Reading Assignment, Part 3

[charliesmum]

Here's the email I sent to the Principal : I have some concerns about the summer reading assignment that I'd like to address.

Frankly, it's hard enough to convince him to read a book I know he'd enjoy, since reading has always been a struggle for him, and I'm afraid the assigned book, 'Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry' is a bit above his current reading level. Additionally, I don't believe he would be able to process and understand the themes of the book enough to be able to complete the assignments attached to that book.

I'm all for getting children to read, but I don't understand the philosophy behind the school picking the books for them or why, looking at the book list, the belief is that a book has to be about something serious and depressing in order to be worthy. This will only serve to reinforce the 'reading is hard and boring' mindset I know my son has. And he can't be alone in that thought.

Why not tell the kids they have to read at least one book during the summer, but the book can be that of their choosing. You might argue that they'd read something silly, but letting them read for pleasure - the pure pleasure of a story that catches their imagination - should be what reading is all about. Reading for pleasure is a gateway drug; it can only encourage them to reach for other books, and eventually one of those books will be what others consider 'literature'.

I still want Charlie to complete the assignment; I just want it to be a book I know he can handle. With your permission, I would like to help him pick out a book on his own, one that he may actually enjoy. I will make sure he reads and completes the project assigned.

And here's :Nice to hear from you. Hope you and Charlie are enjoying the summer. Our goal of our Summer Reading is to encourage reading and tie it in to the themes they will be exploring throughout that school year. I will copy, Mr. ________, our Language Arts Supervisor and Mr. ________ (Charlie's Grade 7 Language Arts Teacher) on this e-mail to bring them in to the loop and solicit their input. I will defer to [them] regarding the Summer Reading. Please feel free to contact me anytime...

So, what do you think. Did I sound reasonable or like an overprotective mum?

You should see the assignment, too. I'd probably have enjoyed doing them when I was in school, but I just foresee much arguing trying to get Charlie to do it. Also it would mean I'd have to read that book so I could help him. Don't wanna. :)

ETA: Here's part of the LA Supervisor's response: My recommendation is that your son still read “Roll of Thunder…”. I am not the principal but I believe your son will be at a disadvantage if he does not read the book. It is an excellent book from the perspective of a child about racism in the south and “the way things were.” I am sure this book could offer some wonderful quality time between the two of you reading it and discussing it together.

wonderful quality time. Yes, I can see it now. 'Charlie do you understand what the character is doing?'

'Yes'

'What is he doing?'

'It's hard to explain.' (He aways says that when he can't process something.

'What do you think he's doing?'

'I don't know.'

A few rounds of this and I will give up and tell him. Then I'll ask him if he understands and it will start all over again.

And the assignment - has to equal 10 points. I may expound on that in another post.

Comments

[erinlin.livejournal.com]

I agree, reading should be fun. "Fun" doesn't have to mean "Shallow" either. I think you made your point well.

I work in the children's department of a bookstore, by the by. Would you like some suggestions?

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, that'd be great! I'd love suggestions.

[erinlin.livejournal.com]

Here you go. I hope Charlie finds something he likes!

Newberry Winners That Aren't Awful:

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Holes by Louis Sachar

Island of the Blue Dolphins Scott O'Dell

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli


Just For Fun:

Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon

I Want To Go Home by Gordon Korman

Wayside School Is Falling Down by Louis Sachar

Bunnicula James and Deborah Howe

How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

[ladyiapetus]

Dittoing everything that erinlin said.

What is Charlie's reading level, btw? I work in my town's library, and I know you guys don't live in Illinois but there are some titles on IL's Rebecca Caudill and Bluestem Award lists that I think he might enjoy.

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

His reading level is, oh, probably around maybe 5 or 6 grade. I'm not sure. He struggles with reading - which is funny because he LOVES words. His vocabulary is amazing. The other day he actually used the word 'inkling' in a sentence!

But I think it's hard for him to process things, so reading always takes him awhile. He loves the 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' books because they are a mix of drawings and actual story.

[ladyiapetus]

Okay. Probably nothing too long, then.

http://www.byron.lib.il.us/children/caudillnominees2010.pdf
http://www.byron.lib.il.us/children/bluestem2011.pdf

There are the links for the full nominee lists for both the Caudill and the Bluestem, if you want to take a look at them. Savvy would probably be a good one, as would Yellow Star; that one's told in a more vignette-like style so it might be easier for him to process. Found is good as well, mixing a bit of history in with the adventure drama. And I'd have to expand on that and say that anything by Margaret Peterson Haddix is worth a try.

[lietya.livejournal.com]

I think that addressing Charlie's own needs and abilities is perfectly reasonable, but critiquing the summer reading program is a little beyond your scope. ;) Hopefully they'll work with you to find something better for him, however.

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I wondered about that after I sent it. But I really do think kids would be better served by understanding that reading can be a good thing. I think if a kid has a choice in what to read, they'd be more apt to actually do the reading.

