Reading Lists and Library Requirements

[Terri NS]

I can't remember where I read about this but someone mentioned they have their dc pick a history, biography, science, different fiction genres etc each library visit. Anyone else do this? Do you count this as free reading and still have reading lists too? I don't want to give up on our reading lists or structured read aloud time but would like to see more variety coming out of the library, and not just from me : ).
BTW my dc are 11 and 12.

[Colleen in NS]

I can't remember where I read about this but someone mentioned they have their dc pick a history, biography, science, different fiction genres etc each library visit. Anyone else do this? Do you count this as free reading and still have reading lists too? I don't want to give up on our reading lists or structured read aloud time but would like to see more variety coming out of the library, and not just from me : ).
BTW my dc are 11 and 12.

I'm starting to do this. I still reserve books from the library from our history/science/lit./art/music reading lists and have read aloud time, but I'm trying to get into the habit of having dc pick what they want to read from categories. I got the idea from WTM - Jessie Wise used to do this with her kids. I do count it as free reading, so I tell them to pick books they will enjoy from each category. Science, history, art, music, craft/hobby/how to, biography, poetry, and literature.

Off topic....we were at Upper Clements Park yesterday - are you anywhere near there? What a fun place! I also found out I cannot do rollercoasters anymore, LOL! We are going to the Valley next weekend for a week of camping, too.

[Terri NS]

Hi Colleen- thanks I'll have to go grab my WTM and have a peak.

I have to take the kids to Upper Clements too. The library gives out free passes if the kids do a summer reading program. I'm in Windsor, well near it, so it's still an hour and a half drive and I dislike that highway. I can still do the coasters but no spinney things LOL.

[JumpedIntoTheDeepEndFirst]

There is a line WTM written by Jessie Wise about the different subjects she expected each child to choose when they went to the library each week. I'm sorry I don't remember the page.

[Missouri Mama]

I try to use variety in the genres for read alouds for my family: historical fiction, biographies (historical figures, Christian missionaries, etc.), autobiographies, a couple of poems before the RA, etc. I've found that to be important & helpful in shaping my kids' choices. I've tolerated my kids having imbalances in their reading diets as long as they do include choices from the various genres. In other words, they don't read equivalently from all areas; they each have their favorite genre. I do, however, impose minimums from each genre.

[myfatherslily]

Page 36, bottom paragraph. Their library cards allowed them to check out 7 at a time, so she had them choose "one biography, one science book one history book, one practical or art-and-crafts book, and three book of their own choosing - stories, poetry, or nonfiction."

I just started reading the book yesterday, so I still remembered where to find that... lol:)