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CLASSICS: Why and how we can encourage children to read them
With the aid of the various techniques mentioned in this book, I hope to propagate the reading of Classics to everyone . . . every student, parent, and educator. Through the use of these techniques, parents and educators will be able to introduce students to the rich world of classic literature without the negative feelings that often result when students are exposed to new, more difficult material. The book also focuses on the importance of reading good literature, methods for encouraging students to do so, and the lifelong benefits children will reap from exposure to classic literature. It is my hope that this book will encourage everyone to make reading the classics a habit rather than a chore. We must do so, for the welfare of the modern generation and those to follow.
310 pages, Hardcover
Published March 16, 2017
9 people want to read
About the author
Fiza Pathan
40 books375 followersIMP: If you are an indie-author & wish to contact me for written or live interviews on my blogs & websites then contact me here - pathan.fiza@gmail.com
or you can text me on 9820763499.
I will then get back to you ASAP.
I also review books already published & in ARC form (pdfs are fine) especially of indie-writers. You can message or text about the same to me via the above given details. Messaging on Goodreads is coming to an end, period. I am also on X, LinkedIn, Fable & StoryGraph, feel free to join me there.
Fiza Pathan is a Roman Catholic born on the 19th of March 1989 and is from Mumbai, India.
Fiza has written and published seventeen award-winning books and short stories, which reflect her interest in furthering the cause of education and in championing social issues. In over seventy literary competitions, she has placed either as winner or finalist, chief among them being: 2020 DBW Awards; 2020 Writer's Digest Self-Published E-Book Awards; 2018 DBW Awards; Killer Nashville 2018 Silver Falchion Award; 2018 IAN Book of the Year Awards; 2018 Book Viral Millennium Book Awards; Readers’ Favorite Book Awards; Reader Views Literary Awards; Eric Hoffer Book Award; Foreword Reviews Indie Fab Book Awards; Mom’s Choice Awards; Literary Classics Book Awards; and Dan Poynter’s Global E-Book Awards. She established her own niche publishing company called Fiza Pathan Publishing OPC Private Limited where she publishes Rare Classics for younger readers.
She has been contributing articles, book reviews, parabolic stories, and theological essays to various Catholic Magazines for the past 16 years. She has been associated with ‘The Examiner’ which is a reputed Catholic newsweekly of India for the past 16 years. In recognition of her various literary achievements as a young Catholic writer, she has recently received the first ever Bronze Pen Award from The Examiner at its 175th anniversary celebrations in the year 2024.
She also contributes theological articles and book reviews respectively to the ICM (Indian Catholic Matters) online magazine as well as ‘The Teenager Today’ which is run by the Catholic congregation of St. Pauls. She also contributed articles to ‘The Vision & Venture’ and ‘Word Power’ as a youth, both of which are Catholic monthlies.
Fiza Pathan is currently pursuing her Masters in Theological Studies from Pontifex University Atlanta, Georgia asynchronously. She also pursues additional theological courses at the Institute of Catholic Culture in Virginia through its online platform to improve her knowledge of authentic Catholic theology, philosophy, and literature. She is currently in the process of becoming a Consecrated Virgin for Christ.
She is also pursuing her Post Graduate Certificate In International Teacher Education (PGCITE) at Podar International School, Santacruz. She is being trained to teach grades 1 to 12 in the IGCSE & IB curricula. Her specializations will be in English Language, English Literature, Global Perspectives (GP), History, TOK & CAS.
She taught English Literature and History for a year at an ICSE school called Lilavati Bai Podar High School, Mumbai (2011-2012).
Fiza Pathan has a bachelor’s degree in arts from the University of Mumbai, where she majored in History and Sociology with a first class. She also has a bachelor’s degree in education, again with a first class, her special subjects being English and History.
She lives with her maternal family & her cat Lopez, and writes essays, book reviews, sketches, novels, and short stories in most genres. You may follow her on Twitter @FizaPathan and visit her blog insaneowl.com or her website fizapathansportfolioforpgcite.com
or you can text me on 9820763499.
I will then get back to you ASAP.
I also review books already published & in ARC form (pdfs are fine) especially of indie-writers. You can message or text about the same to me via the above given details. Messaging on Goodreads is coming to an end, period. I am also on X, LinkedIn, Fable & StoryGraph, feel free to join me there.
Fiza Pathan is a Roman Catholic born on the 19th of March 1989 and is from Mumbai, India.
