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From: "PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults and Children" <pubyac@prairienet.org>
To: "PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults and Children" <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 11:01 PM
Subject: PUBYAC digest 973
PUBYAC Digest 973
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) KidzMouse
by "Adrienne Furness" <afurness@mcls.rochester.lib.ny.us>
2) Kids turned-off reading
by Stacey Schultz <sschultz@lakeshores.lib.wi.us>
3) Re: Kids turned-off reading
by Jo Hick <johick_2000@yahoo.com>
4) Re: Kids turned-off reading
by "Denise Inman" <kedeez@hotmail.com>
5) kids turned off reading
by "Joann Giese" <jgiese@stdl.org>
6) Re: accellerated reader
by "Bart Pisapia" <PisapiaB@mail.co.leon.fl.us>
7) Re: Turned off reading?
by Rebecca Smith <read2yourbunny@yahoo.com>
8) Why kids get turned off of reading
by Mairi Ellen Quodomine <mquodom@mail.pratt.lib.md.us>
9) Re: J or YA?
by SandraK Lang <langsa@oplin.lib.oh.us>
10) Storytime Kits Advice
by Karen D <karen75022@yahoo.com>
11) Cat named Cleo
by Anne Fescharek <annfes@yahoo.com>
12) Re: Teen spaces
by Nicole Marcucilli <nmarc@CLSN3046.glenview.lib.il.us>
13) Re: Kids turned-off reading
by "Melissa MacLeod" <mmacleod@sailsinc.org>
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From: "Adrienne Furness" <afurness@mcls.rochester.lib.ny.us>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: KidzMouse
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Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 10:34:17 CST
Is anyone out there using KidzMouse computer mice? If so, what has your
experience been? We're considering purchasing a couple for our children's
room.
TIA.
Adrienne Furness
Children's and Family Services Librarian
Webster Public Library, Webster, NY
afurness@libraryweb.org
------------------------------
From: Stacey Schultz <sschultz@lakeshores.lib.wi.us>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Kids turned-off reading
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 10:34:27 CST
Hi all,
I have been reading the discussions about kids getting turned-off to
reading with great interest. The schools in the town I work in use
Accelerated Reader and students are required to earn points for grades.
On a daily basis I have kids coming to the library to select books from
the Accelerated Reader list. I have found that for some parents and
children it can be a frustrating process to find a book the child is
interested in and has a high point value. For some children it seems
to be all about points and not about the joys of reading. We have also
had parents and children mention that they are so overwhelmed with
reading during the school year and that is why they have chosen not to
be part of the Summer Reading Program.
Stacey L. Schultz
Youth Services Librarian
sschultz@lakeshores.lib.wi.us
------------------------------
From: Jo Hick <johick_2000@yahoo.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Kids turned-off reading
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Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 10:34:35 CST
My 2 cents:
At our library during the summer, we encourage kids to
fill out reading records. What do they get if they
fill one out and bring it in the next week? Candy?
Toys? No, we give out a free new book of their
choice. This program is well loved by kids and their
parents (probably their teachers also). They can read
anything they want - no list of "preferred choices".
It can be fiction, or non-fiction, any reading
level-(it drives me crazy when parents tell a child
not to choose a certain book because it is too
easy/hard and that their child should only be reading
books that are the "right" reading level). We have
gotten such great feedback from parents...like the
mother who said her daughter developed an interest in
the Holocaust after she chose a free book about it.
I agree that giving out certain prizes can be a bad
choice, but through the years we have found that this
reward program (new books) is a good one.
Jo Hick
Youth Services Librarian
Phillips Public Library
Phillips, Wisconsin
--- Dorothy Youngblood <dyoungbl@mail.owls.lib.wi.us>
wrote:
> Gail,
>
> I agree this is a good discussion point. There are,
> no doubt, many factors.
> The one that scares me most is the well-known fact
> that giving extrinsic
> rewards
> for a behavior will extinguish intrinsic motivation
> for that behavior. In
> other
> words, when we encourage kids to read for
> "incentives", we are the ones
> guilty
> of demolishing their internal motivation to do so
> and replacing it with
> acquisition motivations. Not what we are intending
> to do, but are we
> perhaps
> guilty of defeating the joy of reading in the
> interest of boosting our
> participation numbers.??? It worries me....
