Start with letting them read interesting and good books. Books that they actually wanna read. I think that this should be instilled in an early age. Because when the child is already at school, then they are forced to read thing they have no interest in reading and that causes them to be disinterested and not develop a love for it.

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nytimes.com/2018/10/26/opinion/sunday/p ... n=Trending


I had a phonics workbook in school. Anyone else?

This may be a bit off-topic, but here goes:

I recently moved into a senior complex (no, not assisted living), which has lots of activities. I am thinking of starting (or trying to start) a book discussion group. I know it will be tricky; what books, etc., and am wondering if anyone can give me some hints on how to 'sell' this. I know the mechanics, just not sure what to say.

Cattleman wrote:This may be a bit off-topic, but here goes:

I recently moved into a senior complex (no, not assisted living), which has lots of activities. I am thinking of starting (or trying to start) a book discussion group. I know it will be tricky; what books, etc., and am wondering if anyone can give me some hints on how to 'sell' this. I know the mechanics, just not sure what to say.

Probably best to avoid books that focus on politics or religion. But you knew that.

Cattleman wrote: I am thinking of starting (or trying to start) a book discussion group. I know it will be tricky; what books, etc., and am wondering if anyone can give me some hints on how to 'sell' this. I know the mechanics, just not sure what to say.

Wonderful idea. I hope it goes well.

I would start with people. Who seems to like books? Who talks about them some? Pick a few bibliophiles who seem genial, so that they can be brought to agree on a book, and poll them to see what they think "people would like" to read and discuss. Then propose the club.

If classics like R.L. Stevenson seem to be in the cards, or spy thrillers, or murder mysteries, or Litrachoor, go with it. Chat about some options enough to settle on some good ones and get the group together (with refreshments, if possible) to get to know one another and pick one.

Our experience in Africa was that if you can get 6 to start, it will take off to where you may need to split it.

Litwitlou wrote:

Why Are We Still Teaching Reading the Wrong Way?

I had a phonics workbook in school. Anyone else?

I read that article with interest. I remember thinking the Whole Language learning sounded a little weird to me, when it first came out. Ignoring spelling, to start with, so kids would not be inhibited from writing. Sort of like texting does. It's all very well, especially with spell correct being as pervasive as it is today, but you still have to do the decoding, as this article points out, and it can help a lot to understand some of the patterns in silent letters, for example. (Laff owt lowd).

So yeah, why would you skip over phonics?

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. So as not to put immediate pressure on potential members, I would start with a book many people interested in joining a book club might well have read. Say, PBS's choice for America's Favorite Novel. Not necessarily that particular book — you know what I mean. That way if some are pressed for time they can just skim through it before the meeting and feel prepared.

You must pick the first book. If you don't the club may never get off the ground. Even if you do the hard part and get people to show up, you need them to come back So you pick the first book and make it one that allows you to keep the conversation going. If the book has a really off-the-wall author... big plus.

Pick the first book, and prepare. Study. Research. You don't want someone asking a question and the whole group looking down at their hands. Even if there is no real answer to the particular question, have a interesting or witty remark about the book or its author prepared as a deflection.
A little parlor room maskirovka is useful in both heated and stilted debates.

Last thing: if the meetings are held in members' homes, something lite, but homemade, should be served. Let that be a little surprise for everyone when they arrive. Makes for a good atmosphere in the room if someone made cupcakes or pie or strawberry smoothies or sliders. And BYOB, of course

You may have thought of all these things already. I'm starting from Jump St. but I think that's how that's how I would go about it.

My wife belongs to a book club and those are all good suggestions. They meet in different homes each month. The host selects several books that members chose from. They try to provide some food that relates to the book - if it takes place in Bhutan, which one of theirs did, provide or make something from that country. Libraries and some book stores can arrange extra copies for registered clubs. This club has a fancy name and logo, I'll try to post it later. Oh yeah, if you meet for an hour or so, expect about 15 minutes spent on the book and the rest is socializing.

I believe that the problem is that many schools don’t advertise reading enough and often their selection is not appealing to people.

One way might be to stop taking the position that reading, and therefore books, represents some kind of superior activity. It is established that about 90% of our information is received visually, and the brain processes that information accordingly. Ultimately, being literate is vital to prevent people being exploited by crooks and lawyers - oh, and politicians; reading, in and of itself, is an entirely solitary and subjective pursuit but the conversations and discussions that books trigger are where the true value and vitality reside.