

If the object is to improve boys' reading, give them auto repair manuals or whatever holds their interest.  To do otherwise is both idiocy and illiteracy. 

Comments

[Rich Harrison]

I refused to read any of the assigned school reading/books until my 4th grade teacher freed me from the "approved" shevles in the school library. During my 4th and 5th grade year I read every book on science and WWII the school libray had to offer and really haven't slowed down much since. Until reading this blog I have just been grateful to my 4th grade teach, Ms. Rector, for giving the freedom to read what I wanted to read - what an exceptional gift for a 4th grader! This puts her wisdow in a whole new context for me.

[Terry Newman]

Back in the 50s and 60s when my mom was teaching school, many parents of boys asked her how to get their sons to read. My mom told them to let the boys read anything they wanted (excluding porn, etc), cereal boxes, the same comic book over and over, whatever it took to get the boys reading. I guess she was ahead of her time!

[Kristin Hokanson]

I just noticed in this July 27 edition of Education Week that they do online chats for K-12 education leaders. The chat on September 7 (Wed) from 3 - 4 pm (eastern time) is on "The Ins and Outs of Virtual Schools".
I thought I would bring it to your attention in case anyone from LERN would like to participate.

The announcements states that you can submit questions before each chat or ask questions while the chat is in progress. The chat series is free and
you can access it at: www.edweek-chat.org Transcripts are available at
www.edweek.org/chat