My "Reluctant Turned Interested" Reader

Any time that I am on a reading high, I have to share it with you. I am delighted to say that my reluctant reader is turning into an interested reader. Over the year, my son and I have sat together and read books aloud to each other. Personally, I have not always wanted to read aloud because I have a true passion for reading. However, my son seemed to welcome this interaction more rather than less.

Because of this change in reading behavior, the shift in him has been apparent (even if he won’t willingly admit it to me or the rest of the family). Collectively, we see it and embrace it. In addition, he and I have elevated our reading material to middle school books. He didn’t know it at the time. I mentioned it as an afterthought, and he was indeed floored and proud. He had no idea that we were pushing towards that direction.

Now my “reluctant turned interested” reader is connecting with key characters within our book selections. In The Underdogs by Mike Lupica, he felt Will Tyler’s pain as the organizer and running back of this football team when he landed on the one yard line for an unsuccessful touchdown and hurtful game loss. In the Ninth Ward by Jewel Parker Rhodes, he was drawn to the foresight and wisdom of Mama YaYa about Hurricane Katrina and the flood. Plus, he reeled in disbelief when Mama YaYa died. In Ungifted by Gordon Korman, he truly laughed and giggled foolishly over Donovan Curtis’ antics, wit, and impulsiveness. In another book by Gordon Korman, Schooled, he was fascinated by how Cap Anderson’s life operated without TV, electronics, pizza, and friends on his commune farm to a completely different life in the city with all of the above and then some.

So as you can see, I am excited about my son’s transformation and my own. This child has truly taught me a lesson in trying different tactics to engage him in the reading process. At this moment, it’s been valuable and worthwhile, and I realize how tweaking our reading plan worked.


Helen H. Kimbrough
Proud mom of a voracious reader and a "reluctant turned interested" reader

AK Classics
PO Box 77203
Charlotte, NC 28271
www.akclassicstories.com

After the Election: Practice Civility and Lead By Example

It saddens me to hear that kids are afraid of going to school or have been ostracized at school because of the results of this presidential election. In my mind, this is a form of bullying, and bullying cannot be tolerated!

A quote by Stephen Carter states, “Teaching civility is an obligation of the family,” and I agree. Therefore, it is my hope that parents will use the election process as a teachable moment to have an open dialogue with their children on the overall voting process, the three branches of government, the historical/current views of Republicans, Democrats, Socialists, Independents, and the Tea Party, the impact of elected officials on the local, state, national and international levels, and respect for differences.

The election is over, and it’s time for this bickering to cease and for parents to lead by example for the sake of our children…our future!