Kontan Jou

What is good reading? Is it reading only books that challenge you? Is it reading only books that you enjoy? Is it reading books only for academic advancement? Only for philosophical evaluation?

It is my opinion that good reading comes from a variety of material. You should read for scholarly knowledge and challenge yourself. However, you should also enjoy a little of what I refer to as brainless reading, or eading strictly for fun.

This has become an issue in our household. The girls love to read. Big Kid is actually on a competitive book team where they read books, answer questions, and compete with other schools that read the same books. Her preparation is going well and she is enjoying it. Competitions start next semester and she is limited to reading only her club books. She already has a reading list for when it is over. Twilight will be her first book post competition. I’m previewing now and think it is going to be fine for her. (See, a little recreational reading for me.) Lil Bit also loves to read. Junie B Jones is a favorite series. A little young for her, but it is something she likes. She is currently reading a book that has taken her weeks to get to the end. It is a challenge for her, but I told her if she started it that she would have to finish before starting something else. I think it is very important that she doesn’t give up on a book because it takes time to read. Occasionally she has to ask what words mean, acquainted and scrutinize being the most recent. I have always thought of her as a rather strong reader, but there has been concern this year. I still think she is doing fine, but her teacher does not. There is great emphasis on reading on and above level. I can support this, no problem. Today they were given independent reading time to read whatever they chose. Lil Bit apparently chose something along the lines of Curious George. She is 8 and it is well below her level, but it was for fun. Wrong of her, I will admit…however, being challenged by her teacher in front of the class and threatened with a parent conference, as well as being sent back to kindergarten is NOT acceptable in my book. WTH?!?! Just instruct her to get another book, NOT humiliate and threaten!

Lil Bit now knows that she is to always read a challenge when at school. Anything else is strictly for fun and to be read at home. There was a polite exchange of email with the teacher asking if she really wanted to have a conference as Lil Bit had stated and if she would explain what had happened today. Jem wouldn’t let me be sarcastic or mean. I had to be polite and not immediately jump for the jugular. Her response is that it was really nothing but Lil Bit choosing a book that wasn’t on her level and letting her know that Mom and Teacher would talk if she continued to choose lower level books. We could meet if it continued. In the reply to her response I did explain that Lil Bit had instructions to choose level books and that reading kindergarten books was not acceptable for school. (If you teach, or are familiar, you can imagine the teacher speak that was in the exchange. There is just a way of stating things that is distinctly teacher-like.)

I was nice…but I didn’t want to be.