Summer Reading Can Be Fun When You Enjoy The Subject

Dear Tazi:

I am having an argument with my mother and I am hoping you can help us to reach a reasonable compromise. Reading has always been my worst subject in school, and I have always worked hard to improve it. I am going into the seventh grade, and I have books that have been assigned as summer reading books, as well as a list of books where I can choose what I want to read.

I do not want to spend my whole summer reading boring "classics" that the school says I have to read. I think the teachers know that, too, which is why we have a list of popular books to choose to read as well as the stuff we have to read for school. My mother thinks that I should stick to reading stuff that is non-fiction or based on real life events. She thinks it will boost my grades in History this year, which in the past have not been all that great because of my reading skills.I would rather re-read The Hunger Games and other, more modern selections.

Tazi, can you think of a compromise that will please both me and my Mom? She has already said no to my idea of reading one of the books she chooses and then letting me read a book of my choice. I think it should not matter what I read, so long as I am reading!

Signed,
Not A Reader

Dear Not A Reader:

I got that impression when you called classic books "boring". These classics - from Alice in Wonderland to Animal Farm are much more than the story that appears in print; you have to read between the lines to get the full message. In the case of both of these aforementioned books there is a lot of political talk that makes history lessons that much more interesting. Trust me when I tell you that MGM left out a lot of interesting controversy when they turned The Wizard of Oz into a movie!

Currently, my Mommie is making her way through Ken Follett's Century Trilogy, a set of wonderfully accurate and richly descriptive historical novels, detailing life from the early 19th century through the Cold War era. While these books are a bit mature for you, I mention this to show you that history can make for some good reading! I did a search on Goodreads.com for Historical Fiction for Teens and was provided a list of over 500 books, one of which should be on your summer reading list, Newbery Award winner The Witch of Blackbird Pond. I am sure there are several dozen others, including The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Girl With the Pearl Earring, and another Newbery Award winning Sounder, just to name a few.

This is my Mommie's favorite book!

I suggest that you and your mother compromise by reading some historical fiction this summer. You could choose a particular era (The Civil War, The French Revolution, The Civil Rights Era) or even a particular country (U.S., England, Russia) and read books that focus on that particular historical genre. If you know what you will be studying in History this coming school year, let that knowledge guide your choices. Many of the books on your required reading list are probably historical fiction, so this will ease your reading burden. As with any skill, the more you do it the better you become at doing it, so try to read a little bit every day!

Snuggles,
Tazi

P.S. to all my readers: What is YOUR favorite book and why?

Ask Tazi! is ghostwritten by a human with a Bachelors of Arts in Communications. Tazi-Kat is not really a talking feline.

Mother Fears Loosening Apron Strings Will Also Loosen Heartstrings

Dear Tazi:

I am a single mother of a sweet, charming, and all around wonderful little boy. "Billy" is seven years old, and my pride and joy. I have known for quite some time that Billy needs to lose weight, but I always thought he was just a bit husky, and would grow into his weight. This week, I got a letter home from the school nurse; she is concerned about Billy's weight and how it is affecting him socially. Billy is apparently unable to keep up with his friends during athletic time, and is upset about it; he is also getting picked on for it.

Billy's pediatrician has told me that Billy needs to lose about fifteen pounds, which I didn't think sounded like much, but I suppose for a child it is a lot of weight. I have cut down on Billy's sweet treats, replacing them with fresh fruits and low-cal items, but it is obvious that Billy needs more regular exercise. We live in an apartment, so we don't have a yard for him to play in, and I am not comfortable allowing Billy to go to the park after school without trusted adult supervision, and I work full-time, so it is dark by the time I get home.

Billy has been begging me for months now to allow him to walk to and from school with his friends. It is only a half mile each way, and he would be walking with a group of friends, but I am still frightened to allow my son to walk to school! I think he is far too young to undertake such a journey. You read so much about child abductions occurring close to home; I am petrified that something will happen to my son if I allow him to walk to school. Usually, I drive him to school in the morning (my Mom picks him up in the afternoon), and I have to admit, I enjoy the bonding time with my son. Do you think - as my mother says - I am being overprotective of my son, and trying to keep him my "little boy"? Or are my feelings and concerns logical?

Signed,
Trying My Best

Dear Trying My Best:

Seven years old is a precious age for a mother and her son; he is no longer a little boy, but not yet grown so much that he no longer wants his Mommy around. The problem that you detail is two-fold: as a single mother, you are working full-time to provide financially for you and your son while at the same time trying to carve out one-on-one time with your son. His requests to walk to school with his friends would be a much needed, regular boost to his physical activity but would take away from what little mother-son time the two of you appear to have.

You make no mention of what your neighborhood is like - the inner city; a small suburban neighborhood; or a rural village - but if other boys your son's age are allowed to walk to school in a group, it sounds like a safe environment. With this in mind, I would say that as long as you teach your son to stay with his friends; not to talk to strangers; and to never, ever accept a ride with or leave with an unapproved adult, I don't see a problem with allowing Billy to walk to school with his friends. The extra exercise time will be good for his health, both physical and social.

If you are not quite able to let go of your morning bonding time with your son, you could continue to drive him to school in the morning and allow him to walk home with his friends in the afternoon (weather permitting). Judging from your mother's comments, it sounds like this idea will work for her, too. My only question is, who watches Billy after school? If your mother's house is too far for him to walk to, would she be able to meet him at your apartment to watch him there or drive him home with her? Knowing that someone will be waiting for him when he gets home would keep Billy responsible about coming straight home, and might do a lot to ease your fears about allowing him to walk the short distance that must feel like a million miles to you. Know that loosening the apron strings will not loosen the heartstrings that hold your son close to you.

