I've written several posts in the past few months about girls out performing boys in college. I care about this topic not because it represents some "crisis," which conjures up images of persecuted boys and dominatrix girls. We're in the midst of a major sociological shift without one clear cause. It's really an important story. I also am following this story, because as a mother of boys, I want to see what girls are doing right and then copy them.
Jonah is smart, but in a very average sort of way. His math and spacial skills are especially good. I see the chess club in his future. He makes up math problems for himself and loves to show off his abilities in this area. His verbal and reading skills are good enough for him to be in the top reading group at school, but he's not an over achiever here. He'll rarely read a book on his own. If given the choice of playing with Lego or reading a book, he'll always choose the Lego.
I want Jonah to be a book lover, like I was as a kid. I remember dreaming about reading every book in the school library. There was always a stack of Nancy Drews or Laura Ingalls Wilder on my bedside table. And it saved me academically. I was a complete space cadet throughout elementary and middle school. I had the ability to daydream for hours, a skill that I'm convinced I learned by having sit through mass as a kid. But the books taught me how to write and gave me enough information to do well on the tests. I could coast in school, because I read at home.
So, I'm trying to make my kid into a book lover, too. I'm not sure if this is a futile goal or not, but here's my plan.
First, I'm trying to make him a better reader. I think to be a book lover, you have to read beyond grade level. First graders read at too slow of a pace to make it fun. He has to be better than his grade. So, I've set up reading goals for each day. The charts tap into his competitive streak. He's got to read a chapter of the Magic Tree House series and one smaller book every day. By increasing the book consumption, his abilities should improve.
Second, I'm putting him in book environments. We're going to the library twice a week where I give the boys an hour to read and browse whatever they like. Jonah's going for the Superman comic books and the books based on TV shows. It's doesn't matter. He's getting judgment free reading time. If he wants to read the back of DVD boxes, it's cool with me. He's got to walk out of the library with some real books to borrow, but during that hour, it's just about enjoying being around books.
We also have a little room, which just contains a futon and a bookshelf full of kids' books. I try to go in there with them once a day. I'll read a magazine and just give them time for random reading.
Third, I'm limiting the time that Jonah spends in organized activities. Sports can be an enormous time suck, and he needs to be bored enough to pick up books on his own. I canceled TKD for July, so that we could have more time for random reading.
I'm not sure if this is going to work or not. It's a lot of effort on my part, and he may not have that book loving chip in his brain. Shrug. We'll have to see.