The Reading Record

This is Simon's weekly Reading Record from last week.

Most weeks it's missing a few days. Most weeks the minutes read is somewhere between 20 and 30 minutes with a bunch of stopping to look at the clock and ask how much more time? Most weeks it's a challenge to get him to do his daily reading. Most weeks I have to decide if it's the battle I want to fight that night.

I want him to want to do it and I don't want it to be a battle. I want him to love it in that "this can change your world buddy" kind of way.

Last week the Edwards' household did some major celebrating as Simon finally found a book he wanted to devour.

It came in his Easter basket and it was very unassuming at first.

He actually got a bunch of books in his basket (including The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, The Boxcar Children, and The Wizard of Oz). This particular one happened to come in a bucket via a special Easter scavenger hunt set up by our Katie (babysitter/nanny/caregiver - I never know what to call her but man do we love her so maybe I'll just call her "our Katie").

It's a chapter book based on a movie he likes and already knows the story called How To Train Your Dragon: The Chapter Book. Familiar things are a "happy place" for Simon - stories, foods, places, events, etc. He started reading and he didn't want to stop. He was excited. The looks on his face as the words connected with the movie in his head were so awesome. Glee. Joy. Excitement. Happiness.

One night he read for two hours straight and another night for an entire hour.

Tonight we're currently searching high and low for this book. It's gotten misplaced in the upstairs/downstairs shuffle of clothes, books, toys, etc. He's almost done - maybe just a couple pages left.

Here's to hoping he'll connect with another book he wants to devour very soon.

Go Simon go.

UPDATE | He found the book (it was on the bench near the front door). He finished it tonight and came in and told me "I finished the book. And the last word was sunshine."

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108 thoughts

  1. Lisa W. says…
    05/03/2011

    Mmmmmmmmmmmmm...love this story. AND I so get you want him to love it. I remember when my son DID NOT want to learn his site words, wanted nothing to do with reading. And that is exactly the key. Finding something "they" enjoy to read. He is very into cars ...trucks...show type vehicles. He gets three magazines in the mail and READS them ALL the time. My heart tickles SO much when I see that. He is now 20 yrs. old and reads them all the time, all while working 7 days a week. AND I LOVE "Our Katie". She has to be a special girl. I feel like I know her a bit...just from your blog. If she is not against in doing so, would LOVE to see a picture of her so I can put a face to this sweet young lady:) GO SIMON GO!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Claire says…
    05/03/2011

    It is so wonderful when children discover reading. I tell mine - you need never be bored if you can read. There is a Jane Austen quote which puts it much better - something about how hard it is to learn, but it gives you so much back. I can't imagine a life without books -escaping to another world for a while is just magical.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Spedsue says…
    05/03/2011

    Way to go Simon You brought "sunshine" to your mom!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Emma says…
    05/03/2011

    I used to have the same problem with my son he has dyspraxia and also dyslexia he's about the same age as simon and one day it just clicked he's currently readying Diary of a wimpy kid books which he loves, I love watching pick up the news paper/ or a history book ect and ready and understand it. Now if we could just have the same luck with his handwriting this is our area of struggle at the moment He can do it, he just does not want to and it like to much hard work, go Simon with the reading and good luck finding another book.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Kristin says…
    05/03/2011

    So sweet! I knew my second wouldn't be as interested in reading/letters/numbers as my first, so I've been patient and interjecting it slowly to make it seem less of a burden and more as a joy. We will see how that goes! Though it is quite nice to have my oldest 'teach' him some of this stuff. ;)

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Pam S. says…
    05/03/2011

    I'm celebrating with you! I'm a volunteer reading partner at our elementary school and it's so exciting when a child enjoys a story. My older son (now 12) has loved to read since he was 4, but my younger son not so much. We're working on it like you are with Simon. It's all about timing and the right book!

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Suz says…
    05/03/2011

    TOTALLY. AWESOME.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Debbie S. says…
    05/03/2011

    That's so awesome!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Celeste Smith says…
    05/03/2011

    That is a series you know - there are a bunch more books in it. :)

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. elizabeth says…
      05/03/2011

      was just about to say the same thing—there are a bunch of these, hooray!

  10. Nicky from Canada says…
    05/03/2011

    hoorah!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Chi Anne says…
    05/03/2011

    The librarian in me wants you to know (as you probably already do) that the How to Train Your Dragon books are a series. Its often easier to get them to keep going if they can read the next book in the series and then keep finding them series books they like.
    http://www.howtotrainyourdragonbooks.com/books/

    I believe there are eight books so far.

    You may also be familiar with this site http://www.readkiddoread.com/home but it has great recommendations for kiddos as well.

    And finally, one more site where you can type in the book you liked and it will make recommendations for you: http://whatshouldireadnext.com/0340860685/isbn

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Reneecrops says…
      05/04/2011

      Thank you for these links not only for my daugther which I appreciate more than you can imagine, but I'm for myself as well. I'll read every book I can get my hands on from an author, but then I'm stumped where to go from there.

    2. Susan R says…
      05/03/2011

      Thanks for sharing these links, my kiddos love to read and these are great for finding new faves!

