Thank you for the many responses.

[jim and meesie]

I also agree for more practice on critical reading. And one way to start is reading a hard book and the cliff notes at the same time.

Ouch!!! This OP is giving me so much to love!!!! Cliff notes, no, nay, nay, never especially in 7th grade. The crutch of so many stressed out college students. Yes, Cliff Notes give an opinion just not your own opinion!!!

The point of this all is to learn to think and also to learn to write. Once you've read and read again and have matured enough to know what to look for (maybe graduate school) you can peak at Cliff Notes. At that point you have thought about your own opinions about a particular literary work and can take someone elses opinion for what it's worth. Glad the OP is having Lasik surgery today so she can't read my rant!!!

Now I confess to checking out "Spark Notes" (an online version of Cliff Notes) last year when my daughter's summer reading entering 7th grade was "The House on Mango Street". After reading the book (short but kindof heavy themes for just 12 years old) I just had no idea what she was supposed to be getting out of the book. Between English teacher friends and "Spark Notes" I educated myself a bit, but I'm 47 and learned to "read" and "write" long ago.

I still felt like I was cheating!

I've decided my kids must be really brilliant. They read a lot and they just keep a seperate book at school for SSR. Sometimes they have 3 to 5 books going at once - one for literature circle (what we used to call reading group!), one for SSR, the ones they go through at home for fun, plus read alouds by their teacher or that we are reading as a family. One son loves to read and the other not so much, but they both figured out how to keep a SSR book at school pretty early in grade school - and they did it on their own!

My kids too, I am amazed how they keep the books straight reading 3 at a time but it seems to work.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I am going to sue my school. Do you know the number of books I had to read that I hated?!? This should be worth millions.

 

[disykat]

I've decided my kids must be really brilliant. They read a lot and they just keep a seperate book at school for SSR. Sometimes they have 3 to 5 books going at once - one for literature circle (what we used to call reading group!), one for SSR, the ones they go through at home for fun, plus read alouds by their teacher or that we are reading as a family. One son loves to read and the other not so much, but they both figured out how to keep a SSR book at school pretty early in grade school - and they did it on their own!

Then again, maybe they learned it from me. I sometimes go through a book in a day, but I still keep a book in the car that I only read when I'm stuck waiting for someone to come out of music lessons etc.

 

[jim and meesie]

As I say to my ds10 when he is riding a little too high on his entitlement horse, "Baby, you are special--but ya ain't that special."

Thank you, we are all special!!!!!! I think all our kids definitely need to hear this one.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I've decided my kids must be really brilliant. They read a lot and they just keep a seperate book at school for SSR. Sometimes they have 3 to 5 books going at once - one for literature circle (what we used to call reading group!), one for SSR, the ones they go through at home for fun, plus read alouds by their teacher or that we are reading as a family. One son loves to read and the other not so much, but they both figured out how to keep a SSR book at school pretty early in grade school - and they did it on their own!

Then again, maybe they learned it from me. I sometimes go through a book in a day, but I still keep a book in the car that I only read when I'm stuck waiting for someone to come out of music lessons etc.

WOW a family of geniuses!!!! They should be graduated today. Why bore them with going to school.

 

[camlace]

I honestly don't think that's possible - unless he reads so much that he's flunking out of school for not doing his other homework or something. Other than that, I can't imagine ever saying that a child "reads too much of the time."

I was one of those children that "read too much". My mother (who is a teacher) had to take my books away from me because I never would have gone out and played or socialized with other kids. Even still I used to sneak books out of the house and hide behind the garage to read when I was supposed to be outside playing. If reading is taking away from developing other necessary skills, ie learning to get along/interact with others, group play, etc., then you can probably say a child "reads too much". Everything in moderation... JMO

 

[tjmw2727]

Wow - I haven't read all the way through but I will give my opinion as the mom of a 3rd and 5th grader.

Here we have DEAR, Drop Everything And Read, its an assignment, not just 5 minutes of silent reading. The assignment is to have something to read every day for at least 5 minutes sometimes more.

It is the childs responsibility to have something available, at the appropriate reading for them that they haven't read before. The child is responsible for having the book, not the teacher and it must meet the above criteria. Even my 8 and 10 understood that you designate one book at a time for DEAR and then you replace it when you finish. They also read all they want when they want. Often my oldest will decide that she wants to finish her DEAR book but knows that if she does, she must have an approved replacement ready. It is her responsibilty not mine or the teachers.

