Encourage Your Student to Read
How to encourage students to read, especially reluctant readers is a hot topic. So, just how do we encourage students to read? Lately, I seem to be having this conversation on repeat. Parents asking “How can I motivate my child to read? “, “What should my child be reading?”, “Can you recommend a good book series at his LEVEL??”, “My child only likes graphic novels, I would like him to read “real” books”….. My answer…
We should ALWAYS Encourage Students to Read!
Well, whether we are talking about independent reading at home or in the classroom, let children read books that they want, that they choose themselves, that they enjoy and have ownership over. They may be too easy, they may be too hard and they may be graphic novel or a magazine and that is OK!
We know that to become better at anything; cooking, knitting, soccer, swimming etc… we have to practice and spend time engaged in those pursuits. Reading is no different. To become a better reader, you have to read. Plain and simple. The more time spent reading, the better reader children will become. We know this and yet we rarely let our students or our children just read… and specifically just read for pleasure.
So what can we do to encourage children to read every day?
Encourage Students to Read by Giving them Choice
Allowing students to choose their own independent reading material gives them an ownership that is likely to increase motivation and also effort. Guthrie and Wigfield (2000) suggest that not only does allowing students to choose reading material increase effort, but also enhance a child’s commitment to reading. Isn’t this our goal? Creating life-long readers? GIVE THEM CHOICE!
Encourage Students to Read by Creating Neighborhood Book Club/Exchange
Make reading a social affair. Children often thrive on social interactions and put a lot of stock in the opinions of their peers. Let’s harness this for good! Start a book club and have children gather weekly or once a month to discuss the book and have special drinks and desserts; make it a special event- just like we do when we host a book club. You may also want to consider starting a Book Exchange. Children can recommend books to their friends and exchange and borrow each other’s favorite selections.
Encourage Students to Read by Letting Students Choose the Medium
One parent asked if it’s ok if their child reads on a Kindle. I was a little stumped at first, I wasn’t sure what I thought about it, however, then I realised- reading is reading no matter what form. So, if your children or students are particularly technologically motivated- let them read on their kindle or ipad. Just let them read, period! If they prefer magazines/periodicals, let them read that type of literature cover to cover! Encourage reading in ANY form! As for the graphic novel dilemma (I do not understand the stigma that graphic novels get)… I’m sure you can guess where I am headed with this…if your child/student loves graphic novel provide graphic novels. It truly doesn’t matter what is being read or on what device- the important thing is that reading is taking place and with enjoyment! Reading + Enjoyment = Life Long Readers!
Encourage Students to Read by Making it a Family Affair
I often tell my families to institute their own D.E.A.R (Drop Everything and Read) time and they laugh, but I mean it. Set aside time each day where everyone and I mean everyone-mom, dad, brother, sisters, babysitters, visitors-ANYONE who is in the home drops everything and reads. It doesn’t have to be a long time, though I think 30 minutes would be ideal, but it creates the habit of daily reading. It also provides children opportunities to see everyone as readers.
Encourage Students to Read by Using Audiobooks
While listening to an audiobook isn’t reading, in that it isn’t helping to decode or work on fluency, it is reading in that it helps students with comprehension and building vocabulary. It is also an enjoyable way to listen to books and engage with texts. Audiobooks are also helpful for students who are reading below grade level. Students 3rd grade above go from learning to read to reading to learn. For students who may be reading below grade level the gap continues to widen and widen quickly, because these students are unable to access the curriculum independently. Audiobooks can help them access the curriculum and stay on track with their peers.
EXTRA PLUG FOR AUDIOBOOKS (and probably subject of another blog post), audio books actually begin to help students increase working memory. Audiobooks take away the need to decode and by eliminating that aspect of reading, frees up working memory to think critically and deeply about the content of the text. Audiobooks can provide a wonderful curriculum modification.
Wondering about Encouraging Curiosity in the Classroom?! Check this Blog Post out!
References:
Guthrie, J., & Wigfield, A. (2000). Engagement and motivation in reading. In M. Kamil & P. Mosenthal, D. Pearson, & R. Barr (Eds.), Handbook of reading research. Mahwah, N.J.:Earlbaum. 49(7), 518-533.
