Reviving the reading culture

[SvenSvensonov]

@SvenSvensonov other then stuffing people in subs

That's a horrible way to get people to read. Submarine crews, and anyone in an isolated situation, where contact with the outside is limit, falls prey to "group isolation", space station crews are subjected to this too. While not as severe social isolation found in those lost to society, such as prisoners in solitary confinement, even in groups, mental performance suffers and social anxiety increases. This is why only the best are chosen for submarine crews, anyone with mental or social instabilities can't function in an isolated environment.

After only a week at sea, a submarine's crew will begin to develop social anxiety, persistent nervousness... if left unchecked this further devolves in hallucinations, delusions, speech impediments, sleep pattern disruption and potentially insanity. Their performance suffers significantly when assigned simple tasks such as counting or reading.

You'll try to read, try to maintain some semblance of interaction... you can't do it, you can't maintain enough focus - your mind and eyes will wander; eventually your stare drifts into the distance, focused on nothing.

Dropping people into a box, or tube, and leaving them without contact to the outside is a poor way to promote anything other than mental illness

...

But, I do have suggestions on how to get kids to read too. Let them have fun. In schools it's important to have mandatory reading, so everyone is on the same page and the discussion can be fruitful, but kids must also be allowed to indulge themselves in their own interests. Make me read War and Peace and I'm liable to not do it, plop a comic in front of me and I'll read it without being asked.

Kids need structure, mandatory reading offers that in schools and keeps the discussion centralized on the same theme, but kids have to be afforded the liberty to have fun too. Let them read what they are interested in if you want them to enjoy reading.

 

[Dubious]

plop a comic in front of me and I'll read it without being asked.

Eureka!

This is where my other thread was aiming:

Comic book 'Guardians' to steer young Pakistanis away from extremism | Page 2

 

[Slav Defence]

Ah the issue is much deeper then that. Kids today do not read books, even text books..... Tuition and spoon feeding, memorising for exams from guides, and an over all neglect for any type of real education with research or even worse, opening books and actually reading. You are first going to have to introduce different books which do not have cd's stuck to the back of them, change the exam structure to only ask conceptual questions, and I have a new innovative idea of asking questions outside one guide or book forcing children to research topics and read from different sources.
And the question how to make reading interesting is something both the parents and the school have a part in. Take your child to the middle of no where and take away the electronics and hand him a good old book, whether it be Harry Potter, The fantastic five, Winnie the Pooh, or you know whatever is right for his age and likes.
Another way could be schools having plays on old books by Dahl like the Chocolate factory, or The giant peach etc.... You get the idea I guess
I like the idea of making children read but I would not encouraging novels to be a task, because at the end of the day it becomes cumbersome.
Let us try and get some super readers here
@Armstrong How to get people to read more....
@Nihonjin1051 how is it in Japan, and what can you share with us on the issue of getting children to read more
@SvenSvensonov other then stuffing people in subs, how else can we get children to read....


That is the problem of today... Videos and audio with no real trend towards reading... Why read a book when the movie shows u a 2 hour version... But books can make you think, make you question things, make your concepts so much clearer, but if our former readers are giving up, how will we get the children of tomorrow to read.

You can it problem only when you "heavily" rely on video and doesn't even look at literature. However, if you balance both than not only your skills to visualize certain subject [for example atom,DNA or protein etc] will improve but your skills to transmit your imagination or visualization via communication of words will improve as well.
You need both books and videos to visualize and to transmit your thoughts, specially if your are studying science. That is why molecular biologists and scientist around the world are working on developing their 3-D models of proteins,nucleic acids etc.Even though James Watson & Francis Crick developed structure of DNA via ball and stick method when high tech softwares such as j-mole etc were not available.
Regards

Eureka!

This is where my other thread was aiming:

Comic book 'Guardians' to steer young Pakistanis away from extremism | Page 2

It is just hype created that Pakistanis are "extremist". Read extremism in other parts of world and you will actually realize that how much powerful propaganda is.
Regards

 

[Zarvan]

@Gufi @xyxmt

I think that thread should be left for comics

I dedicate this thread to reading:

Is it a dying culture?

How to encourage children to read?

Advantages of reading - imagination, builds yearning, aids the brain, creates interest, greed for knowledge, escape from reality, understanding, relaxation, hobby...

