Reading with a child (of any age)

 

The quickest way to kill interest in a book for many students is to make it into a study topic! I had one teacher who managed to drag out Steinbeck's 'The Red Pony' over two terms. No mean feat given that my copy has only 95 pages. It is a brilliant work and incredibly moving but, for years to come, most of my classmates would groan every time a pony was mentioned. 

 Reading a book with your child can be used to build bonds and develop topics of conversation between generations. You don't have to make this exercise into another chore, try to approach it with a sense of wonder at what decisions and thoughts your child might reveal. 

Explain to your child that you will be reading the same work simultaneously and creating a family book club.  Decide who will be the book club manager and generate discussion questions. Draw lots if necessary!

 

Steps: 

 

 1: Your child (or any age!) choses a book for you both to read. They are in control but try to make the book manageable! If you have an older child, maybe a series of essays? Or the fantasy series you normally groan at? Acquire a copy for each participant. 

2: Get a block of Post-It notes. Decide on a time that you will both meet. Maybe outdoors? In a cafe?  Try to stick to it or you'll run out of energy. 

3: Set a number of pages or a chapter.  

4: As you both read (or more of you if you've managed to engage the whole family!), use the Post-It notes to write thoughts, comments and questions and stick them on the relevant page. 

5: When you get to your meeting, the manager needs to kick off the discussion with a general question (you can get reading guides on many publisher's websites or use a review for inspiration). After this, each member discusses their Post-It notes. Keep a dictionary on hand if you can. 

Continue to the end...  keep things lighthearted but do keep up the momentum!

Bonus activities: when you've finished, use the Post-It notes to make a collage. Write to another family inviting them to join for your second book.

 

 This can be used to develop your child's critical thinking skills: read my earlier post on ZPD theory for ideas.