Guest Blog Lee Binz

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Reading Lists for the Resistant Reader: How to create a reading list for resistant readers for colleges.

A robust high school reading list enhances any student’s college application, but what can you do if your child doesn’t like to read?  Are they doomed to a non-literary life?  Fortunately, there are a variety of helpful tips to follow if your child would rather build forts than read books, so don’t despair.  It may require a little thinking outside the box, but there are many ways to encourage at least a willingness to read in most students.

Some reluctant readers are reluctant not because they don’t like to read, but because they’re active learners. In this case, find books that have very active main characters. Tom Sawyer, for example, is a character in a book who always gets into tons of trouble, whereas Jane Austen books are mostly about girls sitting around thinking stuff. Steer your student towards the action works.  It’s helpful to think about the movie genre your student likes and find books in that similar genre.

Even for active learners, choosing a non-fiction book about doing things is helpful. Survival books, building books, or electronics books are very good examples. You can also read and watch active plays for active learners.  Short books can be a great way to encourage reading. There are plenty of books on the “reading lists for the college bound” that are short, but if you need any help finding some, talk to your local librarian.  Also make sure to encourage reading in the areas of your child’s specialization, books and magazines about their passion.

You can also include any books you used in regular courses. For instance, if you used The Red Badge of Courage for English class, you can put that on the reading list as well as on the course description. Include any books of faith, such as Bible, devotionals, etc.  And don’t forget the books that your student reads for fun. Popular literature such as Harry Potter, Twilight, Marley and Me, or other books should be included in the list. Colleges want students to read popular literature as well as classical, so it’s okay to include books from the “New York Times Best Sellers” list.

You can also include audio books, although you should make sure that you indicate this beside the title. Audio books can help broaden a struggling reader’s horizons.  Books that are read aloud can be put on the reading list, as well as magazine subscriptions. You can include the great books, the living books, and even the stupid books because variety is good when it comes to the reading list!

Author Bio

Lee Binz is a homeschooling expert and the founder of The Homescholar. She successfully homeschooled her two sons and currently aids many parents in homeschooling their own students.

 

Going Green

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Brandon does not like to write, but has no problem typing. So, what I am doing is having him type up what would normally be written then send to me via email. I have a folder entitled homeschool which holds another folder titled high school, within that there is one simply titled Brandon and one more 9th grade 2011 2012. It is in this folder where I organize all of his work by subject.

He is required to use Word for his work, he uses one document for each subject for a weeks worth of work. He needs to date each individual assignment, so Monday will include the date at the beginning of the assignment. On Tuesday he will continue with the same document for say science and at the beginning include the date. This not only cuts back on paper, but allows me to easily organize his work. For work which is deemed excellent I put into another folder, excellent, to use for college interviews.

This system came about because he has his own lap top. At first I had him create a folder for his work on his lap top, but it was difficult for me to remember to check his work. So, I came up this system and it is a lot harder to ignore an email from son knowing it contains his school work.

Reading Lists

Both Brandon and Brett love to read. So, when Lee Binz had mentioned that we should keep a reading log I thought oh my this is going be huge. One of the advantages of being a gold member on The Homescholar site is that while you have access to all kinds of information you also get a 20 minute call with Lee once a week. She is very generous with both her time and knowledge. I always end up with little goodies in my email after I talk with her.

Well I called Lee last week to discuss the size of the reading list along with its contents. You see while my boys love to read classic literature is in no way a part. I was informed that colleges actually are no particularly thrilled with a reading list full of the classics. They would actually like to see some diversity, well we certainly can oblige them.

Lee shared with me that it was not important to log every book they have read. So, what I plan to do is fill one reading log each high school year. Oh, but Brandon is going to be required to read two classics a year of his choice. This is when Lee sent me a link for what colleges would like to see on that reading list, thanks Lee!!

You can find that link on the resource page at the bottom of the list. You may also want to take a look at my previous blog "More Vocabulary for the SAT" which includes a link for 50% off a lot of the titles that are on that list.

The link for the reading log goes to Donna Young's site and you will need to scroll down.

The Binders!!!

Oh my will I become a binder queen? Wow!! This is so out of my realm however, I want to make sure I have everything together in one place when we do our transcripts. So, the first binder I am putting together is strictly for accomplishments done during summer.

.I like the binders with the clear plastic (view binders) on them because I can customize the cover and insert a describtion on to binding part as well. Because this binder will be stricity for activities performed in the summer that is how I will title it.


This is just an example I throw together real quick. I will be purchasing some page protectors because as I was looking for them I realized I did not have any. In the proctortors I will put the certificate Brandon will be earning for volunteering to help at the local library for the summer reading program. It's nice because it will include the number of hours he volunteered along with the librian's signature. By saving these items I will be able to go back and include any and all activities Brandon participated in during his high school years.

He also participates in the summer reading program and last year came in third place for the reading the most books, I'm counting on first this year. He also recieved a certificate and ribbon for this achievement which included the year and librian's signature as well. While these can not be used for credit they can appear on his transcript as activities. If he does this for the next four years that fact will also appear on his transcript.

For other activities he does I will be using Donna Young's form for extracurricular activities to keep track of them. I will place, the dividers I know I do have between each year. College's love to know that students have done volunteer work along with being involved with activities.