What books would you read to public school students?

[janer]

Watching the presidential visit to a school yesterday, I wondered what others would choose as reading material for the kids. Years ago, our public schools had a "Readers in the Schools" days, inviting people in the community who might have been active in the arts, politics, civic groups to bring a piece of reading material, read aloud to a class and discuss the piece.
So I'm sitting in the lounge with everyone else, and they all have 3rd grade level reading material (the school was grades 3-8), or those juvenile lit award winners. And I'm sitting there with Patrick Oster's "The Mexicans", prepared to read the chapter on "tragafuegos", with a passage from "The Woman in White" as my backup. For 5th and 6th graders, mind you. I felt like an outcast in lounge, but the kids loved it - listened attentively, laughed and gasped in the right places, asked a lot of questions, even applauded.
I haven't been invited back. Maybe they discontinued the program.

[ccrunner7wads]

well ill tell you what book i wouldn't read, Robin Hood

[angelicmadrigal]

Well in Thrid Grade our teacher read us:

James and The Giant Peach
The Witches
The Twits

It was kind of fun because she'd read a portion each day.

[khigh]

Maybe part of the "Real Presidents" series. I really don't know what levels children read at anymore. I was reading Dostoevsky in 5th grade. Maybe parts of 1984 to an older class?

[janer]

I still remember a 2nd or 3rd grade teacher reading us a book called "Snow Treasure", a chapter a day. Great story - kid-centered, suspenseful and incorporated the issues of courage and patriotism. It should still be part of the curriculum.

[Impenitent]

anthem by ayn rand

[Buffalo]

anthem by ayn rand
You trying to get them to nap?

[PhantomPholly]

anthem by ayn rand

Too boring. Atlas Shrugged, or The Fountainhead.

Better yet: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein.

[Long Island Bob]

I'd try to pick something by Isaac Asimov

[notluzn]

To Kill a Mocking Bird. Sorry, I have always loved that book. I don't think Obama could read it and understand it. :)

[Chucky]

I suppose the Bible is out of the question...

[super cool ski instructor]

I would go with a chapter of either The Boxcar Children or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Both fun for kids, and that is the age when they start chapter books.

[MB80sGirl]

Something that appeals to both boys & girls, that shows good values & lessons that parents approve of & kids can apply to real life.

[Rurudyne]

No child should get out till they can read both the Constitution as amended, the Federalist and Anti-federalist papers, as well as understand their particulars and explain them in their own words.

[Safiel]

No child should get out till they can read both the Constitution as amended, the Federalist and Anti-federalist papers, as well as understand their particulars and explain them in their own words.

I would agree with that and take it a step farther.

In addition to the above, explain how the Federalists were not able to deliver on their promises about the Constitution and how the fears of the Anti-Federalists ultimately came to pass.

For the record, my home schooled children were required to read and know all the above. :)

[Rurudyne]

I would agree with that and take it a step farther.

In addition to the above, explain how the Federalists were not able to deliver on their promises about the Constitution and how the fears of the Anti-Federalists ultimately came to pass.

For the record, my home schooled children were required to read and know all the above. :)
Bravo, sir! :clap:

[ISYairio]

33 Questions About American History You're Not Supposed to Ask by Thomas E. Woods, Jr.

[Alone In Liberalville]

Something that appeals to both boys & girls, that shows good values & lessons that parents approve of & kids can apply to real life.


How about...dare I say it...

The Holy Bible

just a thought...

[FLDem]

I'm actually impressed someone posting here has read To Kill a Mockingbird. Figured most suggestions for required 3rd grade reading here would consist solely of titles by Hannity, O'Reilly, Coulter, Malkin, 7 Savage.

[chica1846]

I would agree with that and take it a step farther.

In addition to the above, explain how the Federalists were not able to deliver on their promises about the Constitution and how the fears of the Anti-Federalists ultimately came to pass.

