Focusing in on Boys Who Can Read, But Don’t Want To presented by Laura Feldt Batavia School District [email protected] http://laurafeldt.weebly.com BRBC Website: http://jbnbrbc.weebly.com/
Tips for Motivating Boys to Read Notes from Presentation Book Club at My School -4th and 5th grade boys (6 from each grade) -specific focus: boys who CAN read but don’t want to -slightly at or above grade level readers -IRC Reading Grant to buy books #1: Be Mindful When You Meet -once a month, once a quarter/trimester -45 min to 1 hour -reading block, before school, lunch, etc #2: Choose the Right Books -original BRBC book list included below -other books/authors/genres for boys
#3: Use Your Experts: -Jon Scieszka -ask the boys -give them a vote/choice #4: Dangle the Carrot -invitation letter -perks -surveys #5: Let Go of Some of the Structure -many quick activities, not one long discussion -comfy chairs, snacks -sample agenda included below #6: Short Reads & Quick Texts Are Not Bad -fact books -start small, then go for longer later
#7: Incorporate Some Technology -iPad/computer time -weebly website (updated every few months) http://jbnbrbc.weebly.com/ -book ratings -book trailers, author interviews, websites -sites related to topics we read about #8: Make It Personal -“I Thought of You” -personal book recommendations -reminder notes #9: Book Talks Can Do Wonders -blurbs, book blogs, YouTube videos -let the boys do some #10: Get Some Feedback Surveys/Data -boys (attitude and interest) -teachers -parents -classroom students Bonus Tip: Don’t Get Discouraged -remember the Logan story
•Original JBN Boys Read Book Club: Book List
Month Genre Book Title Author
September pirates, The Not-So-Jolly Roger Jon Scieszka time travel/history
October space/aliens Spaceheadz Jon Scieszka science fiction
November biography, magic Who Was Harry Houdini? Tui T. Sutherland
Dec/Jan graphic novel, humor Big Nate Strikes Again (2x) Lincoln Peirce
February animals, non-fiction Predator Showdown Lee Martin
March sports On The Line (2x) Jake Maddox
April humor, friendship The Fourth Stall (2x) Chris Rylander
May adventure, suspense Among the Hidden Margaret Peterson Haddix
•JBN Boys Read Book Club: Sample Agenda -read aloud/snack -discuss the book we read that month -share book rating (scale 1-5 stars) -share more books on the same topic/same author * bigger the pile to share, the better! -introduce new book and/or vote on new book to read (3 choices) -read aloud from fact books
Recommended Books for Boys 4-5th Grade
Genre Book Titles Authors sports varied Jake Maddox Babe and Me (series) and the Million Dollar (series) Dan Gutman humor Lunch Ladies series Jarrett K. Krosozcka graphic Squish series Matthew L. Holm elements Diary of a Wimpy Kid series Jeff Kinney Stick Dog Tom Watson My Life as a Book series Janet Tashjian aliens Star Wars graphic novel books space Strange Case of Origami Yoda series Tom Angleberger Spaceheadz series Jon Scieszka biography How They Croaked; How They Choked Georgia Bragg Knuckleheads Jon Scieszka Who Was series Varied authors Boys Who Rocked the World Michelle Roehm McCann realistic fiction Swindle series Gordon Korman The Fourth Stall series Chris Rylander mystery American Chillers Johnathan Rand Real Kids! Real Places! Mystery series Carole Marsh Ballpark Mysteries series David A. Kelly fantasy City of Ember series Jeanne DuPrau Peter and the Star Catcher series Dave Barry Gregor the Overlander series Suzanne Collins Time Warp Trio series (time travel) Jon Scieszka science Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor (Aug 2014) Jon Scieszka adventure Hatchet series Gary Paulsen suspense Among the Hidden and Found series Margaret Peterson Haddix The Worst Case Scenario: An Ultimate Adventure Novel Varied authors (chose own adventure series) Zach’s Lie series Roland Smith Stranded series Jeff Probst I Survived Series Lauren Tarshis Codename Zero (The Codename Conspiracy series) Chris Rylander fact books Guinness World Book of Records Scholastic World Book of Records Ripley’s Believe It or Not Scholastic 100 Things on the Planet books Nat’l Geographic Weird But True series
Compiled by Laura Feldt, June 2014
Recommended Books for Older Boys 6-7-8th Grade
Genre Book Titles Authors sports varied titles Tim Green varied titles Mike Lupica Guys Read: Sports Pages Jon Scieszka Sports Illustrated for Kids Top 10 Books Sports Illustrated for Kids humor and/or Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made Stephan Pastis graphic Guys Read: Funny Business Jon Scieszka elements Treasure Hunters James Patterson dystopian Hunger Games series Suzanne Collins The Maze Runner series James Dashner The Testing series Joelle Charbonneau history Bomb Steve Sheinkin war Chasing Lincoln’s Killer James L. Swanson The President’s Been Shot James L. Swanson realistic fiction Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life James Patterson series and I Funny books biography Guys Read: True Tales (Sept 2014) Jon Scieszka mystery Guys Read: Thriller Jon Scieszka 3:15 series Patrick Carman adventure Stormbreaker series Anthony Horowitz suspense Sylo (The SYLO Chronicles) series D. J. MacHale fact books Fact or Fake: Test Your Smarts Allan Zullo Ten True Tales series (FBI, Surving Sharks, Allan Zullo Secret Spies, etc.)
Compiled by Laura Feldt, June 2014