Aha! Success!

[conuly]

So Eva's friend N is a bright kid. Doesn't like to read. She can read, she just doesn't like to.

However, any kid who goes anywhere with us - and she does - is expected to haul a book around, and eventually Eva will open up her own book and read. I've been handing N graphic novels to limited success, but yesterday I had the best success ever. I gave her a copy of Hamster Princess, and she said "Oh, good, I'm bored. And you know what? I think I'm kind of getting used to reading."

Then she literally read it while walking and laughed out loud as she did so. Ursula Vernon is a genius, and I'm going to pop over to her journal and tell her so.

Comments

[asakiyume]

Nice ^_^

[conuly]

I know!

[alatefeline]

Hooray!!!

[naye]

Oh yay! It's always wonderful to see kids discover reading - well done for lighting that spark in her.

[conuly]

Yes. I just hope it carries over into her schoolwork next year. She ought to be doing better than she is, and I don't know why she isn't.

Problem Solving; poke me if unwelcome! Or ignore me. O:>

[archangelbeth]

Really mild dyslexia? Sensory issues about paper? Can't Be Bothered because School Books Are Boring?

If the former, then fonts may help and thus ebooks where dyslexia-friendly fonts can be loaded. Ditto sensory issues (my kid hates paper-feel). If the last one, then hopefully practice with reading can at least speed up the dreary parts!

Hooray for UrsulaV!

Re: Problem Solving; poke me if unwelcome! Or ignore me. O:>

[conuly]

Mild dyslexia is a possibility, although if that's the case she's even brighter than I think.

My guess is that she associates reading with school, and since she's a bit behind in school (her parents aren't the best at making sure she actually gets there) she has unpleasant feelings about the whole thing.

Re: Problem Solving; poke me if unwelcome! Or ignore me. O:>

[archangelbeth]

Ugh. Yeah, Reading = School and School = Stress sounds plausible, too. Here's hoping that Hamster Princess (and then maybe some of UrsulaV's other stuff!) will help her realize that reading can be great, too! *crosses fingers*

Re: Problem Solving; poke me if unwelcome! Or ignore me. O:>

[conuly]

I'm hoping too! I'll gladly buy her the entire ouvre if it'll spark her.

Re: Problem Solving; poke me if unwelcome! Or ignore me. O:>

[archangelbeth]

*crosses fingers!*

Success!

[offcntr]

Once she's gotten through all the hamster princess books, try her on Ursula's Castle Hangnail. Middle-grades chapter book, and totally delightful.

Re: Success!

[conuly]

I find your icon oddly fascinating. Fascinatingly odd?

Re: Success!

[offcntr]

I think the description you may be looking for is slightly off-center. The space suit is from NASA, the teddy bear and Photoshop skills are mine. Original image is here.

All our bears have a vivid inner life...

[fayanora]

I didn't like to read as a kid until I discovered the Goosebumps books. It's always awesome to get a kid hooked on reading!

[conuly]

Yes!