Also, I think I'm probably resentful because they're making ME deal with homework in the summer. Do I really want to spend my time nagging him to do his work? :)

[lietya.livejournal.com]

No, you totally don't! I don't blame you at all on that.

While I see your point, school also consists of a LOT of stuff kids wouldn't do voluntarily (says the person who took about a million years of math and has never needed it since, heh). Though the summer assignments are a little different, admitteddly.

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

I think also part of my problem is I've always hated books like this, even as a kid. I hate books that are all deadly serious - I'm told this one isn't as bleak as it sounds, but still the idea of having to read it, to read about people being treated badly and having a horrible life because of it, just makes me annoyed. I have always been an escapist reader. Why would I read something that made me feel even MORE miserable!?

And I got an answer from the curriculum guy. Basically he said Charlie still has to read it. And suggested I read it too. Which I would have to do anyway because there is no way Charlie is going to process this on his own.

[lietya.livejournal.com]

Some people actually read depressing stuff for fun. I'm not sure why either. Maybe it's escape in that their own life looks less bad??

(For the record, I rather liked _Roll of Thunder_, but for all I know that may be because some of the stuff it stacked up against around then [like _Uncle Tom's Cabin_] was worse. I did think it had a less "bleak" feel than you seem to think, but - unfortunately!! - you're going to get to decide for yourself on that.)

Ouch. Jeez, I'm sorry. That's rough on *both* of you - and annoying for you, to boot.

[pinguthegreek.livejournal.com]

If you truly believe this book is not appropriate for Charlie, stand your ground.

My thought would be to ask myself if Charlie will be capable of living independantly when he leaves school. If you feel that might be possible, then he needs exposure to issues that he may come accross and find a way of understanding them and how he manages them. Even if the subject matter is bleak, the book may be the safest way into introducing him to the subject. Just like you use TV programs, plays or films. I know it's hard but it might be easier now than having to prepare him for some kind of adult life when he's older.

But if you feel strongly, stick your ground. These teachers may not have enough understanding of Charlie's understanding of the world to know what is right for him.

[dorei.livejournal.com]

I am somewhat amused that you are practicing a form of civil disobedience, which is essentially what this book is about, anyway.

As Charlie is being made to read this anyway, be certain that he understands that the n-word is not one to be used EVER. Because it's throughout the book.

[pinguthegreek.livejournal.com]

Ok, having read what this book is about....this is historical fiction for Charlie. My thought is that he needs to be literate and numerate to handle everyday life and can use other school subjects to find out what he might have an aptitude for if he's able to work ( see what I said above about independant life ). All he needs to know is that in different parts of the country, people with different color skin were treated differently even before you were born. I know racism still exists, but surely these imbeciles have some inkling that Charlie finds working out people living now hard enough ? Sorry, ranting. But those teachers are lucky it's you and not me they have to deal with.

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

but surely these imbeciles have some inkling that Charlie finds working out people living now hard enough ?

Exactly. He's a pretty astute kid, but this is going to freak him out. I just know it is.

I also think that by calling it 'the way things were' really glosses over the fact that there's still racism today, and it's much more subtle - I worry that it will be come too easy to dismiss as something that 'used to happen' and therefore easy to ignore the stuff that still happens today.

Gods, I really don't want to read this book.

[pinguthegreek.livejournal.com]

Then don't. I haven't met Charlie and I am very much in favour of not keeping kids with special needs out of mainstream schools. But duh, doesn't mean that they can handle the whole curriculum. Hope you don't mind me ranting. I just get cross with people not using their brains and thinking about kids' individual needs.

[dorei.livejournal.com]

Is this for this particular teacher or is this grade-wide? If it's a particular teacher, then request a change of teacher. Change of teacher could mean change of book. If this book is going to be discussed at the beginning of the term, then I can understand why the curriculum guy is telling you he has to read it anyway.

Still, I think he'll have difficulty comprehending it. Yay for spark notes?

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

It's school wide, or district wide, or some such think. I'm still waiting to hear from his actual teacher, who KNOWS Charlie's abilities and may help a momma out.

Otherwise, we'll just do what we can. I did find a study guide online that will help. Hopefully.

[slammerkinbabe.livejournal.com]

The interesting thing about Roll of Thunder is that it's probably been the most important book I've ever read -- that and the others in the series -- in terms of my understanding how certain perspectives about racial relations have been passed down through the years. I remember rereading the series a couple of years ago and being struck by this thought like "my God, these kids [the black protags] are explicitly being taught by their parents not to trust whites, and the reasons for that make so much sense. I'd teach my kids the same thing. And if I grew up with that, and I were taught that, and it made sense to me, then wouldn't I pass it on? And what does it take to move past that way of thinking, and how much does that explain of the divisiveness in American society today -- how do you create mutual trust when there's such a rock-solid foundation for mistrust less than three generations ago?" I remember being so stricken with this new sense of what the heritage of racism in this country means that I had to be reminded that ongoing acts of racism are also part of the story of race in this country. Not that I thought that racism wasn't alive and well. But I was absorbed in a new sense of how history is intertwined with the present, and how there's no such thing as "used to happen" because the things that did happen then are still part of who people are and the way we live today.

