[MOSAIC] Bill and Renee

[The Simants]

Both of you have presented an ever present problem-getting the right book, article, manual, etc, in children's hands.
Renee- I allow my students to "not" finish a book that isn't connecting with them. I spend a great deal of time at the beginning of the year talking about how to choose a "just right" book.  (I taught 3rd grade.)  I begin by bringing in my stack of reading material which contains teacher books, my bible, decorating magazines, my latest fiction read as well as a couple of my favorite children's stories. We talk about the importance of knowing yourself as a reader. We talk about the purpose and timing of reading.  If it is right before bed and I'm very tired I won't chose to read something that requires a lot of thought. If I am very motivated to read I might tackle something above my level.   I really feel that metacognition is as important to the reading selection process as anything else.There was a lot of discussion in my room about books 
starting with a read aloud.  The students rate the book and we dissect what it is that they like or dislike.  We learn strategies for finding books. i.e. author, recommendations, topics, etc. I do agree that until a reader finds that first book that evokes an emotional connection within him all the strategies in the world will not make the child  a reader.
Conversations about books between myself and other readers are far different than the conversations I had been having in my classroom. I found that children were quite capable of thinking about what made a good read for them. We talked about "the zone" and they became excited about finding a book to take them there.Sorry if I'm rambling!
                 Christina