As teachers, we are always looking for ways to motivate students to love reading. We all know the rewards of reading are immense; aside from enhancing our communication skills, it also helps reduce stress. Nevertheless, many children still cringe at the thought of reading. How can we change that?
Below is a list of ways to encourage students to read for pleasure as well as tips on facilitating an independent reading culture in your classroom.
Let students see you read. If you are going to encourage your students
to read, then you better make sure you’re leading by example. Instead of
grading papers when students are silent reading, read a book. Talk about the
book that you are reading with them, and how you can’t wait to read before you
go to bed. Try other impactful
storytelling activities in your classroom.
Allow students to read the
whole book before discussing it.
Give students the opportunity to read the book before you pull it apart and
talk about literary devices. Sometimes when all you do is talk about the plot,
setting, or genre, you are taking all the fun and pleasure out of the story.
Give students the chance to read it once through, then you can go chapter by
chapter and dissect.
Invite a local author to class. A great way to promote a love of a reading
is to invite an author to your classroom to discuss their book. This may be
just the thing to inspire your students to read or even be an author themselves
someday.
Teach students reading
strategies. Many students
don’t like to read because it’s hard for them. Teach children reading
strategies (i.e. repeated reading) to help them feel confident and read fluently.
Set up a book club. Book clubs and reading groups are a great way
for students to socialize and share their thoughts. This interaction makes
reading so much more enjoyable, and it enhances their comprehension skills.
Let students choose their own
books. Studies have shown
that when
students choose their own books, it will boost their reading ability.
Make sure you have an abundance of different genres and themes in your
classroom library from which students may choose.
Use technology to create an
e-book. Children
love technology, and there is nothing is better than using these tools to
get students to love reading. Download an app like Book Creator orebook
Magic and have students create their own works. Kids will love
sharing their books with their peers, and they can even share
their stories digitally.
Introduce students to a book
series. Whether students are into
adventures or fantasy novels, there is a book series for everyone.
All you have to do is find out what your students love and get them to read the
first selection. Once they get a taste of the set, they will definitely want to
keep reading to find out what happens next.
Allow students to dislike
books. Think of it like
Facebook—students can give a “thumbs up” if they like it or a “thumbs down” if
they don’t. This will also help you choose future class novels as well.
Helps students see the importance of reading. Sometimes just knowing the facts can encourage someone to see their world differently. For example, knowing that maintaining a healthy lifestyle may help us live a longer life can motivate us to make better life choices. Laying out the benefits of reading may be the best way to enhance appreciation and encourage students to pick up a book on their own.