Let's face it - some kids do not like to read. They read below grade level. They don't like fiction and they don't get nonfiction. They would rather play video games, watch t.v., and run around their neighborhoods. The older they get, the more reluctant they become. So what is a teacher to do? Here are five tips to get your most reluctant readers on the road to reading by choice.
Tip 1: Read Aloud
You might feel as if you don't have time to read aloud, but when you are at critical mass, you need to take matters into your own hands. You've got to read aloud. A short intense moment from a great book, a few lines from a hot magazine article, or a poem is all you need to grab your student's interest. Find out your kid's interests; whether it is music, skateboarding, video games, or scrapbooking - you can find a book or article to entice them to read. Read a piece aloud and then make it available to your students. Remember to read aloud like a drama queen (or king). There is nothing more boring than a boring read aloud. Spice up your read aloud using your voice, funny hats, and props to draw your kids out of their own worlds and into your world. Start with high interest topics and then you can sneak in an occasional great piece of literature. Choose the "hot spots" from great books. The goal is to get your reluctant readers to want more.
Tip 2: Read for Enjoyment
One of the reasons readers are turned off to reading comes from overzealous teachers who make reading all about answering questions, completing assignments, and creating projects. We do so much "stuff" that we drive the enjoyment out of reading. When was the last time you read a great adult novel from the best seller list only to answer questions at the end? Yes, in reality we need grades, but also in reality we need our students to want to read. One way to accomplish this goal is through literature circles. Talking about books at a deep level (and hearing enthusiastic classmates talking about books) adds a new level of interest to reading. Reluctant readers want to belong to the group, so they will read in order to participate. Choice in reading makes a difference as well. Take the pain out of reading and save some paper (from copying all of those comprehension quizzes) by making your classroom a joyous place to read and love books. You don't have to give up an occasional assignment (you do have to get those grades), but everything you read doesn't have to be about doing "stuff". Just read and enjoy it!
Tip 3: Add Real World Reading
Kids are interested in the real world. They are surrounded by media literacy. The Internet is a different kind of reading world, and it's one that will draw your reluctant readers in. What are your kids interested in? You can find it on the Internet. News, entertainment, how-to, sports - it's all there. Find an article, a blog, or an ebook to share with your readers. You don't need a computer lab to make it happen. Print it off, make copies, and say, "Hey, I found the coolest thing online last night. I know a lot of you are into skateboarding. Did you know...?" Information reading is hot, and the Internet is full of information (both good and bad). Find your reluctant reader's "hot topics" and bring the world of reading to them.
Tip 4: Actively Engage Your Readers
You need to teach cause and effect. It's on the test. We've all been there, so let's think about how we can get our most reluctant readers to get on the bus. Read a "hot topic" together. Talk about it, then make the cause and effect (or any skill or strategy you need to teach) connection with a hands-on reading experience. Some kids need to move, visualize, and talk in order to connect to the text. List the cause and effect relationships from the text on cards. Let kids work together to read through the cause and effect situations and match them up. This requires engagement - talking, reading, moving, seeing, doing. You can create activities (not too many) that help teach a skill without boring your students to tears. They will get involved because it is fun. Fun isn't an objective, but it certainly helps motivate reluctant readers.
Tip 5: Celebrate Reading
How do you get kids to read at home? Let's see...create a reading log, require twenty minutes a night, and make their parents sign...and if they don't - sit them out during recess as a punishment. What's wrong with this picture?
First, you need to talk to each student and make sure they know how to choose "just right" books on their independent reading level. Next, you need to establish trust. That's right. You've got to trust your students. Give them a reading log, but don't require their parents to sign. Instead ask your students to write down each book they finish on their own time (or magazine article). Each week take a count of the class books "completed." Set a class goal for reading so many books as a reading community. Once students reach their goal hold a reading celebration. Invite special people (like the principle) to read a book, have a treat (like ice cream), and hold have a read-in. Set the standard from day one - you must contribute to the community in order to celebrate with the community. Caution: Do not use removal from the reading celebration as punishment for other behaviors. If the student participated in the reading they must be allowed to participate in the celebration.
How do you hold students accountable for reading (and honestly recording their completed books)? The day you add up completed books hold a book talk circle. Students get into small groups and talk about the books they've read. They each share an oral review of their latest completed read. Peer pressure to participate creates natural accountability. One or two times of being the only one with nothing to say will get old. Reluctant readers will want to be apart of the reading community and the celebration.
Try these favorite read aloud books to motivate your reluctant readers:
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