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."
Oh ALi you got me with 'sunshine.' Thanks for the smile.
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This post makes me say HIP HIP HOORAY SIMON! Awesome.
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What a sweetheart. I'm so glad he's beginning to like reading, what a joy for you to share together!
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Ali- My grandmother was a librarian and I grew up loving books- it was hard for me to grasp the fact that my first born (son) hated reading.. I tried so hard to find books that would interest him so that he too could love loosing himself in a story. But it never happened.. until half way through college!! And now while I still wouldn't call him an avid reader he does enjoy sports biography and some mystery novels.. so there is hope for all those non readers out there.
So cool that Simon found something he could embrace!
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we've been through the same battle w/ our middlest. first it was getting him into chapter books, then it was getting him to read something (ANYTHING) other than the weird school daze series by dan gutman. my biggest will read anything and everything so this has been a new experience, and i've definitely learned a lot about current youth literature as we've tried to find books that are a good fit. i've got a (sporadic) series on my blog covering some of our favorites : http://gluestickgirl.typepad.com/moments/on-the-shelf/
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Yeah Simon so proud of you!
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Wonderful and the '...and the last word was sunshine' quote seems like the perfect start for a LO!
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Oh how i wish my bonus son would love reading as much as I do. Its a struggle every single weekend every time he comes over to our house for the weekends, and has to catch up hours of home reading homework. Lets just say that his mom doesn't really encourage it (or anything educational for that matter)...He tries to delay the time he has to read, and keeps looking at the clock. He just hates to read. I'm so sad about that, and hope that he will change his mind as he gets older. Loved what Simon said about finishing the book and the last word was sunshine :) Good job Simon!
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I also have one child who devours books, and one who does not (also a 9 year boy). I barely even ask him to do his nightly reading assignments anymore. (shh!) And at first I was bummed, because we all want our kids to be the type that love to read, to be curious, and that can always entertain themselves (quietly) with a book. But at some point, I realized that when my older son began to read all the time, I worried then too. Because he didn't run around and play like he used to. So, why am I trying to get my younger son to stop playing and running in order to sit and read? Yes, wouldn't it be lovely if he did, but he's not wasting time when he's not reading. His play is physical and creative and takes a different kind of mental skill and talent.
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Yay Yay for Simon! I am still hoping to find that for my JJ. He just would rather look at the pictures than read it or be read to. Maybe someday he will find the sunshine!
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Hi Ali,
I have a kid on the spectrum also, he is and has been an avid reader since K. Santa brought him that series of books (COSTCO)
and he loved everyone of them.... Love that Santa and the Easter Bunny brought books. I see that Simon has a new found sport, there is a childs author that writes "sports books" Mike Lucia maybe he might enjoy those too..... Happy Reading :) P>s loved the layout with the letter from Simon.... PRECIOUS...
Annette
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That is awesome, my son loves those books. Has he tried Diary of a Wimpy Kid? My son reads them over and over.
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I am jumping for JOY for you both, cause it feels so good when they find something that makes them wanna read! My boys are reading the Magic Tree House series and I highly recommend it!!! I myself am learning things that I never knew and am just as eager to read with them as they are with me!!! When he is ready for these books ( he may be there now) check them out. The imagination that comes out is fantastic!!!
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That's fantastic. Maybe at younger ages it's easier for kids to imagine when they have some help from a movie. Many years ago my niece got me into Harry Potter and I love reading the books and watching the movies together.
I guess there might be some more movies followed by reading the book in your future?
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This is so great. My son has recently connected with books in a similar way. He's severely ADHD and although he can read well, he never wanted to invest time in a book that matches his reading level. It Was too much of a struggle. Then he discovered Harry Potter. He's now on book 2 and carries it with him to read in every spare moment. I've even caught him reading after lights out; it's so hard to get mad at that.
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Oh, the last word was sunshine...literally and figuratively...be still my heart...gets this momma and language arts teacher so happy!!!!!
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love when a kid connects with a book and that's the spark they need. go simon, go.
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Before I read the post I was thinking, boy, Simon likes to read. When I read the post I understood more of the picture. How great he found a book he enjoys. When kids are able to get books they enjoy at their level it is magic.
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Oh that just makes my heart happy. My now 27 year old son struggled with reading. It was so tough. When things finally began to click it was just joy. And the sunshine... *sigh*.
PS I loved the movie too, haven't read the book.
PPS, my 27 year old who struggled to read, now makes beautiful wood furniture.
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I am so excited that Simon has found a book that he loves! Plus, it's part of a series so there's more to love. I hope that one day soon reading becomes a joy for him instead of a chore. It sounds like he's at the beginning of that path~
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Thank you Ali, as the mother of a reluctant reader your words were inspiring and the comments were helpful.
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Haven't read the other comments, but that is the first in a series of books. I believe there is 5-6 more. My son is the same age as Simon (almost exactly 02.02.02) and he loved the series. He also likes The Big Nate Series, and Captain Underpants, and The Geronimo Stilton Series.
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love this post. love that he was so excited to finish, he wanted to share that moment with you. super sweet.
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Thank you for sharing. I needed it-it made me smile. Go Simon Go!
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YAY Simon!!! Great job with that great book you read! We are all excited to hear which book you love next! You have great taste in legos and Star Wars stuff - so whatever books you like are books we will tell our kids about! Keep reading and let us know what's good!!!
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