Re: Refuses to read sad books in language arts

[Guest guest]

My gut feeling is to indulge this preference if you can. I always

think it's a good thing when an autistic kid can express his feelings

and I think it's important to respect them. I was very, very sensitive

to scary stuff as a kid and they truly caused me a great deal of suffering.

Willa

[Guest guest]

OMG, we are choosing a book for my son right now, and I thought Red Fern might

be

okay. Then I read more about it, and we decided against it. He is going to

read The

s Go to Birmingham--1963. Earlier in the year, his class read Among the

Hidden

about a third child who has to be hidden because only two kids per family are

allowed per

law. And he discovers the other third children. I had alot of communication

about that

one, and we just put him in resource for lang arts and had him read Hoot. My

concern also

was that when he got upset, he pushed people.

Now he is resource more or less all the day that he is at school. (4 hours per

day due to

excess sleep problems.) So we can make it very individualized. The teacher and

I work

closely together to choose something that will interest him, that will be

academically

appropriate, and that won't upset him. In resource, he read the class novel

" ,

Called Birdy " about a teenager's diary in the 14th century. I pre-read it and

alerted them

to issues that they could pre-teach/warn.

I don't feel the need to cause him unnecessary stress.

Jackie

ph, on games (and life)?

" I want something where everyone is on the same team, and no one gets

eliminated "

-- In , " roc42001 " <Rochelle.Rotter@...> wrote:

>

> Does anyone else have kids who refuse to read books in school because

> they have some sad parts?

>

> My son is 12 years old in 6th grade. He is a very good reader. The

> whole class is reading 'Where the Red Fern Grows', and doing projects

> about it. He refuses to discuss or read the book. It's about a boy

> who gets two hunting dogs, and I believe the dogs die in the end.

>

> He also refuses to watch many kid's movies (like Cars), including

> rated G movies, if they have any sad or uncomfortable parts.

>

> My son can get very emotional, and when he sees or hears something

> sad, I think it makes him sadder than most people.

>

> I'm trying to slowly get him to read 'Where the Red Fern Grows', but

> I'm not making any progress. He just starts getting upset as soon as

> he sees or hears about the book.

>

> Does anyone else have experience with this? What have you tried?

> I'm wondering if he should be excused from reading the book.

>

> Thanks,

> Rochelle

>

[Guest guest]

My eldest son (16, AS) read constantly, until he discovered video games. Now, unfortunately, most of the reading he does is either magazines or assigned reading. I can't recall him having such a strong reaction as you described to sad books. He even watches sad shows that I just couldn't handle. He was very emotional especially when he was younger. He would get teary eyed with sentimental music. He didn't like movies that had a "dark side." like Aladdin, Lion King, He seems to have leveled out with how he reacts to music, movies, etc... He has suffered this year at school because he has a dread of British Literature. He absolutely agonized over Wuthering Heights! But I don't think that has anything to do with the AS! Now for me. ever since I had children, I can't read sad books. I belonged to a book club a few years ago as a means of

finding my mind and adult contact. The book was Map of the World, and there was no way I could handle that book and had to drop out of the group. As a kid, I read Sounder and remember how profoundly sad that was. I'd never read it again. I would talk to the teacher and tell her the problem and ask if he could please read another book and report on it. It may be difficult if they are using this story as a class project and discussion topic. I'd still give it a try though. With all the saddness in the world, it baffles me why schools would pick books with that tone. There is so much fabulous literature out there to pick from, I'd pick something more pleasant. Mimsroc42001 <Rochelle.Rotter@...> wrote: Does anyone else have kids who refuse to read books in school because they have some sad parts?My son is 12 years old in 6th grade. He is a very good reader. The whole class is reading 'Where the Red Fern Grows', and doing projects about it. He refuses to discuss or read the book. It's about a boy who gets two hunting dogs, and I believe the dogs die in the end.He also refuses to watch many kid's movies (like Cars), including rated G movies, if they have any sad or uncomfortable parts. My son can get very emotional, and when he sees or hears something sad, I think it makes him sadder than most

people.I'm trying to slowly get him to read 'Where the Red Fern Grows', but I'm not making any progress. He just starts getting upset as soon as he sees or hears about the book.Does anyone else have experience with this? What have you tried? I'm wondering if he should be excused from reading the book.Thanks,Rochelle

Never miss a thing. Make your homepage.