Fiza has written and published seventeen award-winning books and short stories, which reflect her interest in furthering the cause of education and in championing social issues. In over seventy literary competitions, she has placed either as winner or finalist, chief among them being: 2020 DBW Awards; 2020 Writer's Digest Self-Published E-Book Awards; 2018 DBW Awards; Killer Nashville 2018 Silver Falchion Award; 2018 IAN Book of the Year Awards; 2018 Book Viral Millennium Book Awards; Readers’ Favorite Book Awards; Reader Views Literary Awards; Eric Hoffer Book Award; Foreword Reviews Indie Fab Book Awards; Mom’s Choice Awards; Literary Classics Book Awards; and Dan Poynter’s Global E-Book Awards. She established her own niche publishing company called Fiza Pathan Publishing OPC Private Limited where she publishes Rare Classics for younger readers.
She has been contributing articles, book reviews, parabolic stories, and theological essays to various Catholic Magazines for the past 16 years. She has been associated with ‘The Examiner’ which is a reputed Catholic newsweekly of India for the past 16 years. In recognition of her various literary achievements as a young Catholic writer, she has recently received the first ever Bronze Pen Award from The Examiner at its 175th anniversary celebrations in the year 2024.
She also contributes theological articles and book reviews respectively to the ICM (Indian Catholic Matters) online magazine as well as ‘The Teenager Today’ which is run by the Catholic congregation of St. Pauls. She also contributed articles to ‘The Vision & Venture’ and ‘Word Power’ as a youth, both of which are Catholic monthlies.
Fiza Pathan is currently pursuing her Masters in Theological Studies from Pontifex University Atlanta, Georgia asynchronously. She also pursues additional theological courses at the Institute of Catholic Culture in Virginia through its online platform to improve her knowledge of authentic Catholic theology, philosophy, and literature. She is currently in the process of becoming a Consecrated Virgin for Christ.
She is also pursuing her Post Graduate Certificate In International Teacher Education (PGCITE) at Podar International School, Santacruz. She is being trained to teach grades 1 to 12 in the IGCSE & IB curricula. Her specializations will be in English Language, English Literature, Global Perspectives (GP), History, TOK & CAS.
She taught English Literature and History for a year at an ICSE school called Lilavati Bai Podar High School, Mumbai (2011-2012).
Fiza Pathan has a bachelor’s degree in arts from the University of Mumbai, where she majored in History and Sociology with a first class. She also has a bachelor’s degree in education, again with a first class, her special subjects being English and History.
She lives with her maternal family & her cat Lopez, and writes essays, book reviews, sketches, novels, and short stories in most genres. You may follow her on Twitter @FizaPathan and visit her blog insaneowl.com or her website fizapathansportfolioforpgcite.com
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 11, 2025
This book is an good guide for teachers to interest their students in reading. I will say that the author is a reader's kind of writer.
June 28, 2024
Fiza Pathan's enthusiasm for the Classics is wonderfully contagious. I was immediately engaged in the book and the thorough details the reader was afforded. I was delighted to be reminded of these stories, but also the reasons why they are so important. One of my favourite chapters was Classics and Morals which explains that many of the Classics not only entertain the reader, but also educate and build up their morals. I also enjoyed the specific lists Pathan provided, particularly - Classical characters who have influenced my reality. I also loved how the author alluded to the Classics as 'evergreen and never aging.' Intrigued by Pathan's penchant for Dracula and impressed by her love of L.M. Montgomery's work, I am grateful to have read this book. I have a new appreciation for the Classics, not only for myself, but for others as well. (My son is a Grade 6 teacher and we have discussed Pathan's book.) Fiza Pathan is a talented writer and educator and I look forward to reading more of her books.
April 4, 2017
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer for Reader Views (3/17)
Article first published as Book Review: ‘Classics: Why and How We Can Encourage Children to Read Them’ by Fiza Pathan on Blogcritics.
Drawing on many years of experience as a teacher and program developer, Fiza Pathan provides a great guideline as to how parents and educators can introduce children to reading the classics, and innovative ways to pique their interest in her book, “Classics: Why and How We Can Encourage Children to Read Them.”
Many readers will remember reading classics in middle school or high school and having to do book reports on them. Pathan goes a step further and explains how classics provide worldwide knowledge in a variety of areas that one can use in daily living. She shows through studies and her own students how vocabulary and written skills improve, and how to question what is provided on the internet. She shows how vocabulary increases, self-esteem rises, and general reasoning increases the chance to explore what one thinks about life and goals in general.
