In January of 2014, the Wayne County Public Library established a Guys Read Library Club for grades 3-5. The web-based literacy program was initiated by well-known Children’s author Jon Sciezka who’s on a mission to get boys reading again. Guysread.com research shows that boys are having the most trouble reading, and performance is getting worse. Mikel Peterson has more.
Developing an appreciation of reading can be challenging for elementary aged boys for a number of reasons. Their cognitive skills are developing slower than girls, so they often struggle with reading and writing skills early on. The action-oriented, competitive learning style in classrooms can work against boys just learning to read and write.
Now, the Wayne County Public Library in Goldsboro has a new book club for boys to inspire a love of literature. Director Donna Phillips and reference librarian Heath Radford started the program last year.
“She thought it would be great to incorporate it into our library, and since most boys respond better to male leaders, she came to me to ask if I would like to do the program. I of course accepted and started developing the group.”
The Program’s mission is to have boys become self-motivated, life-long readers. This is achieved in a few ways.
“The first is to provide a variety of materials, so that the boys do not feel that their reading material is limited. Each meeting we have with the group involves a different theme so that the appeal can try to reach as many boys as possible. We also try to encourage reading other materials instead of a novel, like short stories, magazine articles, and even comic books.
Radford says they also encourage kids to find a book that suits their taste.
“you can put down a book you do not like, but you have pick another book up.” Giving the boys a choice in their reading allows them to not feel pressured to read.”
Primarily, the boys have read some stories in the Guys Read anthology books. Each of those stories compiled from popular authors like Matt Christopher and Jeff Kinney.
“The anthologies are specifically geared to a specific theme like sports, mysteries, or scary stories. We currently are working on a short story with a boy on a track team.”
After book discussions, the group, primarily ages 8 to 10 do a physical activity that involves a reading concept.
“Boys at that age tend to be very high energy, and this activity allows us to harness the energy while also teaching a reading concept. Like for example, last Halloween we smashed pumpkins after reading “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” with flashlights.”
The group of 10 meets twice a month from 7:00-8:00 PM, usually on Thursdays. Radford says, it’s a good size for the age they’re trying to reach, but the goal is to constantly increase.
“I always say the more the merrier, because our program real tries to make a big impact into the boys reading and everything.”
Inspiring boys at in early age to develop a love of reading could be valuable to their future success. According to the U.S. Department of Education, reading tests for the last 30 years show boys scoring worse than girls in every age group, every year. Radford says low test scores could be linked with boys not reading as much.
”The amount of materials boys read and how it is applied to tests of reading comprehension are definitely correlated. The repetition of reading is important in the building of reading skills. The creator of Guys Read stated ‘I think the best way to do it is to give them things they like to read’... What we haven't done with boys is we haven't really given them a broad range of reading in schools.”
Radford says boys don’t need to be told to read. They need a reason to read. A journey to embark on. A world to explore. The goal of the Guys Read program is to make reading fun and interesting. He says parents also have a part in facilitating an appreciation of reading.
”If the kid sees that his parents are reading as well, then he may lean towards reading also. Also, parents should really ask their children what they like to read and help them find reading materials that fit those likes.”
Radford always wants to increase numbers and mentorship because he wants to reach as many boys as possible, and to implement the abridged classics novels recently donated from the Wayne County Boys and Girls club.
“Another idea I’m trying to implement is to get some positive male role models to come in and talk about their love for reading or how reading plays a big part in their careers.”
The Guys Read program meets next on October 15. For more information, go the ENC events page at publicradioeast.org.
