Age-Appropriate Reading Suited for Boys - Assignment Example

Age Appropriate Reading Suited for Boys In today’s society, we are becoming more and more aware of gender norms and how to avoid them. It is safe to say that a majority of girls within a certain age bracket; enjoy reading books about princesses, fairies, animals and so forth. This however, does not dictate a format for needing to assign children’s books to various children based on their gender. In this discussion, we will focus on age appropriate readings for boys. We may look at however, literature that encourages children to respond accordingly based on their age. For example, books which illustrate boys who are respectful to female counterparts as well as characters which display equality of both males and females. Selecting appropriate and constructive readings for children can actually have an impact on tearing down gender norms, preconceived notions of racism or homophobia and so on. We can then look at reading assignments, in this case for boys, as a platform for teaching not only reading and comprehension; but also an overall positive and healthy outlook at the world around them. It is also crucial to incorporate multi-cultural elements, especially for those students to which English is a second language. Embracing both the child’s culture of origin as well as the one in which the majority of the students in the class are a part of; is imperative. Prior to discussing each of the books chosen in each genre, it is important to cover the topic of inclusion. When teaching elementary age children, the aspect of including all of the pupils as actively as possible will in turn teach the pupils to become adults; functional in society whereby capably working well with others and embracing diversity. Inclusion also encompasses a very hands on and interactive environment where stations may be set up about the classroom allowing students to move from station to station in a learning capacity which is proven to maintain their constant attention and interest, “Students spend a lot of time in learning centers where they make a lot of choices about what theyre working on. Its a classroom where learning often happens in small groups with peer helping and supporting each others”(Shevin, 2008). The first 4 books to be discussed are in the fictional category. The first of these is called Aliens for Breakfast by Jonathan Etra. This particular book is essentially one which will appeal to boys because the main characters are male. Additionally, the element of the paranormal ads to the interest factor which promises to keep the reader engrossed in the plot. More importantly, the fantastical idea of aliens in cereal will most likely appeal to all of the children in the classroom which is critical but the fact that the book features a male protagonist, may detour girls from being as interested in the content as one might find with boys. The next fictional work to be discussed is entitled Living With Vampires by: Jeremy Strong. This particular book places a young boy in a strange and fantastical situation which is juxtaposed with an element of reality as he is a school boy with a family and so on. Choosing a book which allows the student to relate to the characters in some way and then fins that the character is encountering a situation out of the realm of possibility; truly captures the attention of young boys especially. The book known as The BFG by famed children’s author Ronald Dahl is also an excellent selection for more than one reason. First of all, Dahl is a noted and respected children’s author clearly fluent in the principles of keeping the attention of children. This book also has a female protagonist allowing both boys and girls to relate to the story. This book is also an excellent choice as it helps children to cope with normal childhood fears by placing a giant in the story who is in fact friendly. This book tends to allow the reader to come to terms with their possible fears of supernatural or fantastical creatures thought to be lurking under the bed or in the attic. The book entitled The Big Drop by: Rob Childs is the last of the fictional books for boys to be discussed. This particular book is a sports related book which obviously is meant to be enjoyed mostly by boys. This is a lengthy book of 96 pages which supplies the reader with a lengthy read for the age group while centering on a subject certain to hold a young boy’s attention. The next genre to be discussed is the non-fiction genre from which 4 books have been selected. The first is entitled Florence Nightingale by: Lucy Lethbridge and is obviously a biography format about famed nurse Florence Nightingale. This book is truly an excellent curriculum choice as it celebrates the life of a woman in history who did great things. This is absolutely a healthy means of emphasizing altruism as well as celebrating not just male accomplishment sin history but also female. Another non-fiction choice which helps to lay an important educational foundation is the book entitled How Things Began by: Mary Jean McNeil and Colin King. This book is such a marvelous selection because it provides a brief history on many important scientific truths as well as relevant historical occurrences. Science World: How Animals Behave by: Keith Porter allows a look into Biology as it pertains to animals, which truly provides a point of reference for any child; male or female. Finally, Questions and Answers-Knights and Castles by: Phillip Brooks offers a new approach to reading and learning. It is an interactive approach. When teaching, incorporating any variance of interactive question and answer is a fantastic way to keep children interested while allowing a ‘take home’ message to be retained, “Structure the environment so students are actively engaged and motivated. That will be good teaching for all students. This will involve collaboration and networking. It also means the teacher is not always in control, but is one of a team of problem m solvers including students, parents, and other teachers”(Kliewer, 2008). The final genre to be discussed related to children’s literature is poetry. Poetry is truly critical to the overall learning process as it allows children to utilize creative technique in an abstract manner in addition to broadening use of language. The first book to be discussed is entitled Usborne Puzzle adventures - The incredible dinosaur expedition by: Karen Dolby. This work is an excellent choice due to the strategy format that it possesses allowing children to expand on their ability to strategies and solve problems. The second book to fall within this genre is entitled Women Warriors in Myth and Legend by: Dr. Sal Levi is perhaps one of the most important books discussed so far. This book elevates women to the position of a warrior or hero where so many other children’s books focus on male characters as being the heroes as well as capable of great feats of accomplishments. Poems and Pictures - Colours by: Dennis Saunders & Terry Williams offers a combination of poetry with visuals which serves as an incredibly useful teaching tool allowing children to retain a visual aid to correspond with the written work. Finally, the last work to be discussed is entitled Poems on conservation, earthways earthwise by: Judith Nicholls. This is truly a wonderful choice in children’s literature as it focuses on the critical topic of conservation in a time where the topic of conservation should really be just as much of a focal point in education as Science and history. We are facing a global energy crisis and the entropic condition of global warming which has become enough of a concern that it should absolutely be taught to children at young ages, around the world. Works Cited: Children’s Books List Children’s Fiction: Etra, Jonathan, Spinner, Stephanie. (1988), "Aliens for Breakfast" Strong, Jeremy. (2000), "Living with Vampires" , Dahl, Ronald,. (2001), "The BFG" Childs, Rob, (1999), "The Big Drop" Children’s Non-fiction books: Lethbridge, Lucy., (2004), "Florence Nightingale" McNeil, Mary - Jean., King, Colin., (1988), "How Things Began” Porter, Keith., (1987), "Science World - How animals behave" Brooks, Phillip, (2001), "Questions and Answers - Knights and Castles" Children’s Poetry Books: Dolby, Karen., (1987), "Usborne Puzzle adventures - The incredible dinosaur expedition" Levi Ph.d., Sal, (1980), "Warriors in myth and legend" Saunders, Dennis,. Williams, Terry., (1981), "Poems and Pictures - Colours" Nichols, Judith., (1998), “Poems on conservation, earthways earthwise" Literary References: Barrs, Myra., Pidgeon, Sue., (1998), "Boys and Reading" Barrs, M., Thomas, A., (1991), "The Reading Book" Williams, Mary., (2002), "Unlocking Writing" Gamble, Nikki., (2002), "Exploring childrens literature: teaching the language and reading of fiction" Rush, Nathan., (2005), "Ploys for boys: selections, recollections and strategies to get boys reading" Safford, Kimberly., (2004), "Boys on the margin: promoting boys literacy learning at key stage 2" Kelly, A., Graham, J., (20000), "Reading under control" Kliewer, Christopher, (2008), “Teaching Strategies”, retrieved from website November 23, 2008 at: http://www.uni.edu/coe/inclusion/strategies/content_behavior.html Jones, C., (2005), "Supporting inclusion in the early years" Medwell et al, (2007), "Theory and Practice" Read More