This week’s post was prompted by parents who brought me reading material their child had to manage in school and with homework. They were concerned that their child, young Brody, a seven-year-old second grader was starting to hate reading.
“We don’t understand,” said the mom. “Brody always loved books. He couldn’t wait for us to read to him, and he loved getting books as presents. He would sit and look at them for a long time.”
As I perused the packet of seemingly endless worksheets, many of which were called “stories,” I started to conjecture why Brody was becoming reading resistant. It was clear these worksheets had little redeeming value that authentic stories or literature would intrinsically have.
Worse than the stories’ lack of interest, was what Brody had to do after reading the story. Following a “story” there were 20 multiple choice questions for the poor kid to slog through to answer. 20!!! (Please keep in mind that Brody is only seven. He’s not preparing for the SATs.)
Here’s one of the 20 questions after Brody’s “story:”
“If stir means, “mix by moving around with a spoon,” then stirred means:
- Not mixing by moving around.
- Mix by moving around with a spoon
- Mixed by moving around with a spoon
- Mixing by moving around with a spoon.
Mind numbed yet? Imagine 20 of these to sort out?
I’m not exactly sure when we collectively decided to drain the joy out of reading in early childhood, but it happened some time ago perhaps when we weren’t looking. Worksheets became the rule of the educational landscape.
The expression about the frog being boiled by degrees so he won’t jump out of the pot applies. When it comes to reading we’ve been boiled by degrees, and we weren’t aware of it.
Even if Brody turns out to be an adequate reader upon later evaluation, the story and the 20 questions would have been stultifying to the best of students.
Twenty multiple choice questions following a faux story leads to turned-off kids, shutting them down.
Real literature ignites the imagination and gets good conversation going. Great stories motivate kids to read more great stories.
Worksheets such as Brody’s result in what kids usually tell me – “I hate reading – it’s so boring.”