How to encourage reading

Another Suggestion for Reluctant Readers: Sports Illustrated Kids

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 6 Comments
Reading
I’m reading “Artemis Begins”. They liked it!

Obviously, I love to read.  And I want everyone else to love it too.  Here I am, at my son’s school on “Fit for Reading Day”, hoping to hook his classmates with Eoin Colfer’s wit and humor.

It worked.  While I read Colfer’s humorous short story, the kids, and their teacher, snickered and giggled at all the right spots.  When I finished, I told the kids about Artemis Fowl, the evil kid genius who plots to get rich by stealing gold from fairies.  One smiling boy said, “My sister has those books.  I think I’ll borrow them.”

Mission accomplished.

 

The school hosted reading activities all week to celebrate Read Across America day on March 1.  My daughter even wore these crazy socks, with shorts, in 30 degree weather, on Wacky Wednesday.

Wacky Socks

But wit, humor, and wackiness don’t always work.  Some kids cringe at books.  Often boys do, especially tweens and teens.  Maybe they’d rather play video games or toss a football.

That’s okay.  Reading doesn’t have to involve books.   How about sports?

Many guys (of any age) I know can’t remember to pick up dirty laundry, but they can cite every stat from Tom Brady’s career with the Patriots.  So why not capitalize on that interest?

SI Kids 1The mailman delivers Sports Illustrated Kids to our house every month.   And the pages get worn out quickly.  Why?

  • lots of eye grabbing color photos 
  • short bits of copy instead of long, intimidating paragraphs
  • monthly features like “Freeze Frame” (cool sports pics), “Sports Gamer”, “Tips from the Pros”, and “What’s the Call?” to engage sports fans

The March 2013 issue has tons of stories about March Madness, aka the NCAA Basketball Tournament for those of you non-sports types.  I especially like a feature on Aaron Craft, the point guard from Ohio State.  Sure, the easy-to-read article comments on his skill with defense etc, etc, but what caught my eye was the blue side bar listing “Aaron’s Favorite Stuff.”

Guess what Aaron’s favorite hobby is?

Reading!

I love role models  (yes, Charles Barkley, athletes are role models) who love reading!

I’ll be cheering for you Aaron Craft!

Please note that girls like sports too.  I’m one of them.  SI Kids does a great job of coveringSI Kids 2 female athletes.

So the next time you need to get a gift for the not so enthusiastic reader in your life (of any gender or age), get him or her a few magazines, and see if they start reading.

And if they like sports, by all means give ’em SI Kids.

For other ideas on encouraging boys to read, visit GuysRead.com and see my post on Helping Guys Read.

What are some silly things you have done to encourage someone you know to read?  Can you recommend any other magazines?

Thanks for stopping by!

Julia

How to encourage reading

Vocabulary from A Good American: Rapacious

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 15 Comments
Wondrous Words Wednesday

wondrous memeWelcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday, hosted by Kathy at bermudaonion.net.  Every week, several word nerds and I get together to share new and/or interesting words from our reading or everyday life.  Come learn with us!

Today I’m highlighting another great word from The Good American, by Alex George, an epic story that begins at the turn of the 20th century with two German lovers who flee to America to pursue their dreams.  Here’s the context:

 

…with that humiliation came a new, unfamiliar suspicion of those around him- now he saw a rapacious glint in the eye of every native, an unscrupulous trick lurking up every foreign sleeve.

rapacious \rə-‘pā-shəs\ adj, from Latin rapere to seize; excessively grasping or covetous; GoodAmerican.inddravenous

I’m thinking wanting, with a predatory and sinister overtone.

Word Nerd Workout

Think of a character that you could describe as rapacious.  And if you’re really feeling smart today, give a synonym for rapacious too!

For example,

Gollum watched the ring around Frodo’s neck with rapacious eyes.Gollum

Other word nerdy words

Click on the words below to learn new vocabulary.

Thanks for stopping by!

Julia 

How to encourage reading

Doctors Prescribe Books to Help Their Patients!