[Guest guest]

We had this problem with certain books in high school. I don't know what genre to call them. Books like "Catcher in the Rye." That book drove crazy. It wasn't that it was sad. It was just too introspective. It drove him nuts. We finally got the teacher to agree to letting him read "Catch-22" instead. Whew! He greatly prefers history over fiction. He loves historical fiction.For those of you homeschoolers and others who have history lovers and who haven't discovered them yet, lots of Aspies love the Horrible Histories series -- The Rotten Romans, The Groovy Greeks, The Awesome Egyptians, The Blitzed Brits, etc. By Terry Deary. The history is very good and they're extremely funny. For kids about 8 and up. Even high schoolers would get a kick out of them.LizOn Mar 19, 2008, at 4:29 PM, Mims Batts wrote:My eldest son (16, AS) read constantly, until he discovered video games. Now, unfortunately, most of the reading he does is either magazines or assigned reading. I can't recall him having such a strong reaction as you described to sad books. He even watches sad shows that I just couldn't handle. He was very emotional especially when he was younger. He would get teary eyed with sentimental music. He didn't like movies that had a "dark side." like Aladdin, Lion King, He seems to have leveled out with how he reacts to music, movies, etc... He has suffered this year at school because he has a dread of British Literature. He absolutely agonized over Wuthering Heights! But I don't think that has anything to do with the AS! Now for me. ever since I had children, I can't read sad books. I belonged to a book club a few years ago a s a means of finding my mind and adult contact. The book was Map of the World, and there was no way I could handle that book and had to drop out of the group. As a kid, I read Sounder and remember how profoundly sad that was. I'd never read it again. I would talk to the teacher and tell her the problem and ask if he could please read another book and report on it. It may be difficult if they are using this story as a class project and discussion topic. I'd still give it a try though. With all the saddness in the world, it baffles me why schools would pick books with that tone. There is so much fabulous literature out there to pick from, I'd pick something more pleasant. Mimsroc42001 <Rochelle.RotterProdigy (DOT) net> wrote:Does anyone else have kids who refuse to read books in school because they have some sad parts?My son is 12 years old in 6th grade. He is a very good reader. The whole class is reading 'Where the Red Fern Grows', and doing projects about it. He refuses to discuss or read the book. It's about a boy who gets two hunting dogs, and I believe the dogs die in the end.He also refuses to watch many kid's movies (like Cars), including rated G movies, if they have any sad or uncomfortable parts. My son can get very emotional, and when he sees or hears something sad, I think it makes him sadder than most people.I'm trying to slowly get him to read 'Where the Red Fern Grows', but I'm not making any progress. He just starts getting upset as soon as he sees or hears about the book.Does anyone else have experience with this? What have you tried? I'm wondering if he should be excused from reading the book.Thanks,RochelleNever miss a thing. Make your homepage.

[Guest guest]

That's good to hear, Liz. My son seemed to steer away from those books, and I didn't push him toward them either. I got the feel that they were "dark" which is what he didn't like. I never got the chance to read them on my own. Maybe I'll give them a second look now. MimsLiz Bohn <lbohn@...> wrote: We had this problem with certain books in high school. I don't know what genre to call them. Books like "Catcher in the Rye." That book drove crazy. It wasn't

that it was sad. It was just too introspective. It drove him nuts. We finally got the teacher to agree to letting him read "Catch-22" instead. Whew! He greatly prefers history over fiction. He loves historical fiction. For those of you homeschoolers and others who have history lovers and who haven't discovered them yet, lots of Aspies love the Horrible Histories series -- The Rotten Romans, The Groovy Greeks, The Awesome Egyptians, The Blitzed Brits, etc. By Terry Deary. The history is very good and they're extremely funny. For kids about 8 and up. Even high schoolers would get a kick out of them. Liz On Mar 19, 2008, at 4:29 PM, Mims Batts wrote: My eldest son (16, AS) read constantly, until he discovered video games. Now, unfortunately, most of the reading he does is either magazines or assigned reading. I can't recall him having such a strong reaction as you described to sad books. He even watches sad shows that I just couldn't handle. He was very emotional especially when he was younger. He would get teary eyed with sentimental music. He didn't like movies that had a "dark side." like Aladdin, Lion King, He seems to have leveled out with how he reacts to

