Reading in Swedish school

When we lived in US Björn took part in the reading program “Accelerated reader” in elementary school. He was reading at least 120 minutes/week at home and some additional time in school as well. Here in Sweden we have been missing something similar to it. And we have been a little bit too lazy to force Björn to read that much as he did in US. They have a “reading marathon” in school, adding up how many books they read in school. And last week they start a reinforcement program for reading at home as well. So I went to the library last weekend to pick up some good reads for Björn.

Since Björn now is bilingual he is allowed to read books in both Swedish and English. So I brought home a couple of fantasy books in Swedish by a Danish author Jan Kjær and some fantasy and classics in English. Among the classics Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (short version). Now he have a reading log making notes of which books he reads every day and after he has finished a book he has to fill in a form about the book and make a little drawing of a scene in the book.

I also found one of those Swedish classics that you have to read; Ronia the Robber’s Daughter by Astrid Lindgren. And I do read it loud for Björn remembering when it was published and I read it for the first time. I was nine years, just as Björn. And I was totally absorbed into the world in the deep forest with real animals and fantasy creatures, friends and enemies. The very independent girl Ronia escapes the family for the summer and lives a very free and simple life in the forest. A very inspiring story about growing up and getting more independent. And of course it is an exciting fairytale with a lot of adventures in the forest. A really good read!

(A couple of years after the book release the Ronia story was turned in to a film in a excellent way, I can really recommend the film as well.)