TJ

 

[jim and meesie]

I was one of those children that "read too much". My mother (who is a teacher) had to take my books away from me because I never would have gone out and played or socialized with other kids. Even still I used to sneak books out of the house and hide behind the garage to read when I was supposed to be outside playing. If reading is taking away from developing other necessary skills, ie learning to get along/interact with others, group play, etc., then you can probably say a child "reads too much". Everything in moderation... JMO

Growing up I used to hide in the bathroom with books. Particularly awkward in a family of eight in a house with one bathroom. Of course I hid under the covers with a flashlite and read till all hours, often to the detriment of my other schoolwork.

My daughter has a friend (13) who is also an obsessive reader and she chose to give all her friends a book she thought they would love (different for each kid) as favors at her Bat Mitzvah. It was such a hit with all the kids and then they started trading after they had read their original book.

 

[Crankyshank]

My daughter has a friend (13) who is also an obsessive reader and she chose to give all her friends a book she thought they would love (different for each kid) as favors at her Bat Mitzvah. It was such a hit with all the kids and then they started trading after they had read their original book.

Also someone who would hide and read here.
That's a really great idea for favors. Something I'm definitely going to file away mentally

All of this talk about reading made me do what DH calls "feeding the addiction" - I just ordered some books for our cruise

 

[DisneyDotty]

Ouch!!! This OP is giving me so much to love!!!! Cliff notes, no, nay, nay, never especially in 7th grade. The crutch of so many stressed out college students. Yes, Cliff Notes give an opinion just not your own opinion!!!

Thank you for saying this! I can't believe that OP, having been a teacher, is advocating Cliff's Notes along with a "hard" book as a way to teach criticial reading! YIKES!
Agree with everyone else here--the OP is doing her son (and the teacher, and the rest of the class) a huge disservice. Good luck to her in her future battles with her son/his school--there will be many...

 

[Wishing on a star]

I was one of those children that "read too much". My mother (who is a teacher) had to take my books away from me because I never would have gone out and played or socialized with other kids. Even still I used to sneak books out of the house and hide behind the garage to read when I was supposed to be outside playing. If reading is taking away from developing other necessary skills, ie learning to get along/interact with others, group play, etc., then you can probably say a child "reads too much". Everything in moderation... JMO

ITA......

 

[Wishing on a star]

So, just by sheer simple post-count..

it is now

Teacher - 170
Student - 2

(And, if they have read the whole thread, I think even perhaps those (2) might be rethinking their response.)

 

[mickeyboat]

So, just by sheer simple post-count..

it is now

Teacher - 171
Student - 2

(And, if they have read the whole thread, I think even perhaps those (2) might be rethinking their response.)

We should post a link to this thread in the teacher rant thread. There really are parents out there willing to back them up!

Denae

 

[Disney Doll]

I don't disagree with you, but where did the OP say that her child read all the books in the library? I think she said there is only a minimum number she can check out at one time, or get on a list for.

I was taking some poetic license there. My point being that there is a library, and the child can take out X number of books from it, so he should do so for the SSR time. To not bring in a book and then get angry for receiving a failing grade makes no sense. He knows the rules. He is not special insofar as he doesn't have to follow rules. He may be special in what he likes to read, or special based on the fact that he is far above average for his grade level with regard to his reading, but the teacher doesn't seem to be regulating what the child reads (within reason for school etc. I am sure) but only that the child does read.

If the teacher has no books that interest him, the library must. There are an awful lot of books there!! I'd take him to the library, let him choose the maximum number of books he can, and then bring one of those every day for SSR.

 

[Disney Doll]

And we wonder why teens these days have a huge sense of entitlement.

Actually, I don't wonder at all why teens these days have a huge sense of entitlement.

Parents give it to them.

And then it's a big shock when the real world doesn't.

And then we have a huge bunch of people who are really smart and entitled and have no idea how to exist in the real world because it doesn't always work exactly the way they think it should.

And then they have kids and start the cycle again.

 

[monsterkitty]

Just because a person is a fast reader does not mean the person is getting the content of the material.