Using several books we have all read, Pathan explains what the moral of the story is and how it helps us develop better understanding of who we are. Throughout the book, she gives Fun Quizzes, which offers great insight into what we gained from reading certain classics. Remember, most of us read them as middle school or high school students and now as adults our perception has changed.
The author presents considerable information on how teachers and library staff can learn the personality of the child and direct them to books that they will love to read and develop skills.
Pathan says that parents and educators need to provide the opportunity to read these books and give children accessibility to what they offer. She basically says, “You have to go with the flow, and decide what you want your child to learn. It is not about you, it is about letting your child grow and spread their wings.”
Pathan is passionate about her work, and I love that she held reading groups where books were provided, especially for children who didn’t have access to books or libraries.
“Classics: Why and How We Can Encourage Children to Read Them,” by Fiza Pathan is a must-read for parents and teachers. For me, I know my grandchildren will have and read the classics. I know my husband is reading many now and we have great conversations around them. Can you imagine what you can offer a child?
Article first published as Book Review: ‘Classics: Why and How We Can Encourage Children to Read Them’ by Fiza Pathan on Blogcritics.
Drawing on many years of experience as a teacher and program developer, Fiza Pathan provides a great guideline as to how parents and educators can introduce children to reading the classics, and innovative ways to pique their interest in her book, “Classics: Why and How We Can Encourage Children to Read Them.”
Many readers will remember reading classics in middle school or high school and having to do book reports on them. Pathan goes a step further and explains how classics provide worldwide knowledge in a variety of areas that one can use in daily living. She shows through studies and her own students how vocabulary and written skills improve, and how to question what is provided on the internet. She shows how vocabulary increases, self-esteem rises, and general reasoning increases the chance to explore what one thinks about life and goals in general.
Using several books we have all read, Pathan explains what the moral of the story is and how it helps us develop better understanding of who we are. Throughout the book, she gives Fun Quizzes, which offers great insight into what we gained from reading certain classics. Remember, most of us read them as middle school or high school students and now as adults our perception has changed.
The author presents considerable information on how teachers and library staff can learn the personality of the child and direct them to books that they will love to read and develop skills.
Pathan says that parents and educators need to provide the opportunity to read these books and give children accessibility to what they offer. She basically says, “You have to go with the flow, and decide what you want your child to learn. It is not about you, it is about letting your child grow and spread their wings.”
Pathan is passionate about her work, and I love that she held reading groups where books were provided, especially for children who didn’t have access to books or libraries.
“Classics: Why and How We Can Encourage Children to Read Them,” by Fiza Pathan is a must-read for parents and teachers. For me, I know my grandchildren will have and read the classics. I know my husband is reading many now and we have great conversations around them. Can you imagine what you can offer a child?
April 3, 2017
A WISHING SHELF BOOK REVIEW
23rd Feb, 2017
TITLE: CLASSICS, WHY AND HOW WE CAN ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO READ THEM
AUTHOR: Fiza Pathan
Star Rating: 5 Stars!
STATS
Writing Style 9/10
Subject Knowledge 10/10
Editing 9/10
Unputdownable or Putdownable: Totally Unputdownable
Who’s it For: Parents/teachers
‘A bible for anybody working with children’s literature. Fascinating and informative.’ A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
REVIEW
I love the classics. Love them! So, I was delighted to read this book and offer a little feedback to the author, Fiza Pathan.
To start with, let me tell you who I am. I’m an English teacher, a literacy coordinator and I worked on my masters in English literature at Durham University in England. So, my knowledge of the classics is better than most; and my love of the classics is incredibly strong. Growing up, I devoured Alice in Wonderland, and every week a Sherlock mystery confounded me and filled me with wonder. I am, to put it mildly ‘classic-addicted’.
So, on to the book. Well, it’s good. In fact, it’s very good. Mind you, it’s not for literary scholars who know every aspect of a literary work. No, it’s for parents and teachers who want to know how to inspire children to pick up a classic and not an iPad. And, in this respect, it excels.
This book is written by a woman who grew up in a culture that did not recognize the importance of education for girls. In fact, she was abandoned by her father because she wasn’t a boy. And that is where her love for the classics seems to have begun. For, in the classics, she discovered Stoker, Dickens and Wells; she discovered the wonderful characters of Doctor Dolittle and Peter Pan. They were a better father-figure than her father had ever been.