Can reading be replaced?

Discuss what attracted you to reading

How you started reading

What type of books/ stories you read

Leisure or forced?

@waz maybe you can contribute


How to encourage students to read for pleasure: teachers share their top tips

While students might trudge through set texts in lessons, how can teachers inspire them to open a book when they get home?

Encouraging children to read for pleasure is about more than getting them to pick up a book; it’s equally important for children to appreciate a good story. Photograph: Alamy


The big challenge for teachers is not simply getting students to read – it's getting them to enjoy it too. It's one thing for students to trudge through set texts in a lesson, but will they open another book when they get home at the end of the day?

The National Literacy Trust has noted that becoming a lifetime reader is based on developing a deep love of reading.

"Research has repeatedly shown that motivation to read decreases with age, especially if pupils' attitudes towards reading become less positive," it said. "If children do not enjoy reading when they are young, then they are unlikely to do so when they get older."

For younger readers in particular, their home environment is critically important.

"Home is a massive influence," says Eleanor Webster, a primary school teacher in Nottinghamshire. "Supportive and understanding parents are key to developing their child's reading."

But if a pupil doesn't see people reading at home, it may be harder to instil the idea of reading for pleasure. So what can teachers do to encourage it? Here are some of the best ideas, initiatives and projects that teachers have developed to motivate children and help them develop a love for reading:

Reading challenges
Reading competitions come in many shapes and sizes, with the aim of spicing up literature and giving children an incentive to open a book. Mountbatten School in Hampshire is one school that has run several projects to encourage reading for pleasure.

"We wanted them to try reading a broad range of books," says Jennifer Ludgate, an English teacher at the school.

"We challenged students to read one book, fiction or non-fiction, from a wide range of genres. They get them ticked off by their teacher and there are medals at the end of the year."

Another competition saw students race against time to tick off the classics.

"A colleague created the '16 Before You're 16 Challenge' for the older years," says Ludgate.

"We chose 16 classics, like To Kill A Mockingbird and Brave New World, and challenged students to read as many as they can before they turn 16. It's a good way to make sure they're being challenged."

In another contest, Eleanor Webster gets younger children to read for pleasure with "extreme reading" competitions over the summer holidays.

"They're always very popular," she says. "Children take pictures of themselves reading in strange places and we display the photos in the main corridor. Some were on roller coasters, in tractors, on top of bookcases or at holiday destinations."

The 100 Word Challenge , created by Julia Skinner, asks children to write regular posts online and read other students' work.

"When you tell kids, 'We're going to do some reading,' it can immediately turn them off," says Skinner.

"But with this you say: 'We're going to support someone who has done some writing. What do you think of it?' It gives them a purpose to read."

Jennifer Ludgate, who uses the 100 Word Challenge, explains: "Their homework is to read two students' writing – they really like it because it's short, easy to read, and it only takes them a couple of minutes."

Escapism
While reading challenges can give a sense of purpose, escaping the challenges of school is a crucial part of encouraging reading for pleasure.

"Children won't find reading pleasurable if there is too much pressure on them," says Webster, "so a relaxed atmosphere and a positive ethos around reading is really important."

"One teacher in my school started referring to library sessions as 'the escape'," says Suzy Dodd, an English teacher at the Co-operative Academy of Leeds.

Promoting reading as a form of escapism from the general pressures of school and their social lives encouraged her class to see reading as a form of self-indulgent relaxation, instead of another intelligence test. Her class are among the most prolific readers in the school.

In September she gives her kids a good talk about reading as escapism, and then introduces library sessions by saying, "we get to escape for an hour today".

Teacher involvement
"Showing students that teachers of all subjects read books, not just the English teachers, is really important," says Ludgate.

"We asked teachers to bring in two or three of their favourite books. Then, at the start of every lesson, whether that be geography, maths or whatever, the teacher would read to the class for ten minutes from their favourite book.

"The students would come in talking about what their PE or history teacher was reading, and that would spark really interesting discussions. It's especially good if they don't see people reading at home. "

Reading walls
"Having a print-rich environment is important," says John Murphy, who is an English and history teacher in Ireland and blogs at Web of Notes.

