Howard Said:

Fifth grade trouble with reading?

We Answered:

well jerry spanieli makes really good books such as Eggs and Maniac Magee those are my personal favorites

Paul Said:

Can you help me with easy short texts in English?

We Answered:

http://www.readingrockets.org
It's for fluent English kids that have trouble reading - so it's not babyish - it should keep them interested!

Beatrice Said:

Classmate is harassing me? What do I do?

We Answered:

this is bullying. Tell the principal. Document the events. If this does not help, tell the principal you are calling a lawyer because you are being harrassed (you are!)... then action should happen.

Edgar Said:

Question about the book "Ender's Game?"?

We Answered:

I have never refused to allow my kids to read anything. On many occasions, I have read a book with them so we can discuss some of the scenes or themes, but to deny it to them completely, in my opinion, is naive and unfair. It is comparable to telling them they are not intelligent enough to understand it. There are books that I don't actively suggest to my kids (like bodice-rippers), but if they brought it to me, I would still let them read it as long as they were willing to let me read it with them.

Some parents want to shield their children from violence, profanity, disturbing ideas or non-Christian thought. Parents that keep certain books away from their kids might also shield them from many TV shows, public school (homeschooling controls what a child is exposed to), or otherwise limit their exposure to the things that the average 9 year old sees on a daily basis.

Though you and I don't see anything wrong with Ender's Game and would share it with our kids, that doesn't mean that everyone would. So, when suggesting books to someone else, or giving a book as a gift, I'm always more conservative than I am in my own home.

Cathy Said:

Does this matter when it comes to reading?

We Answered:

First off, I don't think there's any such thing as a reading level. I mean, maybe they can be used to gauge someone's "level of comprehension", but unless you're reading to impress someone else, I serously doubt it should be important to you.

Keep in mind that the maturity and appropriateness of the content is not directly related to the "level" at which it is written. For example, the New York Times is written at an 8th grade level (strange but true). Does that mean that it's wrong for anyone above the eighth grade to read the New York Times? No, because it's about content, not the "level" of writing.

One thing I will say is that a great deal of great works of literature are written at what would be considered a "high level". If you have an appreciation for literature, then I'm sure you'll appreciate them, and if you can read them, understand them, and appreciate them, then I'm sure you will seek them out, you will read them, and you will enjoy them. Because if you don't, then does it really matter at what level you can read?

Then again, there's no law saying what you can and can't read. There happen to be some very good childrens' stories and childrens' novels out there, and if you want to read them, go ahead. There's nothing wrong with it, and if you can indeed appreciate a good childrens' novel for what it's worth, then that shows a great deal of maturity on your part.

At the same time, there are a lot of books written at a "high level" that are just terrible. And I mean in content. And don't forget about pedantry, and pretentiousness, and all the other evils that come with sophistication, or at least the illusion of sophistication.

I say, read what you like. That by no means prohibits anything because of its "reading level", but at the same time, you shouldn't let yourself be blind to anything. And if you like fantasy, there's a pretty big fantasy canon out there that is at, how you say, a higher "comprehension level"

Remember, all Western literature is stolen from one of two people. Either it's stolen from Shakespeare, who stole everything from the Greeks, or it's stolen from Tolkien who stole everything from Beowulf. After that, there is no originality. So I'd advise you check out the classics too, simply because they're classics for a reason.

But yeah, don't get too caught up on your "comprehension level" As I said, in almost all aspects of your life it's completely meaningless, so don't let it interfere with things that really do matter.






And just a little comment at the end in with regards to reading below your "reading level" being a "waste of your talent", as Persiphone_Hellecat says...nah, I'd dismiss a comment like that if I were you. Such a comment assumes that any book intended for a young audience is of no value whatsoever...it also assumes that younger children are silly, foolish, and amused by shiny things. As I said, a healthy balance is what's best, and there's nothing wrong with childrens' novels, so long as you appreciate them for what they are. Besides which, I'll assume she's read at least a bit of the Harry Potter series herself...otherwise, she'd be completely out of line making any sort of judgement about it, right? I mean, it would be tantamount to lying. So yeah, as I said, read what you will, but don't let yourself be unawares...okay? Good, I'm glad we could have this little chat.