So the teacher is letting your son work on hand writing instead of reading because your son doesn't want to read. So now, as a parent of another student can go in and request an alternative assigment because my child doesn't want to read. Susie's mom can then go in and say that Susie doesn't want to read and should be given a different assignment. Pretty soon very few kids will be reading because they just don't want to. BUMMER!

If your son was in my class he would have the option of doing the SSR or not doing it. If he chose the later he would be chosing to take the zero.

Your son's assignment is to read a book for 5 minutes. He is not being given an unreasonable assignment.

 

[poohandwendy]

I was taking some poetic license there. My point being that there is a library, and the child can take out X number of books from it, so he should do so for the SSR time. To not bring in a book and then get angry for receiving a failing grade makes no sense. He knows the rules. He is not special insofar as he doesn't have to follow rules. He may be special in what he likes to read, or special based on the fact that he is far above average for his grade level with regard to his reading, but the teacher doesn't seem to be regulating what the child reads (within reason for school etc. I am sure) but only that the child does read.

If the teacher has no books that interest him, the library must. There are an awful lot of books there!! I'd take him to the library, let him choose the maximum number of books he can, and then bring one of those every day for SSR.

See, now you are coming up with simple solutions, but the end result is that the OPs son will have to conform with the classroom rules, just like all of the other kids. That is not what she wants. She wants her son to be rewarded for being a bibliophile by not having to do what all of the other kids have to do. She wants his abilities recognized, pure and simple. The only way she can really do that is to make a stink. If that was not what she was looking for, she would have said simply "Find something to read for those 5 minutes". Period.

JMHO

 

[Disney Doll]

Ok I must be missing something, Where does it say that her son doesnt want to read and do something else? from all her post I get that the son finishes his book and doesnt have another so the teacher gives him a zero because she wont let him reread a book he already has read. Yes the teacher has books but not for his level of reading. so since her son likes to read she spends tons of $$ on books. Heck I buy 99 % of my books used and I still spend at least $40 a month on books. I can see where the mom is upset. but I still dont see where the OP said her son hates reading and wants to goof off while the other kids read. She just said her son finishes his books and doesnt have another one to read and the teacher wont let him read one he already read, so he is stuck reading a "baby" book or taking a zero.....

And I can tell you that, as a 7th grader, my mother would have asked the teacher if it was OK for me to bring in the dictionary or an encyclopedia for my SSR time. And if it was, guess who would have been reading the entire Webster's dicitonary followed by the Encyclopedia Brittanica from A-Z?

 

[Disney Doll]

ok, I'll be blunt

these are his choices
#1. Bring in a book that he wants to read for 5 minutes
#2. If he has not brought in a book then read one that the teacher has available for 5 minutes.

Is that so unreasonable? IF the kid had read every book that the teacher had available on her shelves - then I might have some sympathy, probably not but I might at least agree to listen to him. Otherwise, go grab a book and sit down and read. Refusing to read and getting a 0 when there is available material sitting right in front of your face is just being a little twerp to the teacher, and that is something that I do not allow in my house -- no ifs, ands, or buts.

I guess I also like for my kids to not accept things blindly. But I also expect my children to be problem solvers.

So if my child was not finding adequate reading material to get the easy points in this class --- I'd expect him to be "Gifted" enough to walk into the Library, check out the thickest Encyclopedia the librarian could hand to him, and then tote it into class everyday and sit there and read the blasted thing to get a good grade. Repeat as necessary.

And if a 7th grade child of mine had nerve enough to bring this problem to me, I'd fall over laughing at his pitiful whining that Mrs. ________ was flunking him for refusing to read and tell him that he'd better put his little thinking cap on and find a solution before report cards came home.

JMHO

Mom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What are you doing posting on the Dis??????????????? I didn't even know you had a computer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jockaroo]

I will admit I have not read every page of this thread, so if I am repeating things suggested, forgive me.

I must side with the teacher in this issue. I agree with many other posters who say pick a book and use it only for SSR period.

But at the same time, I do understand the OP's son. I grew up reading everything I could get my hands on. I was reading above 6th grade level at the end of 2nd grade. I loved books so very much--the feel of the pages, the smell of the ink on paper. I also loved escaping into the minds of characters in the books. I really do understand how your son can, at times, not put a book down until it is finished. Here is my suggestion: give your son some collections of short stories. Even as a fast reader, he can complete one story per day and not be left with the desire to know how "it" ends. Check into Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Poe, Twain, Hemingway, and even Steven King.