"The surroundings should encourage reading in all its forms and support their choices of reading material. I don't simply mean putting up a poster which tries to promote reading because it's 'cool' – I think they're totally ineffective. Instead, students and teachers could share the name of the book that they're reading at the moment, and offer a sentence about it. It's a great way to share recommendations."

Drop Everything And Read
Drop Everything And Read (DEAR) is used in classrooms across the country, and allows children to forget their normal tasks and drift away with a good book.

Webster explains: "The whole school has a set time in the school day where children read to themselves or an adult and they can choose from a wide variety of books."

Ludgate says it is important that DEAR does not become a task: "Having 10 minutes of reading at the beginning of every lesson doesn't always work because it can become too ingrained. But the idea with DEAR is that it goes across different subjects – not just English."

Reading to the class
Encouraging children to read for pleasure is about more than getting them to pick up a book; it's equally important for children to appreciate a good story.

"I think it's important to make sure you read to them as much as they read for themselves or other people, making it a more supportive environment," says Ludgate.

"Spending once a half term saying, 'Right, I'm going to read to you this lesson', I think really encourages them to appreciate it. The older years in particular haven't been read to at home for so long that they absolutely love it."

Anything goes
"It's crucial to bear in mind what the student wants to read," says Murphy. "Having this control shouldn't be undervalued, and I think they should be allowed to venture from one type of book to another.

"Introduce students to a wide variety of texts, mediums and genres – they may surprise themselves once they have faced preconceived ideas about what they consider enjoyable and embrace a diversity in what they read. Comics, ebooks, short stories, online articles and magazines shouldn't be ignored."

Books across the curriculum
"Our curriculum is very creative and topics are often set around a book," says Webster.

"Children respond well to it because they love exploring details of books and making books come to life. For example, we had a whole term based on the Gruffalo in September. Now in the summer term children often recite it word for word and talk about other Julia Donaldson books they've read since."


How to encourage students to read for pleasure: teachers share their top tips | Teacher Network | The Guardian

We seriously need to work on it and it should be developed in schools for example children should be encouraged to read books on life of Hazrat MUHAMMAD SAW and than should be questioned about it and other books

 

[syedali73]

Yes @Akheilos
Infact,when I was in my matriculation,I earned eager reader's award-besides all this I earned 1st,2nd and 3rd prize for English book review, Urdu book review and comprehension simultaneously. I remember my teacher's response while announcing my name again and again
I have read Naseem Hijazi,Ashfaq Ahmed,Bushra Rehman..hated mantoo and chughtayee.In English my selection was random, preferred reality over fiction.
Nowadays, I am not reading much.Infact I can't even finish single course book provided by department.Just make notes out of them.
Maybe because my preference are changed.I like to look at video rather than reading about it in difficult words
At Pakistan defense, I remember that there was trouble when I had to decide between @jhungary and @Nihonjin1051 b/c of professional experience vs authentic book research.
At Pakistan defence,we aim to create a professional reading environment-a place for learned class so that we could generate useful information.For warmongering ,you have other websites,albeit a healthy discussion is beneficial itself.
Regards

You hated Manto? Boy you broke my heart.

We seriously need to work on it and it should be developed in schools for example children should be encouraged to read books on life of Hazrat MUHAMMAD SAW and than should be questioned about it and other books

Yes, reading books on Prophet (PBUH) life is important but kids must be encouraged to read all sorts of books so their overall vision broadens up. My boys are avid readers and read everything from classical English, Russian, and Greek literature to Mark Twain, Tolkiens etc. BTW my boys are 12 and 7 respectively.

 

[Slav Defence]

You hated Manto? Boy you broke my heart.


Yes, reading books on Prophet (PBUH) life is important but kids must be encouraged to read all sorts of books so their overall vision broadens up. My boys are avid readers and read everything from classical English, Russian, and Greek literature to Mark Twain, Tolkiens etc. BTW my boys are 12 and 7 respectively.

......Added to that children must be exposed to literature with respect to their ages.For example basic religious believes must be introduced to them at earlier ages as it is an age of introducing concepts.Any controversial topic better be prevented.Gender education can be introduced prior to puberty(a year or two) while controversial topics such as defense,politics and history must be introduced at their teens.That is the age when children are extremely desperate to dig something.They look for a hero and whatsoever idol they make ,they try to establish their future orientation with respect to their inspiration.Most importantly, at earlier ages it is better to introduce maths and sciences.I was looking at 6 years old blonde who demonstrated dna extraction at home.This class of training we need to increase or enhance their mental growth.
Regards

 

[Mabs]

@Gufi @xyxmt

I think that thread should be left for comics

I dedicate this thread to reading:

Is it a dying culture?

