Reading Ahead of Grade Level, or NOT

I found the link to this article in Rose's Reading Round-Up at First Book, and didn't want to wait until Monday's Children's Literacy Round-Up to share it. Dashka Slater has an article at Babble about why reading ahead of your grade level isn't necessarily a good thing for kids. She says: "in the fuss about literacy and reading levels and school achievement, something fundamental gets lost: the pleasure of the book for its own sake. Books that are delightful for ten-year-olds are not necessarily delightful for six-year-olds, and too often both parents and teachers encourage children to read books that are too old for them, or discourage them from reading books we have deemed "too young," thus guaranteeing that reading will always feel like a chore." And she goes on, with detailed examples, including her nine-year-old Eragon-reading son's response to a new picture book.

Something I get quite often (and I know I'm not alone in this) is a request to recommend titles that will challenge advanced readers, reading far above their grade level, without shocking them. And while I laud the effort to find the right books for each kid, and I completely respect the mom looking for books for her eight-year-old that don't have romance in them, I've also felt that something can get lost in the quest to "challenge" readers. Just because your seven-year-old can read at a sixth grade level, that doesn't mean that she won't enjoy, and shouldn't have the chance to enjoy, Clementine. Same thing for picture books. So many adults LOVE picture books. Or, as the Babble article quotes Valerie Lewis from Hicklebee's, "When they have picture books on their coffee table, they think it's very interesting and arty. But when Billy finally learns to read, his parents reward him by taking away his pictures." (Emphasis mine) 

But enough. Go and read the full article at Babble. There are quite a few comments, mainly in support of the article (because really, who is going to admit "but I like bragging about my six-year-old reading Harry Potter. Who cares what he enjoy?").

Comments

[Kimberly Derting]

This topic is so so SO timely for me because my 8-year-old CAN read ahead of her level but I've been struggling with the whole SHOULD she question. I really like this post and it makes me think I'll be steering her toward books that are challenging for her age group. I want her to love reading, not just to master it!

THANKS!

[Christine M]

I think the hardest time is when they are just past the age of the "easy reader". Even books that seem safe enough might deal with things like the reality or myth of Santa Claus and the tooth fairy. A third or fourth grader reading it would be fine with that but it could pose a problem for a kindergartner (I can think of at least two times this issue came up with my daughter).

I find it is less of a problem now that my children are 9 and 12. They love the middle grade books and there are so many wonderful ones to chose from that they don't feel they have to "read up" to impress anyone.

And for the record, my son read Harry Potter (the first one) in kindergarten - now he's in third grade and having a Goosebumps reading marathon.

Ultimately, kids read what they like.

[adrienne]

They did this whole unit in my godson's school (he's in fourth grade) about finding books that are "a good fit." Like this is an important life skill or something. I didn't mention it to my godson, but it seems like whatever a kid wants to read is a probably a good enough fit.

[Jen Robinson]

Thank YOU, Kimberly, for the feedback. This must be an issue that a lot of parents struggle with - I think it's nice to see a clearly reasoned defense of reading for enjoyment. I hope that your daughter does grow up to love reading, and it sure sounds like you're on the right track.

Christine, I'm not surprised that your kids read what they like, of course. But I love the Harry Potter to Goosebumps story. And I think you make a good point about when the difficult part comes - when they first learn to read. Reading things that you really don't want to know (like about Santa Claus), what a way to turn a kid off from books.

Adrienne, I tend to agree with you that what the kid wants to read is probably a good fit (with some exceptions for parents or godparents to suggest waiting based on emotional maturity). In the article, the author talks about how her son read the Harry Potter books when he was a bit young for them, and after the first couple started to find them "boring". I'm sure that your godson is in good shape, because he has you reading below your "grade level" all the time, and reading what you enjoy, as an example.

Thanks for the discussion, all.

[Amy @ Literacy Launchpad]

Wow. This is such an important point for parents and educators to keep in mind. I'm all about motivation! Create and MAINTAIN a child's motivation to read!!

[Becky Levine]

Great link, Jen. Thanks. I almost got caught up with a 5th grade teacher's idea that son should be reading "more up to his level." Luckily, I saw the dislike starting & backed WAY off. Ability does NOT equate interest. Last year, in 6th, teacher had them reading a wide range, including ONE book from their reading level, which they didn't have to finish--just read for a week, as far as they got, and journal on. I went by the school library & they had about 5 books at that level--Hawthorne, Fenimore Cooper, and Dickens. Yeah, just what a 13-year-old boy wants to read. He picked (Oliver Twist) and got about halfway through, but was more than happy to stop at the end of the 2 weeks. Lucikly, this was a one-time thing, and I think it was fine for him to try out. But keeping my eye out for any teacher who says they HAVE to read at their level! :)

[Solvang Sherrie]

Great topic! I always feel frustrated when kids read above their age level. Just because they can read the words, doesn't mean they will have the same impression or understanding if they read them too young. My son's reading level is off the charts, but I've tried really hard to keep him reading age appropriate books.