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 7 Comments

PrescriptionsA New Treatment Strategy in England

I’ve always believed in the power of books, and if you’re here reading, you probably do too.  We’re not alone.  Doctors in England will soon be “prescribing” books to their patients to treat mild to moderate mental illness!

According to a recent article in the The Guardian, a British charity called The Reading Agency has developed a plan to link doctors, libraries, and books.  The program targets people who have mild to moderate problems with :

  • depression
  • anxiety
  • anger
  • eating disorders
  • panic attacks
  • phobias
  • self-esteem
  • worry
  • obsessions and compulsions

Organizers argue that with the plethora of self-help titles out there (Amazon sells over 250,000), it’s hard to find the right one.  Doctors will get a list of thirty books, including The Feeling Good Handbook and How to Stop Worrying, that they can recommend to patients.

Similar programs already exist in Wales, Denmark, and New Zealand.

Could bibliotherapy work in America?

I’m all about self-help, and have read many such books.  My favorites: The Seven Habits of The Seven Habits of HighlyHighly Effective People, Simple Abundance, and Unglued.  I avoid taking medication, a habit I have picked up from my husband, a physician. Ironic, I know, but he’s seen first hand that every medicine has a side effect.  (Note, that new Jude Law movie takes this notion to the extreme).

So I applaud The Reading Agency, and think we should try a similar program here too.  It could decrease health care costs and get everyone reading more.  As a bonus, it could give libraries a crucial new role in society, thereby securing a necessary position in a world where printed media seems to be disappearing.

But a lot of Americans like quick fixes.  They want their problems solved with a pill.  Or better yet, a chocolate shake.  (Think Slim Fast)  What would happen to the doctor who suggested a book to his anxious patient seeking “a nerve pill”?  My guess?  That patient would walk out the door and find the next doctor willing to write a script for Xanax.

And of course The Guardian article, The Reading Agency, and I acknowledge that some patients need more than just a book for treatment.  But wouldn’t it be nice if reading could help lots of people?

How do you think a program like this would be received in America?  What self-help books have been beneficial to you?

Share your thoughts in the comments, and thanks for stopping by.

You can receive regular updates from my blog by signing up in the top right corner to receive posts via e-mail or RSS feed.

Julia 

 

How to encourage reading/Improving vocabulary

Vocabulary from “A Good American”: Elegiac

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 13 Comments

wondrous memeWelcome to the Wondrous Words Wednesday meme hosted by bermudaonion.net.  Join me as I share a word from my current read and learn a few more from other bloggers!

My book club has started A Good American by Alex George.  An epic tale, it begins at the turn of the 20th  century, with two German immigrants who escape from disapproving family by fleeing to America.  I’m not too far in yet, but the cover tells me that the novel explores what it means to be a “Good American”, and how it feels to be an outsider in your town, your country, and even your own family.

Music weaves itself throughout the narrative, as noted in the opening line of the novel:

Always, there was music.

Here’s a new word I found:

They sang … maudlin songs of love, and sentimental ballads about the land they left behind.  The words rose up to the ceiling, joyful and elegiac.

elegiac \,el-ə-‘jī-ək\ also \i-‘lē-jē-,ak\ adj from Greek elegos, song of mourning ; of relating to, GoodAmerican.inddor comprising an elegy, especially expressing sorrow often for something now past.

[Note: there was also a cryptic reference to a specific form of Greek poetry involving dactylic hexameter lines and “arses”.  I didn’t think that applied here…]

Word Nerd Workout

Think of an elegiac song or poem, something that captures what this word means.

For example:

I love how S. E. Hinton incorporated the elegiac poem Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost into her book The Outsiders. 

 

Thanks for playing, and I hope you learn some great words today!  A few weeks ago, I picked up a fun new expression with this meme:  Don’t get in a swivet!

Julia

Awesome Young Adult Books/Favorite Authors/How to encourage reading

Favorite Author Spotlight: John Green

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 6 Comments

John GreenHave you heard of John Green?  Young adult author and leader of Nerdfighters everywhere?  Let me introduce you.

