Junior Great Books Program?

[Tigger&Belle]

My kindergartener is going to take part in this once a week program. My other kids didn't do this since it wasn't in our school when they were young so I'm not too familiar with it.

For those of you who have young children who have taken part in the program, how did you like it? How did your kids like it? Is it something that they looked forward to? This will be once a week during lunch/recess--if that's when it was at your school did your child mind missing recess for it? That's the biggest concern I have for my very active son.

Jake loves to read and is proud that he is reading well. I know that he's excited about being invited to do this, but I also don't want to push him too much. Have any of your kids resisted or felt pressured by being expected to do too much at a young age?

BTW, we've never pressured him to read at home and have let him lead what he wants to do and he's actually behind what his older siblings did, but since he's older for his grade it appears that he's ahead (he was almost 6 going into K as opposed to 4, almost 5 like his older sibs).

 

[rt2dz]

Wow!? This is still around. I remember being it many decades ago. It was a special treat (especially when cold outside) that everyone looked forward to.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Our elem school has only had it for 4-5 years, but it's been around for awhile. I know that there are different programs for different ages. My oldest did "William and Mary" when she was in 5th grade (could have been 4th). I believe that was reading and writing, though.

From my experience with my older kids it seems that one problem with some of these programs is that it's easy for the reading skills of children to take off, but it's difficult for their writing skills to keep up and very often there is quite a lag. It's something that I plan to ask the teacher about when I volunteer next time.

I know with my son in particular, his actual small motor skills are a little behind. His actual writing in terms of the concepts I think are fine, but he has an extra hard time getting it down on paper (not unlike his brothers were at his age). It's really nothing that I'm concerned about unless the schools are concerned. And even if the schools are concerned I might not really even be. Thank goodness for word processors.

 

[tar heel]

It was part of my son's "classroom differeniation" portion of his AG plan for several years. Although he's a good reader, he liked it less and less each year. We declined that part of his plan in fifth grade -- should have in fourth.

It's a pretty good program, but I think doing it during recess is just wrong. I can't imagine a kindergartner not feeling resentful of missing recess.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I guess their reasoning is that they don't want to pull kids out of the regular class for something else, which I can understand, but to a child messing with recess is a big thing! That and PE are my son's favorite things about kindergarten.

I'm amazed when I volunteer how there seems to be a revolving door in the classroom with some kids getting picked up for speech, others for ESOL, etc. I don't know how the teacher can keep track. So I can understand why they don't want some of the kids pulled for another reason, but the kids don't like missing recess. We'll see how it goes.

 

[Chipperdini]

As I have nothing of substance to contribute, I probably shouldn't post (but will anyway ). Just saw the title and had a reaction, LOL.

It was a special treat (especially when cold outside) that everyone looked forward to.

How did your kids like it? Is it something that they looked forward to?

I had to participate in a Junior Great Books thing in 3rd grade. I was pulled from my regular reading class for it. I hated it. I dreaded it. I felt ashamed, embarrassed and anxious to have to go to it. I guess I should be thankful I wasn't pulled from recess/P.E./Art/Music. Hopefully your son will have a much better experience than I did.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

As I have nothing of substance to contribute, I probably shouldn't post (but will anyway ). Just saw the title and had a reaction, LOL.





I had to participate in a Junior Great Books thing in 3rd grade. I was pulled from my regular reading class for it. I hated it. I dreaded it. I felt ashamed, embarrassed and anxious to have to go to it. I guess I should be thankful I wasn't pulled from recess/P.E./Art/Music. Hopefully your son will have a much better experience than I did.

Hey, you had a contribution! Maybe not what I wanted to hear, but still a contribution! Why did you dread going or do you remember why?

 

[clh2]

My DD was in Great Books in 1st and 2nd grades (the only grades it was offered in our school.) She HATED it. They got pulled from class, which then meant she had to bring homework home for the time she missed. Plus, the great books resulted in about 30 minutes of homework a week. No - it wasn't a lot of time, however for a little tyke in 1st grade, she hated that!

I also would question missing recess. Kids really need the "burn off energy" time.