Snuggles,
Tazi

Ask Tazi! is ghostwritten by a human with a Bachelors of Arts in Communications. Tazi-Kat is not really a talking feline.

Tazi's Corner #28 - Success Tips For Returning Students

Dear Readers:

Over the past few weeks I have received a few letters from adult humans returning to the classroom, for college; trade school; or a GED program, all asking the same questions: what to expect, how to succeed, and how to overcome their nervousness and outright fright! These letters intrigued me, because my Mommie is an adult learner. I never thought that there was something out there that might scare her; my Mommie can do anything! I know that everyone says that about their Mommy (or at least they should be saying that!), but it is true! I never thought there might be something that scared my Mommie – other than when I wander off out of her sight, but then she is just being silly and overprotective. I decided to investigate the issue further in order to assist these letter writers!

In preparation to respond to their letters as one batch, I interviewed my Mommie over a bowl of cat cereal, while she sipped on her coffee and tried to fill out her paperwork for her impending graduation. Having none of that, I sat on the paperwork until I had her full and undivided attention. I found the answers that she gave me to be quite helpful, and did not wish to edit them for space, so I decided to put them here in my Tazi’s Corner column, where I have more room to share my thoughts! I am not fond of lists, and I seem to be doing more of them lately, so I have not numbered this one, and have put it in paragraph form to make it look less like a list. Let me know if I fooled you into thinking it isn't a list! Without further delay, I present to you

Success Tips For Returning Students!

By Tazi-Kat and His Mommie

Starting any new venture can be scary, so treat returning to school like any other new experience. What is the first thing you do when you start a new job? You get to know the people in your office. Well, the school is now your office, so get to know people – your classmates, your professors, the Reference Librarians; all of these people will make your learning journey a much easier and less isolating time.

Also, don’t let age differences get in the way of making friendships. Two of my Mommie’s best friends are about 15 years younger than her, but you would never know it! Both women are very mature for their age, have set career goals, and aren't allowing youthful stupidity to distract them. Mommie wishes she knew women like this when she was younger; she may have indulged in less youthful stupidity for it.

Bring your schooling home with you. The last thing you want is for your family to feel left out of your life, so don’t keep what you are doing to yourself. Share your day; invite your significant other to join you for a tour of your school/classroom, and introduce them to the people you interact with regularly. If you have school-age children, schedule a set “homework time” during which everyone – including you – are doing some form of schoolwork.

Another important thing is to find balance. It will be difficult at first, but as you settle into a routine you will be able to find a school-work-home life balance. Make a study schedule and stick to it. This may mean you will need to give up the distractions and time-wasters – Facebook and video/computer games are big ones – but after a few weeks you will find that doing so makes it easier to complete your reading/studying and creates more time for family and friends.

Speaking of studying, try to do a little bit every day and break it up into small chunks. If you have ten minutes to spare, try reviewing your classroom notes or working on a math problem that is giving you difficulty. Knowing that you will not have to spend a lot of time doing it makes it easier to try; when the time limit is in sight, it doesn't seem so onerous. If you are setting aside a large block of time to study/read/work on homework, take a 5 minute break every 20 minutes. Studies have shown this to result in better grades.

Grades! Everyone wants to chase after straight A’s, and they think cramming every little fact into their head is the way to do it. It isn't  In fact, cramming is the worst way to study because you forget about 90% of what you “learned” as soon as the test is over. This may not seem all too important, but if other, more advanced classes or success in the workplace depend on what you learned you will soon discover just how important true learning really is! Rather than chase grades, chase knowledge; good grades will follow.

When it comes to reading your textbook, don’t try to read every word on every page; rather, check out the first page of the chapter where it highlights what you need to know; read the chapter summary where it summarizes what is in the chapter; review any new vocabulary and important concepts. Look for bold headlines and words; illustrations, diagrams, and text-boxes; and anything else that is highlighted as important. When you have finished reviewing a section, look for any “self-review” questions; if you can’t answer them correctly, go back and find the answer to what you got wrong. A lot of professors use these questions on quizzes and tests, sometimes word for word!

Also, while still on the subject, many textbooks come with an online study component that guides you through what you need to know with games, quizzes, flash cards, and video lessons that make learning easier and a lot more interesting. Look for the web address on the inside cover page or back cover of your textbook!

Another way to maintain good grades is to do the assigned reading before class! A professor’s lecture is meant to supplement and explain the assigned reading. If you have not done the reading before the lecture, the lecture will not make as much sense as it would if you had read your textbook. Plus, if the lecture does not answer any questions you were left with after reading the text, you can generally ask your professors questions during the recitation [question and answer] period, after class, or during their office hours.

Don’t be afraid to take advantage of a professor’s office hours! Most of the time, they are sitting there catching up on work or reading because they are required to be there for their students, regardless of whether or not students show. If you are not available during their regular office hours, ask for an appointment to meet with them for a Q & A session. It’s like a free tutoring session with the professor!

Free tutoring may be a service your school provides. Check with student services to see if your school has a peer tutoring program. In most cases, the tutors are students who took the class they are tutoring and excelled in it, so you will be assisted by someone who had the same professor/teacher as you.

If you aren’t certain if a particular professor will be a good fit for you, ask fellow students for recommendations or check out www.ratemyprofessor.com (just understand that some students who post there are allergic to work; take such reviews with a grain of salt).

So there you have it – may you learn from one who has gone before you. Who knew that Mommie had learned more than just the stuff inside her textbooks? Good luck to all who are returning to school for a new semester of learning! Next week, I will present Part 2 of this subject - Tips For Conquering Test Anxiety!

Snuggles,

Tazi

Ask Tazi! is ghostwritten by a human with a Bachelors of Arts in Communications. Tazi-Kat is not really a talking feline.