Comments on: There’s No Such Thing as a Reluctant Reader

By: Melissa Taylor

Melissa Taylor — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:05:10 +0000

FB and Twitter comments included these book favorites:
The Boxcar Children
Snug House, Bug House
“Some Dogs Do” by Jez Alborough
The Chronicles Of Narnia
“Go Dog Go”
Geronimo Stilton series
I Can’t Said the Ant

By: Pragmatic Mom

Pragmatic Mom — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 20:02:18 +0000

You are so right about what a big IF it is to get the right book into the hands of a reluctant reader. I also blog about books and there are tons of great children’s lit book blogs to help match up books with readers. Thanks for your post!

By: Debbie Dadey

Debbie Dadey — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:30:20 +0000

Jeri, I do believe if there is a will there is a way. I taught school for eleven years and I know there are some kids who fall through the cracks of ‘regular’ reading instruction. I didn’t learn to read by phonics (I’m too old!) but many students can benefit from that instruction. Just like every kid will love a different type of book, many learners will learn in different ways-be it whole language, rote, phonics, or whatever. If one way doesn’t work, try another. Having the desire to do anything is the key. But as teachers and parents, I believe our actions can fuel that desire-don’t you agree?

By: Jeri Graybill

Jeri Graybill — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:12:45 +0000

I enjoyed this post, and almost was convinced that IF we could hook every child with the right book, there would be no more reluctant readers, that their hearts would be hooked. I used to feel that way. But now I speak often with illiterate adults who have never been able to conquer reading skills even though their desire to read may be huge. Their lack of abilities is what has made them reluctant all the way along. Whatever their particular disabilities and inabilities are, I am convinced that many of these people can only overcome the inability to read if they are finally exposed to a systematic phonics instruction. That isn’t easy to learn by oneself without actually hearing sounds, either, so just a book wouldn’t be adequate. Maybe when the desire within grows strong enough, the reader would more aggressively pursue answers to the reading struggle, though; do you think? When there’s a will there’s a way?