Why our kids' love for reading fades

Betsy Hammond:

When Iris Liu was in elementary school, she'd check out a half-dozen library books at a time and plow through them one after another, like candy. Looking back, it strikes her as nerdy, but at the time, it was pure delight. She'd read 100 or more books a year just for fun.

Flash forward to eighth grade at Lake Oswego Junior High. Halfway through the school year, Iris has finished one book -- one -- beyond those assigned at school.

She hasn't lost her love of reading, she says. It's just that she is so busy -- primarily with hours of homework every night, plus daily play rehearsals, family dinner hour and stolen moments spent texting friends.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at February 5, 2008 12:10 AM
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