[Lady in a Smalltown]

My school librarian makes the point that kids who read books that they can read (eg Harry Potter), but maybe shouldn't read (beyond their maturity level) often won't read those books again later when they would actually understand them.

I know I was reading Lois Duncan in fifth and sixth grade (as are some of my students now), but I also found some of my mother's books (eg. Wifey and Smart Women) and read them way too early. I expect that my son (4 weeks old) will be a good reader (husband and I both are avid readers), but I hope that he will read for pleasure and not for bragging rights.

[Sheila Ruth]

I agree that children should not be pushed to read above grade level. As an adult, I sometimes like to relax with some "junk food" reading that doesn't challenge me, and kids should be allowed to also.

BUT the reverse is true, too. Kids should not be prevented from reading something above grade level if that's what they want to read. Parents and teachers can provide advice and guidance, taking into account the child's emotional readiness as well as reading level (and every child matures differently), but in the end the child should be allowed to choose their recreational reading.

[Stacy]

This is a daily concern for us school librarians. There is often a disconnect between ability to decode, true comprehension, and enjoyment. Book chatting can help to see if a student is really "getting" the story. "I'm bored" is often code for "I don't understand"

[Erin Hibshman]

Everyone's comments are very interesting. I know as an elementary librarian, I have some students who are "weightlifting" in second grade, carrying Eragon and Inkspell around rather than reading it. For me, I see that the students who CAN'T read as well trying the books that don't fit for them. I also see that TV and movies are pulling my students to books that may not be suitable for them. Just because my fourth grade girls can read Twilight, doesn't mean that they should. They are incredulous when I say that I don't have those books on the shelves.

[danial]

That's right, the we dont force the children to read the Grade A books

[Jen Robinson]

Great discussion, all! I do think that Sheila made a fair point. Some kids, who are good readers, want to read up. There's a personal pride in reading these thick books. I remember reading David Copperfield in 7th grade, on my own initiative, quite proud of myself. But (to Lady S's point)... I haven't read it since. Of course there were a lot fewer great YA titles available then!

[kim b.]

I think the big difference is whether a child is reading ahead of typical development by choice, or parental pressure. I blogged about this a few days ago because our 6yo wants books with more meat than Magic Tree House, but the next level of books seem to turn snarky and/or scary in a way he's just not ready for.

I'm finding that there's a stigma with asking for recommendations, as if we're simply bragging or laying on the pressure to challenge him. We're really just seeking help to avoid what's not age-appropriate. He's begging to read Harry Potter, and the answer will be no for a couple more years. Just because he can doesn't mean he should.

[Jen Robinson]

Kim, thanks for commenting. I certainly intended no stigma towards you (I actually saw your post, and it didn't even cross my mind that you were pushing your son). But I can see how you would get that vibe from people. I talk to lots of parents who are just looking to help their kids find the right books - challenging but not too scary for the six-year-old, challenging but not too racy for the eleven-year-old, etc. And I think that's great.

The problem is, I think that some parents do get caught up in reading as an accomplishment, and they feel pressure to have their kid reading at X level, because the other parents talk about their kids reading at X level, etc. And, as the comments here show, some teachers get caught up in this, too (and they're in a tricky position, because part of their job is to encourage kids to achieve, right?). My view is, a post like the one at Babble, and a discussion like this in the comments here, will hopefully be ammunition and encouragement for the parents who want to see their kids step off the "read thicker books" achievement track, and just enjoy reading. That's not to say they shouldn't read thicker books if they want to (that aren't too scary, etc.). But I agree with you all the way - the difference lies in whether this choice or parental pressure.

[kim b.]

Hi Jen!

I wasn't offended, and unfortunately I think the stigma is there because many parents DO push their kids out of their comfort zones and ability levels.

I think it's awesome that you can offer a forum for discussion. It should definitely be about nurturing a love of books, not running a race toward War & Peace.

[Terry Doherty]

The Babble article and your post have sparked some great discussion. For me, the phenomenon is similar to the parent who pushes their child athlete so hard they suffer long-term physical effects or walk away from the sport that is their passion.

The distinction between encouraging a natural interest v. over-the-top pushing really hits home.