Anyway, the book may still be beyond Charlie's reading level, but with luck you may like it and then it won't be so painful for you? Also, if you'd like, I'd be happy to write out a kind of readers' guide that might help Charlie with it and take some of the pressure off you. (If you couldn't tell, it's been a really important book to me, and one I like talking about!) Or, you know, you could use the Sparknotes that already exist. Heh.

[slammerkinbabe.livejournal.com]

(Incidentally, all that stuff I was writing about in the first paragraph is stuff I picked up on a reread at like age 27. I read the book first at age 10 and that wasn't what I drew out of it at all, nor was it part of the way my teacher taught the book. It's one of those books that allows you to grow into it over a period of years, and the most basic reading doesn't demand all that complex analysis. If you wanted my help with a reader's guide or anything, assuming the teacher won't let Charlie read something else, the basic reading is what I'd stick to. Not that you asked me to do one of those. Oh Lord, I'm pretty sure I'm overstepping some boundaries here. Sorry. Why don't I just say if you need help from someone who loves the book and knows it well, just give me a holler, and now I'll leave it at that.) (The end.) (Really!) (.)

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

I would welcome any help you would be willing to give. To be honest, I was tempted to send you his assignment list and ask you to help him complete it! So yeah, some sort of study guide would help.

I will email you when we're ready to start this thing!

[slammerkinbabe.livejournal.com]

Cool!

One other thought I just had, actually: Mildred Taylor wrote several other books for a much younger set than Roll is aimed at, and many of them are about the Logan family too. They're shorter, more cheerful, and in simpler language, and both the characters and the basic themes (racism in the Deep South a generation or so after the Civil War) are the same. It sounds like Charlie would find them much more comprehensible. One is The Well - I forget what the others are called, but Amazon will say. (The ones for older readers are Let the Circle Be Unbroken, The Road to Memphis, and The Land, and those would present the same problems as Roll. Any others that she's written about the Logans are for younger readers.) Maybe Charlie's teacher would compromise and let him read one of those, either standalone or along with a summary of Roll of Thunder?

[slammerkinbabe.livejournal.com]

Oh, forget The Well, I forgot that was the wrong generation (about Cassie's parents). Try Song of the Trees, it's about Cassie and her generation of the family. 8t's a prequel to Roll of Thunder.

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

If the book is two grade levels above his reading, he's probably not going to understand the book very well. (It also sounds like he should be taking remedial reading, because reading comprehension becomes WAY more important in middle school and high school.)

Judging from the LA Supervisor's note, he doesn't realize that Charlie is going to have serious problems comprehending the story, or even understanding that, while the N-word is used throughout the book, it's STILL not acceptable to use it. He sounds like he thinks Charlie is an ordinary bright seventh-grader who doesn't want to do the summer assignment and whose mother is being a little overprotective.

I think you need to get through to this man that Charlie is NOT going to be able to understand this story the way a kid who doesn't have his problems would--that it's not a question of talking the story over with Charlie, but of Charlie having problems understanding why people think and say and do the things they do NOW, never mind why they thought, said and did things almost a century ago. And you really need to spell it out in those terms. Give examples of Charlie having severe problems comprehending appropriate behavior. Because judging from that note, the teacher does not understand just how little Charlie will grasp.

[sing1118.livejournal.com]

As a former children's book lead, I have a suggestion for a book Charlie might like. He liked Percy Jackson, right? Well, first, there are four more books in that series, so you could try to get him to continue it if he liked the first one.

But there's a really wonderful, lesser-known book (even though it's a Newbery Honor Book) called The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis-McGraw. It's about a 12-year-old boy in ancient Egypt, who works at a goldsmith and wants to be an apprentice. He catches his cousin, who is his guardian, for lack of a better description, stealing gold from the goldsmith. His cousin beats him, so it's not a sunshiny book, but he then finds out his cousin is robbing graves and figures out a way to catch him. I loved it when I was a little younger than Charlie.

[(Anonymous)]

If Charlie is a better auditory learner, you may also want to consider getting it on tape/cd or reading the book with/to him and use that in conjunction with a study guide. If you listen/read it with him, you may also be able stop at points and ask some relevant questions from the study guide.

Scholastic reading guide: http://www.scholastic.com/kids/homework/pdfs/Roll_of_Thunder.pdf

http://www.patinsproject.com/universal_design_for_learning_project_files/avon_lesson2.pdf

http://www.bookrags.com/notes/roth/

leslie