  12. Shelley says…
    05/03/2011

    I know that feeling, and it is SO AWESOME when they get it! This bookmark with a timer (http://www.amazon.com/Mark-My-Time-Digital-Bookmark--Neon-Blue/dp/B000CC4U6Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304428664&sr=8-1) was the best investment in my son's reading.

    Simon might like the BeastQuest series by Scholastic. My guy is devouring it.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. marlene filipiuk says…
    05/03/2011

    i have the same problem with my son, it almost seems like a battle at times. but it's so great when they find a book they love, it makes me happy! glad simon found one :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. peanut says…
    05/03/2011

    Awesome!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Laurie says…
    05/03/2011

    As an educator, an avid reader and a mother, I empathize with you. I've gone through the same battles with my daughter, who is now 12. It's great when something just clicks and reading becomes enjoyable. My daughter had a mandated reading time every night from her teachers in elementary school and there were nights where the battle just wasn't worth it. She could read (no reading disabilities) and in fact, could read in two languages because she was in a dual language program. I tried everything I'd ever heard of to get her to enjoy reading. I finally had to accept the fact that for my daughter, reading was not going to be her "go to" free time activity. There were too many other things she enjoyed doing. I think that was probably what bothered me the most; I so enjoy reading and it is my number 1 free time activity and I wanted her to have the same experience as I did with books. I just had to accept (interesting that accept is my one little word this year!) that my daughter had different interests; I love that she is so athletic (I am not), so her lack of avid interest in reading is okay. It took me awhile to reach this acceptance though.

    I did find that when I told her she could stay up an extra 20 minutes as long as she was reading, that motivated her to read! Now that she's in 6th grade, she seems to have discovered reading. I'm not sure what is different, but she has read more books on her own this year than in the past. It's still not her "go to" activity, but, struggling to get her to read at all is no longer part of our evening ritual.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Alison says…
      05/03/2011

      One of my favorite books at that age was Mandy by Julie Andrews. It is an older book so you might need to get it through interlibrary loan but I highly recommend it. I still read it every year.

  16. Dori says…
    05/03/2011

    Way to go, Simon!

    Ali, I highly recommend the personalized books at book by you dot com. They have really awsesome stories for kids of all ages (including the personalized romance novels that I usually gift to my nieces at their bridal showers). I've ordered from this company several times and have never been disappointed. Although these books aren't inexpensive, they're true keepsakes and, according to my DIL, they're the most popular books in my grandsons' home library. They LOVE them!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. SHERRY says…
    05/03/2011

    Ali,
    The dragon books actually came before the movie, there is a series of books. Next time you are at B&N check them out :) my daughter starting reading them about 5 yrs or so ago. one of the titles is "how to speak dragonese", the title alone got her excited.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. KellyM says…
    05/03/2011

    Have you tried 'The 39 Clues' books? My 8 and 9 year old boys loved them.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. dawn says…
    05/03/2011

    I loved reading about Simon and the other comments here too. Reading is such a big thing at our house we are all readers then came Sam (9yrsold) and he hasn't picked up the love of reading like the rest of us. It is a battle at our home too and trying to get him to make new goals each month at school too. He stays in the little books and won't leave them, partly lazy and partly too afraid. I've never let him read the goosebumps series and so finally in the beginning of April I caved and told him to go ahead. He brought them home and loves them and read all month at school and at home and on weekends, finally it worked. NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS HE BROUGHT HOME A CERTIFICATE FOR MOST BOOKS READ IN THE MONTH OF APRIL AND THE MOST POINTS IN READING AND HIS MOST A/R TESTS PASSED WITH A 100% on all but 3 of them. I was so excited and so was he. So Ali and others I totally get how all of you are feeling. Funny how we all live so far apart and don't know each other but have the same connections. So GO SIMON GO !! I am so happy for the Edward's house. It does help to find them books they love so I told Sam to see if he can do even more this last 6 weeks of school and beat his record. Ali, we also love the boxcar children books and the tree house mystery ones were a hit with my girls too. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.

    P.s. I think "our Katie" sounds perfect!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Sheri Brady says…
    05/03/2011

    Just wanted to say I so enjoy reading about the successes of your son, and love the way you share your stories with us. I don't know what it must be like to raise a child with some of the special needs that he has, but I just wanted to say bless you. It is obvious you are such a good mama, and I think he's really lucky to have you! So from one mom to another, I just wanted to say well done! I think in your own way you are both champions. Blessings to your family this week, Sheri :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Megan Beverly says…
    05/03/2011

    Go Simon!!!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Julia says…
    05/03/2011

    Your update to the post made me tear up! Thanks for sharing these special moments with us.
    Maybe some day Simon will read one of my childhoods favourite book: Michael Endes "The Neverending Story". Or any other book... So lovely Simon likes reading!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. pidge says…
    05/03/2011

    'The last word was sunshine"! Oh my, I have tears in my eyes!!! That was unexpected. So true how reading makes impacts in ways we never plan.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Cindy d says…
    05/03/2011

    How exciting! What a wonderful post. I hope Simon continues to find the joy in reading.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. michelle says…
    05/03/2011

    One of the best series that LOCKS kids in is the Magic Tree House Series. There are over 30 books in the series and it has been a lifesaver to many of my students that need to be hooked-My daughter is in the 4th Grade and this is the first year she has enjoyed reading...I was so stressed about it, but it just clicked. Congrats Simon!!

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