Parents Can Help Boys Become Engaged Readers During the Summer Months

Prepared by National Middle School Association

Some parents believe that as boys enter the young adolescent years (10-15) they become less interested in reading and more excited about other activities. Yet, parents can stimulate their reading interests and build a foundation for reading achievement.

"The key is finding material that interests boys as they mature, and the summer is a great time to do that," urges Sue Swaim, executive director, National Middle School Association (NMSA). "Parents can be powerful teachers during the summer months since they understand their son's interests."

A recent study provides information that can guide parents in helping boys to greater literacy achievement.

"In studying a diverse sample of boys for one year, we found that they pursue literate activities outside of school in interesting and complex ways that adults do not always recognize," said Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, associate professor of English Education, Boise State University. "The condition boys seek in all activities, including reading, is a sense of connection or total engagement with a task or activity."

The study found that reading which appeals to boys includes:

• Electronic texts such as websites
• Visual texts such as graphic novels and comics
• Nonfiction, particularly with weird and wonderful facts

Mysteries and whodunits where readers know how the stories work"As we strive to develop reading skills and a love for reading in all students, it's important to find appropriate reading material for them, but material they will enjoy," said Swaim. "Otherwise, reading will become one more unappreciated task in their lives."

Swaim encourages parents to notice what boys like to read and encourage that type of reading. Specific steps parents can take include:

• Make available a variety of materials, including those mentioned above, newspapers, and magazines that connect with their interests. If a boy is involved in baseball, offer him the sports section of the daily newspaper, or bring home one of the many magazines that cover baseball. If he is becoming interested in cars, provide automotive magazines.
• Talk with your sons about the content of their reading in nonjudgmental ways. The study found that boys value conversation as a way to use reading. Once you provide reading material connected to their interests, it will be natural to discuss that information with them. It also gives them opportunities to build their oral communication skills.
• Read with your boys. Young adolescents still value examples set by their parents, and modeling behavior is a very effective way to teach. Set a time when everyone in the family reads together, even if it's just for 10 minutes a day, and focus on material that will interest your boys. Or, read a magazine or book that your son selects along with him and then discuss your impressions.

"It's especially important to encourage boys to read at this age, but reading is important for all young adolescents," Swaim said. "So, these strategies can also be applied to girls in your family. Summer is a good time to develop reading habits, and parents are the key to making that happen. Don't let your student's education stop during the summer months."

Why is Private School the Best Option?

What Are The Top Issues Facing The US Public School System Today?

1. Bullying

No matter what your age, the chances that you were bullied, or were a bully, are high. Children are children and don’t change drastically, even as decades go by. However, in today’s modern society, it’s a sad fact that bullies are keeping up with technology. No longer able to monitor children solely in the classroom and on the playground, teachers and administrators have to monitor children through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, and be aware of bullying via text message. Because the laws are still vague when it comes to social media, many schools are writing policies and procedures regarding cyberbullying into their student handbooks.

2. Technology

It will still be another decade before we have teachers that have grown up with the same technology as their students. As it stands today, we have students in classrooms who are far more technologically advanced than their teachers. Students used to be entertained when a teacher rolled a television cart into the room and played a movie. An overhead projector was a stunningly modern piece of machinery. Today, teachers have to be more creative than ever to keep their students’ attention.

3. Too Many Children

As budgets shrink, class sizes grow. We expect our teachers to give the same quality education to 30 students as they gave to 15. If you’ve ever been in a classroom full of 30 children for 15 minutes, let alone a day, you’ll know that this task is next to impossible. With inclusion programs, general education teachers are expected to teach average students, gifted children and children who need accommodation in a single classroom.

4. Parent Involvement

For many teachers, it seems as though there is no happy medium when it comes to parental involvement. There are parents who can’t stay away, and parents who refuse to participate. Finding ways to encourage parents to participate in their child’s education, in a manner that supports learning, has been frustrating teachers for decades. Unfortunately, there has been on solution found that has worked across the board.

5. Funding

Many new teachers are shocked to find that the bulk of their classroom supplies will be paid for out-of-pocket or not purchased at all. As funding is cut, teachers are not only losing jobs, but classrooms are being merged, extracurricular activities are being eliminated and arts programs are being done away with. Many districts are using outdated textbooks; some are even asking children to share because there are too few to go around. Until the general public starts passing school levies, and the government steps up and provides adequate funding, the ones who will suffer are the students.

Ask any teacher and you’ll be given an arm’s length list of issues facing public schools in America. It’s unfortunate that a country that many consider to be the most powerful in the world, is so inadequately supporting the education of its future.

Nicole Morgan is a mom and career counselor, she blogs for mastersineducationguides.org where you can find information about masters of education programs. She enjoys finding her students unique career opportunities!