This book is written with a powerful energy, and her need to inspire children to enjoy the classics jumps from every word she’s written. But, still, she keeps it simple. She seems to understand that parents and teachers want to know ‘how to do it’ and not be immersed in endless literary facts and theory. Take, for example, the chapter entitled Classical Characters Who Have Influenced My Reality. It is only a page or two long and simply tells the reader who the characters are and why they influenced her. Only a sentence or two, that’s all. Fantastic! Less, I think, is often best.
Any and all teachers who work with children and who wish to inspire them to enjoy classic texts, should read this book from cover to cover. It is packed full of helpful tips, from deciding whether to go for abridged or unabridged to when to read the classics and how often. There’s even a quiz to check your classic knowledge. I got most of them right!
I always like to end with what I think is the ‘best line’. Well, I loved this: I wonder what Aruna (the school librarian) is doing these days? Has she retired or is she still there saving other bookaholic children from the snares of the malicious world of socializing?
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
23rd Feb, 2017
TITLE: CLASSICS, WHY AND HOW WE CAN ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO READ THEM
AUTHOR: Fiza Pathan
Star Rating: 5 Stars!
STATS
Writing Style 9/10
Subject Knowledge 10/10
Editing 9/10
Unputdownable or Putdownable: Totally Unputdownable
Who’s it For: Parents/teachers
‘A bible for anybody working with children’s literature. Fascinating and informative.’ A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
REVIEW
I love the classics. Love them! So, I was delighted to read this book and offer a little feedback to the author, Fiza Pathan.
To start with, let me tell you who I am. I’m an English teacher, a literacy coordinator and I worked on my masters in English literature at Durham University in England. So, my knowledge of the classics is better than most; and my love of the classics is incredibly strong. Growing up, I devoured Alice in Wonderland, and every week a Sherlock mystery confounded me and filled me with wonder. I am, to put it mildly ‘classic-addicted’.
So, on to the book. Well, it’s good. In fact, it’s very good. Mind you, it’s not for literary scholars who know every aspect of a literary work. No, it’s for parents and teachers who want to know how to inspire children to pick up a classic and not an iPad. And, in this respect, it excels.
This book is written by a woman who grew up in a culture that did not recognize the importance of education for girls. In fact, she was abandoned by her father because she wasn’t a boy. And that is where her love for the classics seems to have begun. For, in the classics, she discovered Stoker, Dickens and Wells; she discovered the wonderful characters of Doctor Dolittle and Peter Pan. They were a better father-figure than her father had ever been.
This book is written with a powerful energy, and her need to inspire children to enjoy the classics jumps from every word she’s written. But, still, she keeps it simple. She seems to understand that parents and teachers want to know ‘how to do it’ and not be immersed in endless literary facts and theory. Take, for example, the chapter entitled Classical Characters Who Have Influenced My Reality. It is only a page or two long and simply tells the reader who the characters are and why they influenced her. Only a sentence or two, that’s all. Fantastic! Less, I think, is often best.
Any and all teachers who work with children and who wish to inspire them to enjoy classic texts, should read this book from cover to cover. It is packed full of helpful tips, from deciding whether to go for abridged or unabridged to when to read the classics and how often. There’s even a quiz to check your classic knowledge. I got most of them right!
I always like to end with what I think is the ‘best line’. Well, I loved this: I wonder what Aruna (the school librarian) is doing these days? Has she retired or is she still there saving other bookaholic children from the snares of the malicious world of socializing?
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
May 11, 2022
Purely an opinion piece based only on the authors own anecdotal evidence. As a teacher who has concluded bold statement through liver classroom experience, I too would be tempted to declare those hypothesis factual. But to write a book about them should require more than a running log of scenarios that mirror personal thought. I could easily see an opinion piece stating the opposite, that classical books are a waste of time. Without any scientific evidence the book is a throwaway.
Some interesting reflections and language, along with comradely from a fellow educator, gave it two stars.
Some interesting reflections and language, along with comradely from a fellow educator, gave it two stars.
June 27, 2017
Fiza Pathan is a school teacher and an adoring devotee of classic literature. She speaks passionately and with purpose on matters of reading. In her book CLASSICS: Why and how we can encourage children to read them, she touches on many key points in her arguments in favor of classic literature. With solid examples and sound reasoning one would be hard pressed to walk away feeling anything but inspired after reading this book. Well-written, and a quick study, this should be required reading for all educators (. . . and parents for that matter). CLASSICS: Why and how we can encourage children to read them is highly recommended and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews