Kristen Bevilacqua's blog

I began to realize the importance of keeping a reading log while working with the students whom I mentor. Often I would show them a book we had read months ago and ask them if they remembered it. Sometimes they would, other times they would tell me we had not read it.

Wouldn't it be great if they were keeping track of their reading on their own, instead of needing me to tell them which books, or how many books they had read?

The Kids' Lit Quiz (KLQ) is a literature competition for kids age 10-13 that takes place in the UK, China, New Zealand – and I just learned – South Africa!

Students join together in groups of 4 to answer questions about books from various genres including: contemporary fiction, comics, poetry, classics and more. Excitement surrounds the preparations and the competition as students gear up to compete for prizes. Winning teams from participating schools go on to National finals and those winners go to the World finals.

I love to read – always have since I was a child. Perhaps that's one of the reasons I decided to volunteer as a reading helper to work with children. I wanted to share my passion for reading with children who had not yet discovered theirs.

While reading together with my students is important, demonstrating a positive attitude about reading (and learning) is just as critical to their developing reading habits. As reading role models we are influential and can have a positive impact on boys' attitudes toward reading with just a few positive steps.

Book Review: YA Fiction for Teen Boys
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Meet Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, the dorky, confused and compassionate protagonist in Sherman Alexie's semi-autobiographical tale, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian.

After a passionate – although violent – outburst at school, Junior is encouraged by his math teacher to leave the reservation to attend a high school over 20 miles away. Junior struggles with his identity. He feels like he doesn't belonging anywhere – neither on the reservation which he has abandoned, nor at his new school where he feels like an outcast among the students.

Along his journey, Junior deals with poverty, alcoholism, racism and loss, but he never loses his conviction to find hope nor his sense of humor.

How-to topics appeal to boys' desire for practical, concrete and hands-on information. Reading or writing this sub-genre of non-fiction is appropriate for boys of any age group, reading level, or with any interest – sports, science, hobbies, anything!

This might come as a surprise, since we often don't think of boys wanting to talk and socialize, but boys like social activities. Just think of the activities they enjoy the most. Baseball, football, basketball – team sports are the ultimate social activities. Even movies and video games can be perceived as social for boys. When all their friends are playing the latest game or going to see the newest release, boys want to be “in the know” and able to keep up with their friends socially.

On the flip side, books and reading are perceived as anything but social. As a solitary activity, boys sometimes equate reading with being anti-social, a nerd, weird or a loner. We can help change this perception by making reading a social activity for boys, one that they want to share with friends.

Part 3 of 3 Part Series – ESL Boy Readers

Culture is important for second language readers. While learning to read in a new language is unfamiliar and awkward for them, reading will feel even more foreign to boys if there is no trace of the world that they know. To help boys who are reading in a second language feel more comfortable reading, we have to reach out to them within their comfort zone.

Part 2 of 3 Part Series – ESL Boy Readers

Reading in a second language can be challenging for even the most eager readers. Boys who are reluctant to read to begin with, may find reading in an unfamiliar language intimidating. By choosing the right texts, we can help make the task more welcoming and enjoyable for them.

Below I have compiled, from my experience, five elements to look for in books to appeal to ESL boys.

Part 1 of 3 Part Series – ESL Boy Readers

The boys I work with are English as a Second Language learners (ESL). In most cases, they converse with friends and family in their native language, but can not read or write in it.

ESL students begin learning their second language at varying levels. Some may be literate in their native tongue, some may not. Bilingual students, who learn a second language at an early age, may have an advantage to learning. However, for already reluctant or struggling readers, learning another language can create added confusion on the path to literacy.

Like boys and action, reading and writing go hand-in-hand. Both are critical skills for literacy. It is through writing that boys will learn to formulate thoughts and improve their creativity and thinking skills.

Unfortunately boys who are reluctant to do one, usually resist the other as well. Here are five ideas, that utilize activities and interests that most appeal to boys, to get them writing: