Harry Potter and the magic of reading
With the final book due in July, teachers assess the impact the popular series has had on children's learning.
from the May 2, 2007 edition
Page 3 of 4
Daniel picked up Harry Potter at an early age.
"When I was in kindergarten," he says, "I saw a bunch of people reading them, so I pretended to read them even though I couldn't read."
Such peer pressure is not uncommon among Harry Potter readers. The Kids and Family Reading Report showed that 63 percent of boys and 44 percent of girls say that it was important to read Harry Potter to feel "in" with their friends.Reluctant readers are more willing to make an effort with a book when they see their friends reading it, Groff says, as opposed to a teacher handing out books.
While most teachers have not rushed to make the popular series a part of their curricula, many have found ways to incorporate the books in their classrooms. Eileen Bach, an English teacher at Ithaca High School and a Harry Potter fan herself, says she doesn't teach the books to her students, many of whom are familiar with the series.
"I try to teach literature to students that they wouldn't pick up on their own," she says. Instead, she might use a passage from one of the books in extra practice lessons on identifying parts of speech. Ms. Bach says that high school students are definitely still interested in the books, and while some "don't dare show too much enthusiasm" about the series, she thought using it would encourage students to do the extra work.
Kellner says it would be hard to make a thorough study of Harry Potter – the sixth book was 672 pages – when she sees her students for only 40 minutes at a time. But she references the books, especially when she teaches mythology and fantasy genres. The books have great vocabulary, and all the major elements of a fantasy book – such as time travel and good versus evil – can be found in Harry Potter.
On the whole, parents enjoy Potter, too. The books are often challenged by those who say they promote witchcraft and anti-Christian values. The series topped the list of the American Library Association's most challenged books from 2000-2005. Half the parents surveyed in the Kids and Family Reading Report are Harry Potter readers themselves. They also see how the books have benefited their children – 89 percent of parents say that reading Harry Potter has helped their child enjoy reading more, and 76 percent say that reading the books has helped their child do better in school. In England, publishers offer a children's and an adult's edition of the Harry Potter books, each with different cover art.
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