My 7YO daughter reads 2 grades above "her age." For years parents have asked "how did you do that?" or "what system did you use?" It makes me cringe. We didn't do anything other than read with her. Yet most insist we must have done "something." Nope. We tapped into her natural curiosity about the world. The same insatiable appetite to explore and learn that every young child has. By offering variety (even stuff that's not our favorite), we showed her that it is Okay to explore new things, and she has kept going.

Because it has gotten tougher to find books that offer more substance but meet her at her level of maturity, we continue to mix in easy readers and picture books. For us, it's less about the format and more about the variety. Now, it's less about making sure she has books so she can learn to read and more about resuming the parent role where we want to protect our child from harm, reinforce what is/isn't acceptable behavior, and guide her as she sets her moral compass.

Thanks for your post and for pointing me to the Babble article, Jen. With summer reading picking up, this was a most timely discussion!

[Rasco from RIF]

Maria Salvadore had interesting observations at her Reading Rockets blog Page by Page recently (http://www.readingrockets.org/blog/31836) in a post titled "Listening to kids talk about books." All of us would do well to visit with children more often about what they are finding interesting in books they are reading....

[Dawn Morris]

Personally, I think parents just need a lot more help here. At my local library, there are no reading levels addressed. There are five sections: picture books, nonfiction, biographies, juvenile, and YA.

The problem is that Harry Potter is in both the juvenile and YA sections. It's a popular series, so that's what children and parents see. There are so many books that it's not easy to figure out which ones are most appropriate for your child. Like movies, it becomes all about the marketing.

It would be nice to split the juvenile and YA sections into "grades 3 to 6," "grades 7 to 9," and "grades 9 to 12," but it ends up becoming a matter of opinion which books go where.

The bottom line is that parents are busy and are just trying to do the best they can with minimal help. If you have an avid reader, you can't constantly be asking a teacher or librarian for help.

It's important for all ages of children to be exposed to all kinds of literature (and they certainly should not be rushed away from picture books). Parents can make suggestions, but children also need to have the freedom to choose books themselves. If they choose a more mature book, why can't the parent read it along with the child? Reading aloud more advanced books with older children can spark some great conversations.

It would be great to compile a list of juvenile/YA books which are appropriate for advanced 5-8 year olds and 9 to 12 year olds. Where could parents find such a list for summer reading?

Thanks, Jen!

[Jen Robinson]

I'm completely with you about parents, when possible, pre-reading some of the books, and/or reading them aloud with kids, Dawn. And I would love to help parents more. I'm not sure about preparing some sort of general list, however. I'm afraid that it might perpetuate the problem - if people see that this is a list of books that advanced readers "should" be reading, then you still have problems with competitiveness, etc. Plus, I'm sure that I'm not comfortable being the arbiter of what's appropriate or not for different age ranges, so I personally wouldn't want to publish a list like that. What I am going to do, though, is make more of an effort to specify when I'm reviewing books whether I think they'll work for kids younger than the targeted age range, and if not, why not. But still, that whole question of appropriateness, it's a very slippery slope, and one that I do think that parents will have to keep an eye on.

Oh, one other point. Most of the librarians that I've talked to are more than happy to be asked for help with all sorts of book recommendation questions, as often as you need. But we'll keep working on this issue here and at Booklights, too.

[Maggie stiefvater]

Oooooh, I came here via A Chair, A Fireplace & a Tea Cozy (late, I know). This is one of my hot button issues. It's just now becoming an issue for my 5 year old, who reads voraciously, but before that, I long thought that grade schoolers got entirely inappropriate classics shoved into their hands. Just because tweens can understand all the words in Charles Dickens doesn't mean all teens will be happy to read it. Just because tweens can read The Great Gatsby doesn't mean they'll GET it. What I can tell you is that the ones that aren't ready will hate it forever.

Count me as one of the Dickens haters. I read several grade levels ahead of my peers in school, and so Dickens was absolutely no challenge. But when it was assigned, I was reading Diana Wynne Jones and Michael Crichton for pleasure. I was a hardcore genre girl, c'mon! I hated Dickens and didn't pick him back up again until I was 25 when, lo and behold, I discovered he wasn't actually a boor. Shock!

How many other kids who tell me they hate Dickens, Austen, whatever, will never take the time to pick them up again in their 20s? Hmmm . . .

[Jen Robinson]

Thanks for joining the discussion, Maggie. I agree. An even bigger tragedy (than the kid like you, who was still reading genre books) is the kid who wasn't reading anything else for pleasure (despite being competent at it), and got turned off of pleasure reading altogether by being force-fed classics too early. Certainly that's not someone who will ever go back to Dickens. Sad. But I'm sure you'll be there to keep this from happening (as much as the schools will allow) for your 5 year old.