I taught 7th grade English language arts for 30 years. The best feeling in the world for me was when students would tell me that they learned to love reading when they were in my class. It’s something that we need to foster in our children.
I don’t remember “learning” how to read; it’s just something that happened. Then my son started reading encyclopedias when he was 3 or 4. Don’t think I was teaching how to do that.
Bingo! When I was in 3rd grade I was given the first Hardy Boys mystery as a birthday present. My folks told me if I read it they’d buy me the next book in the series. I did, and they did. Worked my way through the entire series (at that time) then went through the Tom Swift adventures (again, up to that time). It’s one of the best (and nicest) things they ever did for me. I’m 65 now and typically read 2-3 books/week – although I’ve left the Hardy’s and Tom far behind… Thanks Mom & Dad!
Reading is, indeed, insidious. All those new people, places and exciting adventures going straight through your eyes and into your imagination. Talk about a mind altering experience. Libraries are the G-rated heroin dens of the ages.
We read to our kids from a very early age, and they couldn’t wait to learn to read. They were very frustrated at first because they couldn’t read at the level of their interest in books, but they went to a kindergarten that taught phonetics instead of sight reading. I remember my daughter’s second grade teacher being astounded that she was reading “Black Beauty.”
I remember once when I was having my car worked on at the mechanic, and was reading one of the Chronicles of Narnia to my kids in the waiting room. I finished the book and several other customers got up and left….their cars were done, but they got hooked on the story and stayed to hear the end!
Some years ago I saw an interview with a youngster about watching movies. He said he liked reading instead because “the pictures are better”. Imagination is a wonderful thing.
He’s learned the joy of learning by experience! Second and third hand experiences to be sure, but still, experiences he never would have encountered otherwise.
My husband and I are both big readers. I was hooked from before kindergarten when I would pretend/try to read. Husband was not a reader when he was young. It took the right books to get him hooked – James Bond.
I did hit a point in the last 10 years when I stopped reading fiction and have been reading non-fiction. So little time left in life, so much more to know.
When our first nibling came along – my niece – we had to figure out what to give as a baby present. We gave her a mini-library – mostly books my sisters and I had liked when young – we inscribed each book with why we picked it – books ranged from baby bathtub book through more advanced girls’s books such as “Little Women”.
When her brother came along I had to figure which books to buy since husband was no help. Sherlock Holmes of course – my dad loved same, and classic boys books.
The day I was born my dad had been sent to buy me a copy of “A Child’s Garden of Verses” which I still have and still can recite much of from memory – hence our idea of what to buy the niblings as they came along – my family appreciating the books much more than husband’s family who would have preferred jewelry.
rekam Premium Member over 3 years ago
How wonderful!
pschearer Premium Member over 3 years ago
There’s hope for the lad, regardless of who his father is.
Chrisdiaz801 over 3 years ago
Grear hands-off job, Laura and Adam!
Lyrak over 3 years ago
I taught 7th grade English language arts for 30 years. The best feeling in the world for me was when students would tell me that they learned to love reading when they were in my class. It’s something that we need to foster in our children.
nosirrom over 3 years ago
OH NO. He hooked. He’s going to become a book addict. Laura, please tell him to just say NO! It’s the only way we’ll win this book war.
https://tfoxlaw.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/just-say-no.jpg
hagarthehorrible over 3 years ago
His hands were not glued, alright.
exness Premium Member over 3 years ago
I don’t remember “learning” how to read; it’s just something that happened. Then my son started reading encyclopedias when he was 3 or 4. Don’t think I was teaching how to do that.
More Coffee Please! Premium Member over 3 years ago
Bingo! When I was in 3rd grade I was given the first Hardy Boys mystery as a birthday present. My folks told me if I read it they’d buy me the next book in the series. I did, and they did. Worked my way through the entire series (at that time) then went through the Tom Swift adventures (again, up to that time). It’s one of the best (and nicest) things they ever did for me. I’m 65 now and typically read 2-3 books/week – although I’ve left the Hardy’s and Tom far behind… Thanks Mom & Dad!
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 3 years ago
Reading is, indeed, insidious. All those new people, places and exciting adventures going straight through your eyes and into your imagination. Talk about a mind altering experience. Libraries are the G-rated heroin dens of the ages.
raybarb44 over 3 years ago
Now that is something to be hooked on…..
sbwertz over 3 years ago
We read to our kids from a very early age, and they couldn’t wait to learn to read. They were very frustrated at first because they couldn’t read at the level of their interest in books, but they went to a kindergarten that taught phonetics instead of sight reading. I remember my daughter’s second grade teacher being astounded that she was reading “Black Beauty.”
sbwertz over 3 years ago
I remember once when I was having my car worked on at the mechanic, and was reading one of the Chronicles of Narnia to my kids in the waiting room. I finished the book and several other customers got up and left….their cars were done, but they got hooked on the story and stayed to hear the end!
shamest Premium Member over 3 years ago
knew it
corpcasselbury over 3 years ago
There are far worse things to be hooked on than reading.
cpiller Premium Member over 3 years ago
The best addiction a kid could ever have!
cuzinron47 over 3 years ago
At least he’s not hooked on harlequin books.
ron over 3 years ago
Some years ago I saw an interview with a youngster about watching movies. He said he liked reading instead because “the pictures are better”. Imagination is a wonderful thing.
metagalaxy1970 over 3 years ago
Welcome to the club of readers!
Bill The Nuke over 3 years ago
I got my youngest son hooked by reading books to him. Started with Harry Potter.
MartinPerry1 over 3 years ago
He’s learned the joy of learning by experience! Second and third hand experiences to be sure, but still, experiences he never would have encountered otherwise.
Chris Sherlock over 3 years ago
Good for you, Clayton! Reading is fundamental.
mafastore over 3 years ago
My husband and I are both big readers. I was hooked from before kindergarten when I would pretend/try to read. Husband was not a reader when he was young. It took the right books to get him hooked – James Bond.
I did hit a point in the last 10 years when I stopped reading fiction and have been reading non-fiction. So little time left in life, so much more to know.
When our first nibling came along – my niece – we had to figure out what to give as a baby present. We gave her a mini-library – mostly books my sisters and I had liked when young – we inscribed each book with why we picked it – books ranged from baby bathtub book through more advanced girls’s books such as “Little Women”.
When her brother came along I had to figure which books to buy since husband was no help. Sherlock Holmes of course – my dad loved same, and classic boys books.
The day I was born my dad had been sent to buy me a copy of “A Child’s Garden of Verses” which I still have and still can recite much of from memory – hence our idea of what to buy the niblings as they came along – my family appreciating the books much more than husband’s family who would have preferred jewelry.
33Angel over 3 years ago
AWWWWWW! I love this one today SO much!!! Nothing like a child who loves to read…. :D