music, movies, etc... He has suffered this year at school because he has a dread of British Literature. He absolutely agonized over Wuthering Heights! But I don't think that has anything to do with the AS! Now for me. ever since I had children, I can't read sad books. I belonged to a book club a few years ago a s a means of finding my mind and adult contact. The book was Map of the World, and there was no way I could handle that book and had to drop out of the group. As a kid, I read Sounder and remember how profoundly sad that was. I'd never read it again. I would talk to the teacher and tell her the problem and ask if he could please read another book and report on it. It may be difficult if they are using this story as a class project and discussion topic. I'd still give it a try though. With all the saddness in the world, it

baffles me why schools would pick books with that tone. There is so much fabulous literature out there to pick from, I'd pick something more pleasant. Mimsroc42001 <Rochelle.RotterProdigy (DOT) net> wrote: Does anyone else have kids who refuse to read books in school because they have some sad parts?My son is 12 years old in 6th grade. He is a very good reader. The whole class is reading 'Where the Red Fern Grows', and doing projects about it. He refuses to discuss or read the book. It's about a boy who gets two hunting dogs,

and I believe the dogs die in the end.He also refuses to watch many kid's movies (like Cars), including rated G movies, if they have any sad or uncomfortable parts. My son can get very emotional, and when he sees or hears something sad, I think it makes him sadder than most people.I'm trying to slowly get him to read 'Where the Red Fern Grows', but I'm not making any progress. He just starts getting upset as soon as he sees or hears about the book.Does anyone else have experience with this? What have you tried? I'm wondering if he should be excused from reading the book.Thanks,Rochelle Never miss a thing. Make your homepage.

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

I just talked to my dd's 4th grade teacher about this. The book her

book group selected is Bridge to Terebithia. We read it last year and

we were both crying and it really upset her. We finished the book,

but she wouldn't see the movie. Unfortunately the teacher says she

can't move her into another book group because they are all in the

middle of their different books.

At least she knows how the story ends so she will be prepared.

When she was 7 she was terribly upset by Madagascar--the scene where a

crocodile snaps up a cute little duck.

>

> Does anyone else have kids who refuse to read books in school because

> they have some sad parts?

>

> My son is 12 years old in 6th grade. He is a very good reader. The

> whole class is reading 'Where the Red Fern Grows', and doing projects

> about it. He refuses to discuss or read the book. It's about a boy

> who gets two hunting dogs, and I believe the dogs die in the end.

>

> He also refuses to watch many kid's movies (like Cars), including

> rated G movies, if they have any sad or uncomfortable parts.

>

> My son can get very emotional, and when he sees or hears something

> sad, I think it makes him sadder than most people.

>

> I'm trying to slowly get him to read 'Where the Red Fern Grows', but

> I'm not making any progress. He just starts getting upset as soon as

> he sees or hears about the book.

>

> Does anyone else have experience with this? What have you tried?

> I'm wondering if he should be excused from reading the book.

>

> Thanks,

> Rochelle

>

[Guest guest]

Amen.. Let the teacher know that he doesn't have to read it.. And you aren't making him

I belong to several animal rights activists groups.. And while I am active.. If someone sends me a horrid story .. I will not read it.. And remove them from my contact list. I have warned them all

A sad .. And even worse.. True sad story is hurtful to the soul.

