I miss the days, like when I was in school , when you were told to read a book, then write a summary or very seldom, do a diorama. These days, my kids have these really involved projects associated with reading a book. They even had projects when they were in kindergarten. Sometimes, you wonder, if the projects are age appropriate or more geared for the parents...

I guess the districts and schools, probably have to assign these type projects in order to get the kids in the analytical, critical thinking mode for all the testing, testing, testing they have to do!

What type of book reports or projects do your kids get?

My DD has to read the book then do the AR test for the book. They did have one reading assignment this year that they had to read a book then everyone had to dress like their favorite character out of the book on a certain day.

You are right w/ the creative thinking. I am always being pushed to give my kids creative projects.

We've had to do BRs both ways, depending on the teacher. I prefer no project, of course.

My kids have yet to do just a book report. It is all these involved sometimes multiple page directioned projects. It gets to be much when they get multiple projects going at the same time, times 3 kids.

I support the teachers and understand the reasoning behind having to do something to make them think...but after a while it gets a bit old.

No book reports here, either! I remember writing up a summary on a book and slapping a picture I drew on it for the cover.

Last year (3rd grade) my daughter had to a diorama (with specific stuff to be written/drawn on each side of the box, too), a windsock and a puppet. I know there was more but I think I've blocked it from my memory. They also had a report they had to fill out and do an oral presentation on it.
It wasn't so bad except for the fact that they were in addition to the tons of homework she already had.

peapie

My son in 2nd grade has this type of projects for his book reports, plus they have to be an AR book and one in his reading level and he had to have taken the test and got better than an 80 or above on it.

I can't remember the last time any of my kids had to do an actual book report.......The ones in Elementary school have to do the AR tests....and many many projects!

__________________
"You can never really pay back. You can only pay forward."

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O-H-I-O

My DD in 4th grade had a "story bag" book report. They had to come up with an object to put in a bag that represented each story element (characters, problem, plot, solution, etc). Next she has to do a shoebox "parade float". The have to do a diorama in terms of what a parade float would look like to represent a scene or theme of a book they have recently read. DD likes art projects so we haven't minded them too much.

My ds is in 5th grade. This past week he had his big school year reading project due (1 or 2 students a week have to do this...will finish the class up in Feb.) They have to read 3 books by the same author. Then 3 days in a row he had to do an oral presentation on each of the books- 3-5 min long. Then he had to write a 1 page paper explaining the differences and similarities for the 3 books, and make a mobile.
Good thing is, even though he was the first week due, it's over and done with. Now he can sit back, relax, and watch everyone else do theirs
Oh, and once a month they have a "Book-it" book report to do. It's usually a paper they have to fill out.

What does AR stand for? I am a teacher in a private school and I have never heard of it. Of course, although I also have a degree in library science, I have not taught reading in 10 years.

Accelerated Reader

Duh! I guess if I thought about it I probably would have come up with that. I have been teaching so long that they take methods from 30 years ago rename them so it looks like something new. As I said I have not taught reading for a while. I know for the last couple of years instead of book reports or projects they did literature circles. I went to a workshop last year because the principal wanted it done in all subjects in 4th and 5th grades. The principal left so I am not sure what the teachers are doing.

My oldest DS is in 2nd grade and so far has not had to do a book report. He does take AR tests for every AR book he reads and if he reaches his goal for the marking period, he gets to go to a special breakfast at the school.

Some of the other 2nd grade classes (there are 9 second grade classes at DS's school) are doing book reports and I am so glad DS had not had one yet. They are so much work -- my neighbor and her DS spent SIX hours the other night working on his. That is way, way too much time, IMO. Last year DS had all kind of projects that I liked to call "parent projects" because they were things that no first garder could do on their own. It was things like 'make a video' or 'search the internet'. Now who in their right mind gives a first grader a video camera or lets them loose on the internet. This year the projects have been much more geared toward DS with only minimal help from me.

Sarah......mom to Jason & Devin

My son just finished his 3rd book report project this year. They get one every month with the exception of February because they are required to do Science Fair Project and May because they are required to write a story for the Creative Writing Contest,. This year it has been a standard report(plus oral presentation to class), letter o the author and just finished this weekend a Poster advertising his book with summary attached. In the past years he has done a pizza report(3rd grade my favorite so far), book in bag reports, made a game out of the book, a report on poster board with at least 5 items form book attached. He really enjoys doing his book reports like this and it is like his teacher says she doesn't need a long drawn out detail of the book just a summary.

my dd is in second grade. She has to do a book report monthly from Oct thru May (I guess not in June but not sure). The book report is simple write things down like author, illustrated etc and write in full sentences about 4 facts learned from a non fiction book or problem/solution for a fiction book. I like it because it is simple and doesn't take up much time other than reading. In addition at back to school night the teacher mentioned a heritage project and a shoebox diarama on an American landmark but no info on those yet.