How to encourage children to read?

Advantages of reading - imagination, builds yearning, aids the brain, creates interest, greed for knowledge, escape from reality, understanding, relaxation, hobby...

Can reading be replaced?

Discuss what attracted you to reading

How you started reading

What type of books/ stories you read

Leisure or forced?

@waz maybe you can contribute

Great idea! Maybe we can use this thread to talk about the books we are reading and do a lil review of them. Turn this into an online book club. Might be a good idea to change the thread title to PDF book club. Obviously, you and I would be credited as the founders

 

[Dubious]

Such a cute bacha made me wanna read what the pix had to say

His diaper is clean, his belly full, and he just woke from a nap, but boy, is he cranky.
Baby’s daddy sits down with baby snuggled into the crook of one arm and a book in the other hand. In seconds that tearful baby is smiling again. He doesn’t understand the words yet, but he is comforted by cuddling with his father, lulled by the rhythmic language of the book and entertained by the colorful pictures.

“Reading is the great antidote.” states Will Creamer, Reach Out and Read of Southern Arizona‘s Director. Creamer expands on that statement, “If your baby is fussy, read to them; if they have a hard time settling down, read to them; if you’re not feeling connected with your kids, read with them and when they are misbehaving, read with them.” Reading to children from birth helps language development, speaking and listening skills. Reading stimulates their imagination, expands their understanding of the world around them and their attention spans. Beyond all the intellectual benefits, reading also can act as a comfort, as a time for parent and child to bond.

The Reach Out and Read program draws upon the relationship between new parents and their pediatrian to encourage parents to start reading aloud with infants.

Dr. Mary Cochran, pediatrician and Vice Chair for Literacy Connects, describes reading aloud as a simple thing, but like family dinners something that it makes a huge difference in the long run. Her belief is reflected in research demonstrating a strong relationship between literacy and health. ”Groups with the highest prevalence of chronic disease and the greatest need for health care had the least ability to read and comprehend information needed to function as patients”, states the Report on the Council of Scientific Affairs, Ad Hoc Committee on Health Literacy for the Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association (JAMA, Feb 10, 1999).
For some, reading aloud comes easily. Other parents and caregivers may feel less confident about reading aloud. Our tips for all with young babies:

1. Choose books that you both enjoy. Your enthusiasm will show through. Your local public librarian or local children’s bookstore can provide excellent, age-appropriate books.
2. Keep distractions to a minimum, make sure that the television and the radio are off
3. Not confident reading aloud? Storytime at your local library and audiobooks provides an opportunity to listen to others read aloud and for you to pick up some techniques for reading aloud. Storytime and audiobooks are not a substitute for you holding your child and reading to them everyday, but a useful addition.
   – Take a longer pause at a period than you would if you were reading to yourself.
   -Respond to your baby’s babble
   – Stop to point at the pictures and talk a little about them
   – Exaggerate your facial expressions when reading. Let your baby see your animated face and don’t be afraid to use silly voices.
   -Incorporate actions, ex. tickling or kissing belly buttons as in the below examples.
   – You don’t have to read the book without interruption. Allow your child to touch the book and turn the pages (cardboard books are particularly useful for this). Be ready to read and reread the same book – it’s great for your child’s language development.
4. For babies pick clear, brightly colored pictures, simple words and stories, stories with rhythm and rhyme, predictable plots, and stories with repetition.
5. Don’t let bullet number four constrain you. If a picture book has great rhyme and rhythm, but more complex pictures and your four year old loves it too, gather both children on your lap and read to both of them. It doesn’t have to be Pat the Bunny or Goodnight Moon all the time. The baby in the anecdote at the beginning loves nothing more than listening with his sister to Tickle Monster by Josie Bissett or More More More said the Baby by Vera Williams.

When should you start reading to your baby? Start now – start that first day with your babe in your arms. It is never too early to start to read to your baby.

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” — Emilie Buchwald


On the Laps of their Parents – Reading to Baby – tmcchild