Bless him I am glad he is also able to verbalize his feelings hurray for your boy~

-- ( ) Re: Refuses to read sad books in language arts

In a world where teenagers shoot each other on a daily basis or make headlines beating up a homeless person, your story about not reading sad books made me feel so much better about this planet!Perhaps we have all become a little too numb to violence and pain and these wonderfully sensitive children have the right idea? Fight for their right to read what they want.I thought this was very sweet and wonderful story.Sue in Tennessee-- In , Mims Batts <mimsnj@...> wrote:>> That's good to hear, Liz. My son seemed to steer away from those books, and I didn't push him toward them either. I got the feel that they were "dark" which is what he didn't like. I never got the chance to read them on my own. Maybe I'll give them a second look now.> > Mims> > Liz Bohn <lbohn@...> wrote:> We had this problem with certain books in high school. I don't know what genre to call them. Books like "Catcher in the Rye." That book drove crazy. It wasn't that it was sad. It was just too introspective. It drove him nuts. We finally got the teacher to agree to letting him read "Catch-22" instead. Whew! He greatly prefers history over fiction. He loves historical fiction. >

[Guest guest]

I appreciate all the comments and suggestions to my questions about

reading sad books. They were a big help!

It turns out my son doesn't just dislike 'sad' parts, but anything

introspective or deep also. We have made some progress on " Where the

Red Fern Grows " by selectively reading some chapters at home a couple

of times a week. I started by reading out loud to him, and promising

to skip any sad or uncomfortable parts. The teacher gave him a job

of picking out confusing or descriptive words in the book, and then

looking up their meanings. He was much more willing to read to find

these words, than to just read because he wanted to. Now he is

reading the chapters to himself, instead of me reading out loud. He

probably won't read the whole book, or participate in a class

discussion about any stressful parts, but he was exposed to the

writing style and time period of the book and it is not distressing

him now. He even appears to be interested in what he is reading.

Liz, I want to thank you very much for the Horrible Histories book

recommendations! My 12 yr. old son likes to read the same books over

and over, year after year, unless it's about Pokemon or non-

fiction 'how to' books or catalogs. I try to get him to read

something else, but have had no success in years until I brought

these books by Terry Deary home from the library. He is not only

enjoying them, but he is laughing out loud and telling me about

them. His 10 yr. old brother, who reads almost everything, is also

enjoying them.

Rochelle

> For those of you homeschoolers and others who have history lovers

and

> who haven't discovered them yet, lots of Aspies love the Horrible

> Histories series -- The Rotten Romans, The Groovy Greeks, The

Awesome

> Egyptians, The Blitzed Brits, etc. By Terry Deary. The history is

very

> good and they're extremely funny. For kids about 8 and up. Even

high

> schoolers would get a kick out of them.

>

> Liz

[Guest guest]

Rochelle

That''s great news about your son. It sounds like the teacher worked well with you and him on how to solve the issue.

Mims

From: roc42001 <Rochelle.Rotter@...>Subject: Re: ( ) Refuses to read sad books in language arts Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2008, 3:43 AM

I appreciate all the comments and suggestions to my questions about reading sad books. They were a big help!It turns out my son doesn't just dislike 'sad' parts, but anything introspective or deep also. We have made some progress on "Where the Red Fern Grows" by selectively reading some chapters at home a couple of times a week. I started by reading out loud to him, and promising to skip any sad or uncomfortable parts. The teacher gave him a job of picking out confusing or descriptive words in the book, and then looking up their meanings. He was much more willing to read to find these words, than to just read because he wanted to. Now he is reading the chapters to himself, instead of me reading out loud. He probably won't read the whole book, or participate in a class discussion about any stressful parts, but he was exposed to the writing style and time period of the book and it is not

distressing him now. He even appears to be interested in what he is reading.Liz, I want to thank you very much for the Horrible Histories book recommendations! My 12 yr. old son likes to read the same books over and over, year after year, unless it's about Pokemon or non-fiction 'how to' books or catalogs. I try to get him to read something else, but have had no success in years until I brought these books by Terry Deary home from the library. He is not only enjoying them, but he is laughing out loud and telling me about them. His 10 yr. old brother, who reads almost everything, is also enjoying them.Rochelle> For those of you homeschoolers and others who have history lovers and > who haven't discovered them yet, lots of Aspies love the Horrible > Histories series -- The Rotten Romans, The Groovy Greeks, The Awesome > Egyptians, The Blitzed Brits, etc. By Terry

Deary. The history is very > good and they're extremely funny. For kids about 8 and up. Even high > schoolers would get a kick out of them.> > Liz__________________________________________________