For the record, my home schooled children were required to read and know all the above. :)

And one of the reasons folks are choosing to home school over sending them to public school.:flag:

[budjaz]

, I wondered what others would choose as reading material for the kids.

well for 1 thing, most of the stuff mentioned is "too hard" for 3rd through 5th grade levels in public schools.. lol.. sorry.. homeschool joke..

but anyways.. my mom had us read the McGuffy Readers.. there is a whole set and they have stories that teach morals, kindness, respect, love, etc.. they are really really great readers.. a bit old school I guess, but they have a lot of life lessons in them and how to just treat people =) so that is what I would suggest

[Safiel]

well for 1 thing, most of the stuff mentioned is "too hard" for 3rd through 5th grade levels in public schools.. lol.. sorry.. homeschool joke..

but anyways.. my mom had us read the McGuffy Readers.. there is a whole set and they have stories that teach morals, kindness, respect, love, etc.. they are really really great readers.. a bit old school I guess, but they have a lot of life lessons in them and how to just treat people =) so that is what I would suggest

McGuffey Readers are an excellent starting point. Anybody wanting to use them, however, should make sure they are getting the 1879 edition of them.

[Celtic Pax]

I would include "Number the Stars" by Lois Lowery.

[budjaz]

McGuffey Readers are an excellent starting point. Anybody wanting to use them, however, should make sure they are getting the 1879 edition of them.

wow is that seriously how old they are?? LOL.. whoa.. and is there really another edition?? i know the ones we have are old as crap, but i had no idea they were that damn old.. haha..

[Safiel]

The original McGuffey Readers, written by McGuffey himself, appeared in 1836-1837. Two later volumes were written by his brother in the 1840's. In 1879 the series was totally rewritten and reissued. The main problem with the original series was that it reflected a very dark, Calvinistic worldview. This was completely changed with the 1879 edition, which completely removed the Calvinistic content, leaving a more generic Christian and secular content.

That is why I always make sure to warn people to get the 1879 edition, as there are earlier editions lurking around for sale on Amazon and elsewhere and unless your a fire and brimstone fundamentalist family, you probably don't want that edition. :)

[budjaz]

The original McGuffey Readers, written by McGuffey himself, appeared in 1836-1837. Two later volumes were written by his brother in the 1840's. In 1879 the series was totally rewritten and reissued. The main problem with the original series was that it reflected a very dark, Calvinistic worldview. This was completely changed with the 1879 edition, which completely removed the Calvinistic content, leaving a more generic Christian and secular content.

That is why I always make sure to warn people to get the 1879 edition, as there are earlier editions lurking around for sale on Amazon and elsewhere and unless your a fire and brimstone fundamentalist family, you probably don't want that edition. :)


wow that is so interesting.. thanks for the tid bit! i'll have to go to my mom's tomorrow and see what year her's are now! lol thanks =)

[Gregor]

Third grade huh? :wall::wall::wall:

[Neocon Bob]

Depending on the age group I would suggest Robert Heinlein's "juvenile" novels. In the 1950's Heinlein wrote a series of adventure SF stories that were primarily meant for teenage boys but I'll admit I didn't discover (and enjoy) until I was much older.

Good stories; filled with adventure, humor and a consistent theme illustrating the value of responsibility and self reliance.

[ccochran]

you need to go back to the third grade and do some research because obamas IQ is higher than idiot president bush's and probably yours this is a response to "To Kill a Mocking Bird. Sorry, I have always loved that book. I don't think Obama could read it and understand it. :)"

[European]

Hmm that would be the books we already read @ school:-)


Faust:Der Tragödie erster und zweiter Teil-Goethe
1984-George Orwell
Lord of Flies-William Golding
Demian-Hermann Hesse

also I would like to read in school:

The Judgement-Kafka
Fahrenheit 451-Ray Bradburry
Karl Marx/Friedrich Engels-The Communist Manifesto
Emma Goldman-Anarchism and other Essays

(political education is important,young people should be interested in politics and they also should have there own opinion based on discussions and reading!So young people should have acess to all kinds of opinions!!)


Also one shouldnt forgett the movies!!They are great for education too!!
(As long as you dont watch Transformers ;-)

Movies I watched in school:

Dead Man Walking (because we discussed the issue of Death Penalty)
Bowling for Columbine
A Clockwork Orange
La Haine/Hate (in frensh)
In the name of the father/The wind that shakes the barley (Northern ireland conflict)
Goodbye Lenin!(a comedy/drama about the GDR)
Das Leben der Anderen (The lifes of others)