 

[ColoradoBuffaloMom]

I coordinate the JGB program at the Elementary School I work at. The actual groups of 6-8 kids are facilitated by Mom volunteers (who I think are wonderful!) We have 2 first grade groups, 2 2nd grade groups, 1 third grade group and 2 fourth grade groups this year. Every year is a bit different and depends on teacher and parent schedules. Our fourth grade groups take place over lunch but the other groups are during literacy time. We pull kids who are not only good readers but also good group members who can discuss stories they have read and not be too disruptive in the group.

Overall kids like JGB although by about 4th grade some are tired of it. We usually don't have 5th grade groups since their days are so packed that the teachers just can't give up any classroom time. I think any time you can give a child the love of reading and talking about books, that is a good skill they will have for a lifetime. To be honest, I think some of the younger kids just like doing something special and different. I often tease that I think some would be just as happy if we pulled them to jump rope.

That being said, I think JGB is a great program but it isn't for every child. Go with your gut feeling and be flexible.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Our school only has the program in K, 1 and 2. They at least used to have different programs in the older grades that were incorporated into their actual language parts program, ie the William and Mary program my DD was in when she was in 5th grade.

I suppose my biggest concern is him missing recess since that is a highlight of his life. I think that a lot of his attitude about it will depend on which other kids are there. He's extremely social and if some of his friends are doing it or if he makes friends with the kids then he'll enjoy it. I just hope he will behave himself! He is my son, afterall...

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

We have JGB for K-5 at our school. DD10 has been in it since K, and always loved it. They do it during school through first grade, I believe, then it moves after school.

DS8 started it in first grade--his K teacher and I agreed that he didn't need the disruption for social/emotional reasons, so we skipped it. In first, they did it during recess. he was so miffed at missing play time that he got himself kicked out of the program. They wouldn't let him back in for second, and he declined to do it this year. Fortunately, there are other gifted things that he will do, just not JGB. Also, it seems like the program attracts girls more than boys--again, no big deal for some, huge deal for DS (What! You're going to take away my play time and make me sit in the library with a bunch of girls?!?)

So, there you have it.

 

[dandelion]

At our school it's offered to the "advanced" (for lack of a better word) readers, grades 2-4, afterschool. Some of the groups are led by teachers, some by mothers. I believe they get a small stipend.

The kids have to pre-read one story a week, at the meeting they discuss it, have a snack, do a related craft. I think it's really just a chance for the bookish kids to hang out together.

DD did it in 3rd grade and liked it; she was invited to do it in fourth but when I told her it would conflict with drama club (oh the drama! ) she decided not to join this year.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I think that Jake would like being the girls, so that wouldn't be a negative in his book.

I think that our kids are introduced to the book there and then we are supposed to reinforce it at home. The information sent home does make it clear that it's expected that parents will be involved at home in order to make it work. I don't have a problem with that, as long as it's not a daily thing. With all day kindergarten Jake lacks the patience to do much homework since he's been at school all day. It works much better to have weekends to work with him.

 

[Chipperdini]

Hey, you had a contribution! Maybe not what I wanted to hear, but still a contribution! Why did you dread going or do you remember why?

What I can remember:

IIRC, it was a small group of about 6 kids, most older than me.

Based on my report card and some other things, I had thought I was doing okay with reading (even more than okay, perhaps). I enjoyed school very much at the time, and aimed to please my teacher(s). Being pulled from my regular class for a "special" class had me quite worried that I was a bad reader/slow learner/poor student, or that something was in some way "wrong" with me. Whether that was reality, or just my perception of it - I dunno. No one ever told me why I had to go, and I didn't know of any reason(s) for pulling kids from regular classes other than to deal with learning problems or bad behavior.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Chipperdini, that sounds like me when I was a kid (MANY moons ago). I was pulled for some program called Able and Ambitious, which I assumed was for smart kids, but for all I knew it was for kids who needed extra help. I didn't know which I was. I wasn't extra smart or extra dumb--was a good reader, but not so good in math. Nobody ever told me why I was in the program--I guess that they didn't want to give labels (even though they were probably lesss concerned in the late 60's when I was in this program), but sometimes kids read too much into things and adults are better off just leveling with kids about why they are doing something.

BTW, I did tell my son that he can do the Jr Great program because he's a good reader and it's a chance for him to read more and become an even better reader. Most of the kids pulled from class are pulled to get extra help--ESOL, speech, etc. I guess after my experience I didn't want him jumping to the wrong conclusion, not that I think he would have since he's VERY sure of of himself...