I have a son of 11 and he hates reading and hard work in matters of education. However, he has reasonable potential. I want to encourage him to make proper use of his intelligence. Any clue that has worked?
2006-07-19 22:29:58 · 5 answers · asked by pallo 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Primary & Secondary Education
Get him a magazine subscription in his own name on the subject he likes best. Start telling him a story from a book about something that would be exciting to him and when you come to a real good part tell him he will have to read the book if he wants to find out what happens next.
2006-07-19 23:21:23 · answer #1 · answered by # one 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have 3 boys and I'll tell ya they are all different in that department. Two of mine really didn't like reading much and the trick is to find something they are interested in that is their strong point and reading will come naturally to learn about it. Also my 2 *non* per se readers, didn't like book reading in long chapters - so look for alternatives to that.... eg - if your child shows an interest in mechanical things - do hand ons and let him research on the net and instead of reading from long books about the subject pick up magazines on mechanics - reading is reading and he will learn.
My oldest is now 32 an IT Specialist plus being a Tenor/Actor with the VOC in Victoria, BC
My youngest is 17, has ADHD - speaks and writes in both english and french - started tearing apart and putting computers together again at age 11 (putting them back togehter again better then they were before lol)
Now both these boys I don't think really will ever sit down and read a book like in a novel - they are just not that type.
As for my middle boy - totally opposite - started reading Stephen King in Grade 4 and is a huge book worm. He's in University now.
So find his strengths and play on them - take the reading opportunities where they come - he will read to learn and its all educational. Talk to him, ask him what he likes.
2006-07-20 05:53:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to start young with chidren--being a good role model by reading and they understand that reading is important, and also fun. Secondly, let your child pick books he is interested in. The book doesnt' have to be challenging--just gets him interested. When I take my 1st graders to the library--they check out one book a week. One week I have them check out something that challenges their reading ability. The next week they can pick anything they want--even if it is something they can't read on their own. The one thing you have to make your child understand that what he learns in school has a practical purpose in his life. Make it interesting--take him to museums or discovery centers--find out what he likes and get him involved. Over the suumer--are there any science camps he might like to go to? Talk to him--what is it about school that is hard or uninteresting? What is it that he likes about school? Don't lecture---let him tell you. Once you have that all out, then you can go about finding things that spark his interest. Make it fun.
2006-07-20 16:37:44 · answer #3 · answered by sidnee_marie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Less lecturing him and "pushing" him, and MORE giving him the opportunity to see how education is used in adult daily life.
Read for fun. Read together... read to him... focusing on the "together" time rather than the idea of required reading. Chose texts/materials of personal interest to HIM (look at what he does with his free time, and get books on those activities).
Write to famous people (fan letters, etc.) in his area of interest. Good grammar, spelling, and mechanics is important if he wants a friendly response!
Have HIM do the calculations for the family finances (highly supervised, of course).
Point out elements of science in daily routine (knowledge of chemistry when using cleaning chemicals or doing cooking, knowledge of physics when repairing items, etc.).
Point out social studies and history elements -- WHY is your family living where it is, of the faith that it is, etc.
Encourage connections between personal storytelling ("what did you do today?"), how what happened influenced what is happening now, and the decisions of ancestors.
Motivation is connected to perceived gain. If he finds learning will connect to his own interests, build quality time without fear of criticism or punnishment from you, and bring him closer to goals and dreams, he'll start working harder at school without having to be driven by fear.
2006-07-20 11:46:16 · answer #4 · answered by spedusource 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try getting him to read books about subjects that he is interested in. My 14yo son gets his own farming magazines because he wants to be a farmer. My 12yo son is into airplanes, so he gets and reads Flying magazine.
2006-07-20 05:34:35 · answer #5 · answered by gentlemanfarmer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