All last week, the library was having a book fair. During the morning announcements, we were invited to go over and see what they had. We were told there were lots of great books to buy...
"Who buys books?" a student asked.
It was a special ed. English class. So, I kinda knew where the question came from. But still, I was speechless.
One of the students (not the student who asked) had a one-on-one aide. The aide said what I should have said...
"I buy books."
So, I seconded, saying that I buy books, too. Of course, this didn't count.
"Yeah, well, you're teachers..."
(We spent the week reading a simplified version of The Swiss Family Robinson. I probably don't have to mention that I had a group of reluctant readers.)
Oh, my. I like your response by having them read. This recalls the feelings I had upon learning that cursive is not always taught these days. How sad. Be well!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I remember hearing from a teacher friend that she didn't teach cursive to her kids. I thought, WHAT?!
DeleteIt wasn't my idea to have them read. It was the lesson plan the teacher left.
DeleteBea, cursive really isn't used anymore. Sad that we're losing it, but keyboarding is more useful for the future.
DeleteOh, that makes sense about the lesson plan. You should have taken credit. ~grin~ As a lover of language, I'd rather see math dropped. Why do kids need that when computers are so much faster at calculations, I wonder.
DeleteBut if you don't understand how math works, using computers won't help you problem solve. Math is important too. (And it is the language of science!)
DeleteI just read two YA books the kids might like better than Swiss Family Robinson:
ReplyDeleteOne Of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus
T.H.U.G. by Angie Thomas
Those poor kids. They have no idea what they are missing.
How sad is that. I have an actual library in my home so take that kid!
ReplyDeleteConsider the source.
DeleteTheir response is sad but not surprising
ReplyDeleteYes, it's the class in this case. There are other classes where that would not have been the reaction.
DeleteHow sad :(
ReplyDeleteIf only they knew how many people disagreed with that sentiment. Maybe someday...
DeleteNo wonder they don't want to read if they're given things like The Swiss Family Robinson at school. They could at least try for something from this century. Or a comic book/graphic novel.
ReplyDeleteIt is so sad that technology has replaced reading. I read on my technology so I don't buy many books anymore. I can't get my teen granddaughter interested in reading at all.
ReplyDeleteKeep in mind these were special ed kids. Reading is difficult for them.
DeleteOf course not only it is good to buy books, but then to read the books one buys!
ReplyDeletebetty
Book fairs were my favorite as a kid! My parents always had to reign in my spending. I guess I'm lucky to spend most of my time with "gifted" kids, whatever that means (rich, white?); they are always thrilled to get new books (even if some of those books are bought more for pictures and fun facts than for actual reading)!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure some of the kids enjoyed the book fair. Just not the ones in this class.
Delete*Weakly raises hands* I buy books...all the time. Too many books. So many books.
ReplyDelete...
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But seriously, I still own almost every book I bought as a kid at book fairs. Some of them are still my favorite too. I first bought 'Dragon Weather' from the Obsidian Chronicles when I was nine or ten and I've read it a dozen times at this point.
It's sad, but it's hard to convince a kid who dislikes reading that it's fun to read. I've tried. There is a reason I don't argue the point any more.
DeleteSad. Not surprising, but sad. On the other hand, I lived for book fairs. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteSigh.
DeleteOut of my 5 kids only one was a reader despite me reading to them all when they were little. The one who reads would read anything and everything. He has an incredible general knowledge too. The others are smart enough but they just never took to reading. It's strange. I was always lost in a book when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the difference is. If we could figure that one out...
DeleteI was just going to say that I read to my kids every night and they all turned out to be avid readers....BUT according to Pinky (above) that didn't work with her. Soooo who's to know but it's a real shame that some kids don't read anymore. They miss so much.
ReplyDeleteSome kids never read. I don't think it's a "these kids today" situation. This was a special ed class.
DeleteI sigh...and face palm.
ReplyDeleteI buy books. A LOT of books.
And I clean toilets a dump trash for a living.
I'm choosing to believe that maybe they were asking who buys physical books, instead of e-books. I always have a hard time accepting that "I don't read," can be a complete sentence. I always expect it to be a specific genre.
ReplyDeleteSadly, it is a complete sentence for some kids. Not all kids. I see plenty of kids who do get lost in books.
DeleteNope you are considered an adult so buying books is an OLD thing! lol...Kids now a days have the internet to read from, why buy a book? Shame, as a teen I read all the time. Not so much not but I try to read a bit each night....failing really bad with that right now.
ReplyDeleteHe just wasn't a reader. I encounter these types all the time.
DeleteThere would always be kids who didn't read but I believe things are worse now. It's one of the downsides of social media, they've got non-stop entertainment and distractions. Oh for the days when there was nothing to do! I wish my teenagers would read more.
ReplyDeleteNo, they don't books, because they look at their phones and play games. Grr.
ReplyDeleteNot all. I do see some students who pull out actual physical books in class when they finish their work early. There are still readers out there :)
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