All About Grooming & Encouraging Good Reading Habits

[mrswongtuition]

My students love these books I've bought for them.


Boys:
Books by Jeremy Strong (http://www.jeremystrong.com)
The day my bum went psycho (alot of toilet humour)
Horrid Henry

Girls:
Junie B. Jones series (suitable for P1 - P3)
Ruby Rogers series (suitable for P2 - P4)

Unisex (books from movies):
Dog Hotel
Mr Magoo's Emporium

There are alot more titles but I'm lazy to walk over to my boy's room to take a look at the titles. I personally read all the books before purchasing them and the contents in the books are socially acceptable and are not anything that will scare the kids or teach wrong values.

[The Alternative Story]

Hi EN,


Yes, the 39 clues is exciting,:) I think they might have 39 books in all, right now, the 6th book is out. It is suitable for those aged 9 to 12. Each book comes with cards to explain the clues and information that is needed to solve the clues.

I really like books that can be used to discuss current affairs or history.

For example, ‘I am David’ is a book that talks about a Jewish boy, David, who escapes from the concentration camp to look for his mother. From this book, you could discuss about the Holocaust. A good movie to go with this book to discuss about the Holocaust and appropriate for children is "The boy with the striped pyjamas’. It talks about a German boy who lives next to a concentration camp and befriends a Jewish boy. He thinks the Jewish boy is in a holiday camp because of the striped uniform that he wears.

Many schools use extracts from ‘I am David’ for their open-ended comprehension for the Primary 5 and 6 level. The text can be used to teach children how to answer inferential questions.

[The Alternative Story]

Hi caffelatte,


Besides 39 clues, another good series is The Shadow Children series by Margaret Peterson Haddix. The first book is 'Among the hidden'. It talks about children living in an era where there are only 2 children allowed per family as the world is over-populated and how a third child has to remain hidden to avoid the population police.

On a lighter side, Chris Ryan has a series for children called Alpha Force where a group of 5 children work together to solve mysteries- a modern take on Famous Five.

[Blobbi]

Yah, I want to say Magic Treehouse very cannot for us. Lucky a friend lent him, so I didn't spend $$. Son says the sentences are too truncated and isn't enjoyable.


Haven't tried the rest cos he's not that into fiction these days except the occasional ones. And yes, - Number Devil is the ALL time favourite. He even asked for sequel. :lol: Right now, it's MM and HS.

In the past, in addition to the usual Geronimo Stiltons and Roald Dahl, he loved books from Beverly Cleary and Dick King Smith (he wrote Babe and a host of very wonderful books). These are very safe books. I don't have the time or inclination to pre-read books (I have so many books I'm reading for myself at the same time! :lol:), so I introduce children's books that are well-trodden by others and just cross my fingers that he takes to them. He didn't like the Boxcar Children for example - probably just a personal idiosyncracy.

Forgot to mention Astrosaurs, which I highlighted in an earlier post. He liked that a few months ago.

[sleepy]

cafelatte:

Roald Dahl also has picture books, shorter stories with colour illustrations. The Minipin is a wonderful book and highly recommended for read-alound :

http://www.amazon.com/Minpins-Roald-Dahl/dp/0140549706/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261131086&sr=8-1

Also check out \"The Enormous Crocodile\".

My 5yo loves this book enormous crocodile. Another book is the Magic Finger, quite an easy read

[tamarind]

cafelatte:

I totally agree with tamarind's recommendation of \"My Father's Dragon\". The three books are excellent and my son's favourites. Roald Dahl also has picture books, shorter stories with colour illustrations. The Minipin is a wonderful book and highly recommended for read-alound :
http://www.amazon.com/Minpins-Roald-Dahl/dp/0140549706/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261131086&sr=8-1

Also check out \"The Enormous Crocodile\".

Yes these are wonderful books ! All kids must read these

[tamarind]

[quote]
Hi tam

I agreed that peter and jane is the best series and I have used it for my older girl.Now, come to my four year old, he refused and he doesnt like it.He only likes ginger bread man, etc , in the lady bird series...what should I do.thanks [/quote]Hi Joy,
My boy also did not like the Peter and Jane series at first. I only let him read for 5 mins everyday. For levels 1 to 2, only about 3 pages a day, from book 3 onwards, only one page a day. After book 3, he knew that he had to read it, there is no choice, it is like brushing teeth. Since it takes him only 5 mins, he does not mind doing it and get over with it.
By level 6, he is so proud of himself that he can read books with so many words. He would remind me if I forgot to ask him to read the \"study book\", which is what he calls the Peter and Jane series.

My advise is to try to establish a routine. Make the reading time very short, only a few mins, but insist on reading everyday. Give the child lots of praise and encouragement. I used to clap and cheer everyday after my boy finished reading He is so pleased with himself. I also used rewards, like if he finished one book, he can get a small present, or an outing to eat ice cream, etc.

Before starting the Peter and Jane series, it is also important to make sure that the child already knows all the phonics sounds, and knows how to join 3 letters to make any words. It will make reading a lot easier for him.

[cafelatte]

Blobbi:

.... And yes, - Number Devil is the ALL time favourite. He even asked for sequel. :lol: Right now, it's MM and HS. .

LOL same same !!! but not sequel right ? I searched everywhere but the author's other books are not for children, it seems ?

[Blobbi]

cafelatte:

Blobbi:

.... And yes, - Number Devil is the ALL time favourite. He even asked for sequel. :lol: Right now, it's MM and HS. .

LOL same same !!! but not sequel right ? I searched everywhere but the author's other books are not for children, it seems ?

No sequel lah. I keep checking too! If have we keep each other updated k?

[Joy]

Hello Tam


Thanks for the great advice.

Its so tough to manage a boy.I dont remember so hard to teach my girl reading when she was young.

You are right, I have to add in lots of cheer and clap when he reads.Actually he memorise the whole of book 2b last year...when I taught him to read...Guess I have to reinforce his reading skills.

Cheers
Joy

tamarind:

[quote]Hi tam

I agreed that peter and jane is the best series and I have used it for my older girl.Now, come to my four year old, he refused and he doesnt like it.He only likes ginger bread man, etc , in the lady bird series...what should I do.thanks

Hi Joy,
My boy also did not like the Peter and Jane series at first. I only let him read for 5 mins everyday. For levels 1 to 2, only about 3 pages a day, from book 3 onwards, only one page a day. After book 3, he knew that he had to read it, there is no choice, it is like brushing teeth. Since it takes him only 5 mins, he does not mind doing it and get over with it.
By level 6, he is so proud of himself that he can read books with so many words. He would remind me if I forgot to ask him to read the \"study book\", which is what he calls the Peter and Jane series.

My advise is to try to establish a routine. Make the reading time very short, only a few mins, but insist on reading everyday. Give the child lots of praise and encouragement. I used to clap and cheer everyday after my boy finished reading He is so pleased with himself. I also used rewards, like if he finished one book, he can get a small present, or an outing to eat ice cream, etc.

Before starting the Peter and Jane series, it is also important to make sure that the child already knows all the phonics sounds, and knows how to join 3 letters to make any words. It will make reading a lot easier for him.[/quote]