>
> Reading time used to be a reward. At our local
> schools now TV is the
> reward;
> reading is the chore which must be done before the
> reward (TV) is given.
> What
> does this teach?
>
> Dorothy Youngblood, Director
> Ellison Public Library
> Scandinavia, WI
> dyoungbl@owlsnet.lib.wi.us
>
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From: "Denise Inman" <kedeez@hotmail.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Kids turned-off reading
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Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 10:34:43 CST
Richard Q writes......
>>>......Little boys want action, outdoors, survival, sports,
fast cars, danger. They aren't particularly interested in reading stories
with high moralistic themes or long descriptions.
.......The books selected for classroom and school libraries are
mainly "girls" books.
.......So little boys have been fed a constant line of girl books
selected by women. They don't object; they just aren't interested.
.......You'll discover there are very few male role models.
.......Because of the constant book selections made for
girls, many publishers over the past two decades or so have promoted and
produced less and less material for boys.
>>>>>>>
I actually agree with Richard to some extent. I do not believe this can
<all> be traced to the librarians selection of materials. Much, much
more
goes into this problem than that. But I do agree that there is a dearth of
material for boys though, especially in the 3rd and 4th grade levels. That
may be why so many are "turned off" reading.
I have long been aware of gender differences in the personal selection of
reading material. I am seeing this more and more with my 7 year old son.
He talks the language of so many boys now, "this power", "that
megapower",
transforming into this", "water attack", "lightning
attack", think Pokemon
games and even the new Legos, Bionicles. In an effort to reach a new age
group, the older preteens, there is a story line with the Bionicles of
needing to battle to "save" a group.
This does not interest me in the least. In fact, I strive to make sure my
son knows that they are about fighting, no matter how it's presented. As
his mother, I do not think that this should be the kind of fiction that
forms the main diet of someone, male or female, who is forming his/her
character.
I have difficulty in finding other fiction for him to read or us to read
together. I'm talking light, interesting reads on a 3rd/4th grade level
with boy interests (other than violence). There is some fiction for the
emerging reader aimed at boy interests, "Nate the Great", etc., but
definitely not as much as there is for girls. The pile is even more
uneven
when you get to 3rd and 4th grade levels.
Most of those older books that may have an adventurous angle often expect an
emotional maturity that is not there. So as a mom, I don't feel
comfortable
in expanding his fiction reading into categories that I don't feel he has
the maturity to handle.
Why is there so little of this fiction in my library? Is it the publishing
industry? librarian's female gender bias? I don't know. As a selector, I
try to be aware of my interest bias (not necessarily gender based since I
would tend to get woodworking and carpentry books as well as quilt books,
but I know non-fiction is easier to quantify.)
I have to ask if my selection of fiction is quietly biased. Again, interest
based not gender based. I dislike reading or seeing interpersonal
violence,
no action films for me! I love Gary Paulson, but his violence is not
generally between people. Do I unconsciously choose children's fiction
books with that bias? (I know that in adult and young adult I do not.)
I'll
have to ask myself this question as I do selection in the future.
Denise Inman
East Providence (RI) Public Library
Rumford Branch Librarian
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------------------------------
From: "Joann Giese" <jgiese@stdl.org>
To: "PUBYAC (E-mail)" <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: kids turned off reading
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Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 10:34:50 CST
Your perception of reading "dropping off" may be an aspect of
normal =
intergenerational conflicts. "oh, that younger generation! They
don't =
do....[fill in the blank with whatever the older generation thinks it =
hasn't yet accomplished]!" =20
=20
My experience has been different. As an older child in a very large =
family, I was not a reader and no one at home was going to push me to do =
it--I was the well-behaved & obedient caretaker of my younger
siblings. =
Fortunately, my third-grade teacher noticed me, and called my parents =
for a conference. As a result, I spent the next three months of =
Wednesdays staying after class for an extra half-hour, and reading at my =
desk (which was moved to right in front of the teacher, from the back =
corner) either out loud or to myself. Then I wrote paragraph summaries =
of plots, characters and title/author/publication information. It was =
formative. Something happened (don't we wish we could put a finger on =
just what/when) that made reading no longer another chore, but something =
that made me special, cherished, praised... Of course I became a =
reader. Let's try to do the same thing for every child with whom we =
come in contact.
=20
Jo Giese jgiese@stdl.org
(847)923-3435 fax (847)923-3428
Schaumburg Township District Library
Youth Programs
130 S. Roselle Road
Schaumburg, IL 60193
=20
------------------------------
From: "Bart Pisapia" <PisapiaB@mail.co.leon.fl.us>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>,
<jbaker93711@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: accellerated reader
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Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 10:34:58 CST
I can tell you my experience as a teacher using Accelerated Reader. The =
school administrators who actually make the decision to use the program =
choose it because it gets kids reading and thus helps bring up test =
scores. Test scores (sorry to say) are the be all and end all.
In our school all teachers had to do Accelerated
Reader and we had =
specific guidelines we had to follow in how we did it. I think that's a =
good point too. You can make Accelerated Reader more, or less intense by =
the emphasis you put on it. I preferred a more relaxed emphasis. But =
getting back to your question, teachers or others who tell administrators =
the "evils" of AR are not well received. The program costs
thousands of =
dollars. They don't want to be told the thousands they have just spent is
=
turning kids away from reading for pleasure. They want to protect their =
investment (monetary investment) and get the results they want (higher =
test scores). From my experience that is all some of them are really =
concerned about.
>>> jbaker93711@yahoo.com
01/06/03 11:53PM >>>
In the "what turns kids off to reading" thread I have
since read at least three different comments about the
terrible evil of Accellerated Reader. I also hate this
program and I have over the years talked to many who
agree that it is killing good reading habits in kids.
I don't want to start an arguement over the merits of
this program because I'm sure there are a few people
out there who agree. What I'm really wondering is
whether anyone has ever made any real effort to
convince schools that these are bad programs?
~jennifer
Fresno Co. Library
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
~jenniferbaker
"If an item does not appear in our records, it does not exist."
~ Jocasta Nu (librarian from "Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the
Clones")
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------------------------------
From: Rebecca Smith <read2yourbunny@yahoo.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Turned off reading?
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Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 10:35:05 CST
Thanks, Angela, for the tip on the Book Magazine
article. I can't wait to read it!
Here is an online link, for those who don't have
easy access to the magazine itself.
http://www.bookmagazine.com/issue24/literacy.shtml
Rebecca Verrill Smith
Lesley Ellis School Librarian
--- Angela Reynolds <angelar@wccls.lib.or.us>
wrote:
> There's an excellent pull-out article in BOOK
> magazine, Sept/Oct 2002
> issue-- all about the literacy (more about the
> illiteracy) of older readers.
> It talks about how kids fall off the reading
> cliff around 4th grade. The
> article might give some insight for libraries
> planning programs for this age
> reader, and could answer some of your
> questions.
=====
Rebecca Verrill Smith
Lesley Ellis School Library
read2yourbunny@yahoo.com
"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are,
far more than our abilities."
--Albus Dumbledore ( J.K. Rowling)
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From: Mairi Ellen Quodomine <mquodom@mail.pratt.lib.md.us>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Why kids get turned off of reading
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Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 10:35:12 CST
Hi,
I'm going to put my two cents in about kids who stop reading. When I was
13
I
was forced to read Great Expectations by Dickens. Since I was in an
accelerated
class, my teacher made us do a ten page paper on EVERY chapter! I cannot
read
Dickens to this day. Like other people on this list the papers were graded
mostly on grammer. I had other teachers from the time I first entered the
program until I graduated that made us do similar papers When school let
out
for the day I didn't want to read for fun. I wanted to do anything but
read(and
I loved to read as a kid). It took me until I was a junior in college to
really
start reading for fun again. Now I'm a children's librarian and I see the
same
problems cropping up again.
Just my humble opinion
Mairi Ellen Quodomine
Enoch Pratt Free Library
Children's Dept.
------------------------------
From: SandraK Lang <langsa@oplin.lib.oh.us>
To: Christine Leary <cleary@loudoun.gov>
Subject: Re: J or YA?
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Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 10:35:19 CST
This is a topic that interests me as well. I have considered doing my
master's research paper for my MLIS on the topic. In our library the J
collection used to extend to the eighth grade. When the structure of our
school district shifted to the Middle School model, the YA collection
began to change as well.
Currently we are considering doing some
retrospective collection development and replacing some of titles that
were considered J thirty years ago with new copies for YA. _Then Again
Maybe I won't_ is one title that might be shifted. Our J
collection now serves grades 2-5.
Samdi
Sandra K. Lang
Louisville Public Library
700 Lincoln Ave.
Louisville, Ohio 44641
(330)875-1696
------------------------------
From: Karen D <karen75022@yahoo.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Storytime Kits Advice
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Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 10:35:28 CST
Our library is considering adding storytime kits to
our collection for use by daycares, preschools, and
parents. We want to include books, flannelboard
stories, and puppets.
If any of you have (or had) these in your collection,
can you please give me some advice such as: what to
include, what containers are best, how to label each
item, and policy for lost items. I appreciate your
suggestions and can post a summary of ideas I receive.
Karen Dehdari
Youth Services Librarian
Flower Mound Public Library
Flower Mound, TX
karen75022@yahoo.com
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From: Anne Fescharek <annfes@yahoo.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Cat named Cleo
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Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 10:35:35 CST
Okay, Stumper-solvers! Does anyone remember a book
with a cat named Cleo?
=====
Anne Fescharek (and Dewey)
Children's Librarian/ Assistant Director
Millbury Public Library
Millbury, MA 01528
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From: Nicole Marcucilli <nmarc@CLSN3046.glenview.lib.il.us>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Teen spaces
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Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 10:35:43 CST
Wendy,
Here at the Glenview Public Library (IL), we do have a Teen Corner. It is
a small space for high schoolers, but I would be willing to answer any of
your questions.
Nicole Marcuccilli
On Mon, 6 Jan 2003, Wendy Morano wrote:
> I am doing research for my MLS thesis and, ultimately, for the Columbus
> Metropolitan Library System on creating a Teen Resource Center in our
> main library. I'm interested in libraries with spaces for teens and
> also with strong teen involvement.
> If this sounds like your library, would you be willing to answer a few
> questions if I e-mailed them to you? It shouldn't take up too
much of
> your time. I like to keep things short.
> Thanks for your time,
> Wendy Morano
> Library Assistant
> Hilltop Library Branch
>
>
------------------------------
From: "Melissa MacLeod" <mmacleod@sailsinc.org>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Re: Kids turned-off reading
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Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 10:35:50 CST
Hi Gail (my mentor!)! I wonder if this could have anything to do with
parental expectations and badgering? When I see (mothers almost always)
bring their boys into the library they almost always push them into choosing
books the boys are not interested in. In addition, they nag them and try to
set a firm tone about how they "must" read, inadvertently complaining
to me
the whole time about how boys don't like to read and shrugging about it as
if this is to be expected. They pick books off the shelf and say, "I loved
this when I was your age," and "You'll really like this," which
is just
about the worst thing you can do - after all, what 11 year old boy wants to
share the same favorites as his mother! They scowl when they pick a
Goosebumps or Captain Underpants book (if not forbid it) and try (in hopes
of finding boy appeal) to send them home with Treasure Island or Kidnapped
(which are great books, but not right for everyone). Usually I can get the
child alone and show him some John Bellairs or Louis Sachar. I truly think
that boys hear their parents and teachers and develop the idea that it is
"normal" for a boy not to like reading. If parents (mothers
especially)
would comfortably accept that the child is going home with Choose Your Own
Adventure books and be glad for it then they wouldn't associate the library
and reading with parental disappointment (No, you are not taking home a
Power Rangers book, you are going to get something good!). After all, I
loved some of those same "inferior" titles when I was a child, and you
can't
expect your child to develop the attention span and comfort with sustained
reading necessary to enjoy the meatier material without providing them the
opportunity to choose what appeals to them (without the begrudgery!) This is
hard to do sometimes. My son, who is turning five, recently came home with a
Troll book order, and while I was choosing the I Can Read books about Paul
Bunyan and John Henry, he was eyeing the Powerpuff Girls book. I actually
told him (shame on me) that it was a "girl" book (mostly because I
didn't
relish the thought of reading it with him)! He insisted and I relented, and
he eagerly brought it for bedtime reading for an entire week. Imagine if I
had forced him to read Paul Bunyan instead, where would the excitement be?
So, to sum it up, I believe it has to do with societal and parental
perpetuation of the idea that boys don't like to read (and that its OK) and
with the idea that what they choose to read is not good enough or "as
good"
as what girls are being praised for reading.
Too bad we don't have young boys responding to this question!
Take care, Melissa MacLeod, Carver Public Library, Carver, MA
------------------------------
End of PUBYAC Digest 973
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