John Green has published five YA novels.  His latest, The Fault in Our Stars, has earned critical praise, commercial success, and the Goodreads Choice Award for 2012 for YA fiction.  Fox 2000 also plans to make it into a movie.

I cannot stop raving about The Fault in Our Stars, even though I sobbed for two days after I read it.  (I know, I’m sensitive, but you’d really have to be a Grinch not to shed one tear.)  My book club will read this 21st century romantic tragedy in April, and I can’t wait to discuss it.  Expect to find a “What Makes a Great Character” post that month!

Five great things about John Green’s novels

John Green writes realistic fiction.  No vampires, witches, or magic.  And yet, his books captivate millions of readers and many critics.  Here’s why I enjoy them:

  • big questions Green’s books tackle deep questions, like “What mark will I leave on the TFIOSworld?” or “Am I more than just my reputation?”
  • humor  Green balances the intense philosophical stuff with humor.  His characters exchange witty dialogue and embark on hilarious adventures.  While reading Paper Towns late one night, I literally shook my bed with giggling and earned a glare from my (trying to sleep) husband.
  • references to great literature and poetry  His characters discuss works like “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” and “Leaves of Grass” and their significance in modern lives.
  • nerdiness  Green’s characters often are smart and introspective.  A little on the geeky side.  I love that.  (See title of this blog.)
  • unique voice  Many of his protagonists are male, which is unusual for YA fiction.  All of them bring a quirky and interesting perspective to the narrative.

Besides having tons of readers who follow him, John Green also has a huge online audience via:

  • The VlogBrothers You Tube channel:  John and his brother Hank post videos about things like Internet Addiction and Football for Nerds.  (Did you know that only 11% of a televised football game actually shows the players playing?  See Hank’s breakdown for more details…)
  • The Crash Course! You Tube channel:  John and Hank post instructional videos on literature, ecology, history, and other subjects.  More fun than those high school videos you watch(ed).
  • The Nerdfighters Website and Community: Over 80,000 members gather to “increase awesome and decrease suck”.  You can find chats, forums, videos, and book bloggers all dedicated to celebrating nerdiness.
  • An active Twitter account.  Quick!  See his tweets about President Obama and the penny!

With his books and his videos, John Green has made geekiness cool.  How can this word nerd NOT love him?

Have you read any of John Green’s books?  What did you think?  Who are your favorite YA authors and why?

Thanks for adding to the discussion.  Now go be awesome!

Julia 

Improving vocabulary

Vocabulary for Ash Wednesday: Venial

Posted on by Julia Tomiak / 8 Comments
Wondrous Words Wednesday

wondrous memeWelcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday, a meme hosted by Kathy at bermudaonion.net. Join me in learning some cool new words.

It’s also Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, a season of contemplation and spiritual growth.  How fitting that my word today is venial.

I actually came across it in the Nov/Dec issue of Writer’s Digest in an article about character motivation.

… some villains have unchanging personalities but changing motivations.  They start out venial, greedy, evil, or destructive…

As a Catholic, I’ve heard this term while discussing sin, but I never expected to find it used to describe character.  Here’s some info from Webster’s:

venial \’vē-nē-əl\ adj from Latin venia favor, pardon; akin to Latin venus, love; of a kind that can be remitted: forgivable, pardonable, venial faults 

This helps explain venial sin: noun; a sin committed without full reflection or consent that does not deprive the soul of sanctifying grace.

So, when I lost my temper and yelled at my kids to get out the door this morning?  That was a venial sin. Forgivable.  Well, at least I hope my children think so.

 Word Nerd WorkoutJane Eyre cover

Think of a venial fault in one of your favorite characters; write a sentence about it.  For example:

Jane patiently endured Mr. Rochester’s venial and unpredictable shifts in temper.

Your turn!  Good luck.

Other Word Nerd Words

Click on the words below to learn more!

Thanks for stopping by!

Julia