Developing a Desire to Read in 6Th Grade Boy

I have watched children become excited about reading classic comic books. Check the library and Half Price books. Comic books can be hardbacks and tell great stories. Check it out.

The vision thing IS a possibility. Sometimes it causes a mild ache that makes reading "annoying" (often not recognized as a pain).
My brother is SO smart, but I remember when he was in 5th grade we truly thought something was WRONG with him b/c everyone else in the family (both parents, me, grandparents, etc) were voracious readers and had books on every subject in our house. Mom, in desperation, started giving him comic books, particularly the old heroes (where you know the content isn't R-rated). He read them all...then got onto his own themes (for him it was comics to Star Wars to Sci-Fi to (somehow) classics. By the time he was in 11th grade, he'd read more than the average college student (everything by Oscar Wilde, Dante, Homer, etc). It was just the starting him up...
Good luck!

The Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer or the Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling - - Great books!!!!!

Rick Riordan's series Percy Jackson and the Olympians. My 4th grader says it is great. We also started the Young James Bond series by Charlie Higson. It was a bit of an older read for my son in 4thgrade but he loved it.
We have not yet read Mortal engines by Philip reeve buy it came highly recomended for a great boys read.

He just came home from school with an old Hardy boys book that he is very much enjoying. We bring books on car trips and no game boys etc. He has no choice but to read of be bored. Luckily after he picked up the young Bond book that was when he realized that reading can be good. It really takes on good book to get them motivated. He hated reading until the Bond book, he got it in second grade and it was more appropriate for kids fith and up, but because it had kind of the scary, scheming appeal, it changed his mind about books.

Hi D., try letting him buy a couple of magazines. Reading is reading, no matter if its a book or not. There are magazines on medieval things, xbox games, outdoor sports, etc. Maybe he will find something interesting to start as a new hobby.

The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan was really fun for our whole family, and the "Among the Hidden" series was an easy read, too. I have a 14 yr old now, and he was the same way. Those two series sucked him right in. Have you had his eyes checked recently? Turned out that my son actually had a vision problem that needed some correction.

Good luck!

Do you still read aloud to him? My nine year old gets very upset when my husband or I are unable to read to him at night. Also, you could try books on tape. There are also several web-sites now available that have books read aloud.

The Chronicles of Narnia is a WONDERFUL series.
The Madeline L'Engle series that includes "Wrinkle in Time" are awesome.
Peter Pan is actually a great book.
Harry Potter series (Harry is about the age of your son in the first few books).

Then, I'm not sure how much "adult" material you want him to read, but Michael Crighton's "Timeline" is a cool medieval story. It's about some archeologists who travel through time. But, obviously, there is violence in it.

-L.

We liked the "Dark is Rising" series. The "Charlie Bone" series of books is good. THere is also a series of books about warrior cats, "Warriors". My boys also like to read Manga, which is Japanese comics. We have several series collections going that we purchase and get them from the library also. I think any reading, comic or otherwise, is better than none. They also read the gaming magazine we get from our club membership thing at Game-stop store. They love that one.
I would also limit his electronic time. Whether he likes to read or not, he may just be getting to much screen time. It could also be creating eye strain to boot.
I would also make sure he is not having vision problems and is not dyslexic. I am sure with the proper motivating book he will read more.
But you may have to accept that it may not be a hobby he is interested in. Some people don't like to read books for pleasure. But maybe you could try model trains, wood working etc. to at least get him away from the electronics.
Good luck,
L.

I had the same problem with both my boys. I keep hoping they will come back to reading at some point. Neither has become a great reader. However, I have found if you can find an author they like they will be willing to read through those books. So, you just do the best you can. My youngest loved Gary Paulsen and read them all. He also loves sci-fi, but the book has to really grab him or he won't take the time.

Also, find books with video game characters. Even comic books. Anything to keep them reading.

One other idea. A bookclub. Start a bookclub with some other guys. Get the moms involved and rotate houses and recruit kids. Make the club fun so they will want to come. Let the kids vote on the book they will read, etc...could be a written vote to avoid feeling like you might pick the "wrong" book. 6th graders are already worried about popularity. once a month or even every other month is okay. don't make too much pressure because that will turn it into work instead of fun.

Good luck.

Not sure if they still have them, but my brother used to love the Choose Your Own Adventure series of books. You make the choices along the story and it has different endings based on what you want the character to do.

I second the vote for Rick Riordan's series, and would like to add a suggestiong for Diary of a Wimpy Kid and the Alex Rider books. Also, if you just sit down and start reading a book aloud, chances are he'll stay and listen.

In terms of getting his eyes checked, I agree with the other post. Go to a specialist. Two of my kids had 20-20 vision, but had reading issues - it was called convergence insufficiency. Be sure to get a second opinion, though, because therapy is expensive!

E.
www.votrevu.com/glow

I know you said he didn't like to read about sports but I just got a copy of "Sports Illustrated for kids" in the mail and my 5th graders loooove it.