Sunday, 25 January 2015

Finding Historical Fiction For Tweens

By Karyn Shields


Encouraging a child to be a reader is really important. Just about everything they learn in school and in the work place will depend on reading. Those with strong reading skills always do better in school than those who struggle. One of the most important ways to become a good reader is through practice. Parents often comment that they find good literature to get their kids interested.

History is a subject that is often ignored in schools today as many teachers do not feel confident enough to teach it well. By using literature that stresses historical fiction for tweens, many parents and teachers are getting over their concerns. Students often feel that history is boring and irrelevant. But once they start to read some really good books most young students find that they really love to learn in this way.

Reading about a historic period or personality is the best way to learn. Children realize that it really can be fun and interesting. After reading only a few books they will start to understand that history was made by people just like them. This is a huge step forward in their understanding of the world around them. They will also learn that children just like themselves get caught up in wars and other tragic events.

Fiction is a wonderful way for young readers to learn about society. They can relate to children their own age, and love to learn about their experiences in school and in their communities. Many children are amazed to learn that only a hundred years ago most kids their age lived without electricity, television or computers. This world seems so alien to them and they really have to use their imagination to understand it.

Although it can be surprising to many parents even young children seem to enjoy stories with blood and gore. They need to understand this is quite natural and they do not need to be worried. Many parents feel that they should protect their youngsters from the harsh realities of life and are careful about what they watch on TV. However, reading a book is a very different story. Feelings and emotions can be expressed in a lot more depth allowing the reader to make more sense of the events and actions.

This genre is also a great opportunity to learn about geography. Good books also include maps and some introductory information about the time period and main events. Parents and teachers may need to fill in some background information and help the child put the events into a bigger context. However, this holistic approach has to generate really excellent results and help students retain more knowledge.

Many people, both adults and children, have the impression that history is boring. One of the best ways to get over this negative attitude is to start reading really good fiction. It can show the reader that history involves people just like them and is actually very exciting.

A book that follows a fictitious character through real events can be a wonderful way to teach. Young students often find learning too many facts boring and loose interest. But a well written book can really engage their interest and teach them a lot. Both parents and teachers are thrilled to see the youngsters learning in this way.




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