Finished RETURN OF THE KING

It's actually been almost two weeks since I finished the last book (not counting the prequels!), so this is kind of weird for me--writing so long after the fact, that is.  Regardless, what I want to say is that it is amazing to me how just about EVERYTHING I do (in and out of the classroom) comes back around to either Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings.  Some of it because I make it so and some of it because it just FITS.

It is so awesome finally to be able to say that I have read the LotR series, including The Hobbit.  As an English teacher (who loves British Literature), it has been embarrassing for me that I had never read the whole series.  I'd read The Hobbit when I was in 4th or 5th grade, but I didn't like it.  I honestly don't think I was really ready for it yet.  I was a fairly advanced reader for my age (I had started reading when I was about 4 years old--regular books, not just Dick and Jane-type books), so when I first picked it up, I thought I was up for it.  Now, looking back over 30 years later, I realize that I just wasn't ready for it.

I am not saying that I thoroughly enjoyed reading the whole series, but I am saying that I am glad I read it and there's an awful lot within the series to appreciate and even like.  One thing I've realized during the reading of this series more than at any time in my life is the fact that readers need to be READY for a book--especially one like this--before reading it.  Otherwise, said reader might be turned off to reading.  Someone being forced to read a book above his/her reading/comprehension level is set up for failure in the context of learning to DISLIKE reading rather than set up to enjoy reading as much as it's meant to be enjoyed.

It is a real challenge for me to wait for Samuel to read certain books because I want him to enjoy them as much as I do.  But I don't want him to come to a place where he doesn't like to read.  Right now, even though I have to force him to read, he does LIKE to read.  He'd much rather watch tv or play video games--or even anything else--than read a book.  I don't think he's any different than any other typical/average 10-year old.  Not everyone can LOVE to read as much as I do.  I try to remember that, especially when dealing with my son.

It's not easy.  I so much want him (and everyone else I know) to see and enjoy the books as much as I do.  I want him to WANT to read these books as much as I want him to want to read.  But the reality is that quite often, some of the books I want him to read, he's just not ready for.  It's been almost two year now since I first read the first Harry Potter book.  From the beginning, I wanted Samuel to read them, too.  He has watched the movies with me and enjoyed them, but he just wasn't interested in reading the books.

A little more than a week ago, Samuel was finishing the book he was reading at that time and we were talking about what book he'd read next.  HE told me he was ready to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone!  Be still my heart!  I got online within the hour and looked up the information for his Reading Count information (for all the books!!!!) and wrote the information in the books so we wouldn't have to look it up again.  Samuel has been carrying the book around for a week while he finished the other book he was reading!  He even has a HP bookmark to use while reading!!!!!

I'm SOO excited; while he was doing his homework tonight, I started reading it again myself!  I'm already on chapter 4!!!!  I want to read it WITH Samuel!!!  I'm going to have to force myself to slow down so I can actually read it WITH him....

I have SOOOOOO gotten off topic!!!  My original points were:  1.  that I'm really glad I have finally read all of the Lord of the Rings books.  I was embarrassed by the fact that I hadn't read them even though I AM an English teacher and I have taught some of the books before---even though I'd never read them!  (Reading The Hobbit back in 4th or 5th grade doesn't count since I didn't like it or remember much of it.)  2.  It's important to read a book (series of books) when YOU are ready.  Sadly, that can't always be the case since we are required to read certain books for school, but the fact is that teachers need to be aware that some kids just are NOT ready for certain books yet.....and find a way to help the readers who aren't quite ready for them to enjoy them--if they're still required to read them.

It might help if teachers show the movie version.  That often helps kids get interested in certain books.  I know that the movies for the LotR has sparked new interest in the book series---it did for me, too.  And Samuel is already in love with Harry Potter because of the movies.  He has seen every movie several times and enjoys them very much.

It might help for teacher to read the book to the kids.  Maybe even stopping and talking about what was just read--asking questions--explaining without getting upset if the kids didn't understand.  But also allowing for some kids to interpret the reading their own ways rather than always saying THIS is how they're to understand such-and-such.....Some stories ARE open to interpretation, you know!!!

One of the positives about the Reading Counts program at Samuel's school is that the kids are able to choose the books they read for their RC points.  They still have books that they're reading in the classroom together, but outside of that, they are encouraged--even given incentives--to read books of their own choosing.  Samuel fell in love with The Magic TreeHouse books in 1st and 2nd grade; he read more than 30 of those.  A little more than a year ago, he discovered the 39 Clues series and has read the first 7 out of 11 of those books.  He owns them all.  And now he's excited about reading Harry Potter.  (I couldn't be happier!)

Anyway, I'm all over the place with this blog.  I won't apologize for it.  That's what blogging is all about.  I'll probably come back and write more about The Return of the King and actually talk about the book itself, but for now, I had to get these thoughts down and out of my head!!!  Maybe one day (before he's in his forties), my son will want to read the LotR series; he might even LIKE the books when he chooses to read them!!!!!