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The entries on this blog have focused on the importance of reading in education. Exposure to literature and the ideas contained therein is essential to the formation of a well-rounded individual. All of that is wonderful, but what if you have students who either dislike reading or have difficulty with it. ADHD, dyslexia, some forms of autism, and many other learning challenges can make reading a struggle. Others are simply not interested. What do you do in such cases? There are several practical ways to encourage and develop a love of reading.
Research backs up what any parent knows: children learn by example. Read in front of your children. Talk with others about the books you are reading. Parents who read for their own pleasure and communicate that experience by talking about the books they're reading are more likely to pique their children's interest.
Make books easily accessible. Begin building a family library. This will reinforce the value you place on reading. Make regular trips to the library so that there are new books in your home for your children to discover.
Make time for reading. Turning off the TV is one of the most important steps one can take in opening up space for reading. Limit time on the computer and playing video games. This may lead to boredom, not such a bad thing, and lead children to discovery reading for their own pleasure.
Read aloud as a family. This is essential. While many children think of reading as "boring" everyone loves a good story. Read aloud some of your childhood favorites. Once children are introduced to the joys of hearing good stories, it is often not long until they are wanting to discover good books for themselves. Reading aloud is also essential for developing good writing skills, even more so than reading silently to oneself!
Follow your children's interests. If your son dislikes reading but loves horses, read Marguerite Henry's lovely stories with him. Encourage your child's overactive imagination by introducing her to the wonderfully fantastical worlds of C. S. Lewis, Tolkien, Francis Hodgson Burnett, and Madeleine L'Engle. Show your children that books are one of the best ways to explore their interests.
Investigate the link between musical education and reading ability.
These are just a few practical suggestions and many people have found success in implementing some or all of these changes. If your child is still struggling, remember that all children develop at different speeds. We know children who took to reading immediately and for others it was slow process that took years. It may also be worth having your child tested for a learning disability. There are many tools and resources now available to help children with these challenges. Families have found help in therapeutic methods, teaching tools, even dietary changes! For a child who struggles with things that come easily to his friends or siblings, diagnosis can be a relief if it is presented in a supportive and encouraging manner.
I would love to hear from parents of reluctant readers! What have you done to encourage reading? How have you been successful? What challenges did you face?
I have one son who is very capable of reading well, but he just doesn't seem to enjoy it like my other kids. All my other children search constantly for the next good book they will read, but he only occasionally reads on his own. However, he loves anything outdoors and has enjoyed my husband's collection of Louis L'amour westerns. He also is a very auditory learner and loves our family read aloud time. I discovered several years ago that our library has many classics in audiobook form, which my son is very willing to listen to on his own.
ReplyDeleteYour post encourages me. But, also, I have a husband that does not think our son(8) is reading enough or is at the "right" level. Our son is very active and does not have a high interest in reading. Though I do have him read at least one or two pages of a reader and we do Queens Language arts and he does fine he just does not have an interest in reading chapter books. I have tried to find books that I would think he would be interested in reading but he will read a page or two and will not pick it up again. Danial Boone the rifleman is one of these --is this too advanced? Maybe I have not researched enough on what he should be reading. I have a friend that homeschools also and has a son 6months younger and reads profusely but, I know too these tow boys are completely different personalities. My son is never bored and our friend he would become bored and realized that reading would fill his boredom. I have tried reading Henry and Ribsey and the like thinking he would want to read it himself. No!!! I think I would be fine with where he is if his Dad was comfortable with where he is in reading.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. It's true, children develop at all different rates and you have an active eight-year-old boy on your hands. What a gift! Encourage your son's interest in the world around him. At this point that is the most important thing you can do. One thing that I should have written been more explicit about stating in the article is that a child will often develop his or her own interest in reading on their own timetable. Within families you will have siblings who develop begin reading independently at vastly different ages. You're doing a wonderful job of providing an atmosphere that encourages reading and exploration. If he is reading a couple pages at this point and enjoys listening to you read, that is enough. Being read aloud to is so important on so many developmental levels, so if he is happy to listen at this point, read away! One thing that is important is to not force too much reading on your son before he is ready. The purpose of reading aloud and encouraging reading is so that they can develop a love of self-led learning and discovery. If it's forced too early, it could backfire on you. So, take trips to the library, let him pick books he's interested in and read them to him. Or alternate reading a page aloud and having him read a page aloud. Encourage him with his reading assignments and give him time. He's still very young and right now he cares more about running around and exploring and that's wonderful! From everything in your comment, it sounds like you are doing a wonderful job of encouraging and teaching your son, keep up the good work.
DeleteThank you. I will settle back and watch him and enjoy. Read to him and get him to read his 1 or 2 pages. This is very encouraging to me. Thank you again
DeleteWhat to do if it's Mom who doesn't like to read...? :(
ReplyDeleteHi! Thanks for the comment. First, don't feel bad! It is never too late to develop an interest in reading. I think that formal education has made reading seem like a chore instead of an adventure, or a way of relaxing, or a way of getting to know yourself a little better. For millions of people, reading is something you only do if you have to but it can be so much more. I do believe that everyone enjoys a good story, and that is what books tell and if you can find the stories that interest you, you will be on your way to enjoyable reading. You may want to look at this task as a family adventure in discovering great stories. Start off easy - do not try to tackle the classics or some list of 100 books you have to read before you die. Those sorts of lists have their uses, but for a reading newbie, they can be discouraging and defeating. Make an effort to read aloud to your children - you'll be surprised at how interesting well-written young adult literature can be! Look for lists of great children's books and consult "Honey for A Child's Heart" and "For the Children's Sake" (http://bfbooksblog.blogspot.fr/2012/04/back-to-beginning-how-we-got-started.html). These two titles provide great lists of books that you can read aloud with your children. Developing a love of anything requires an investment of time. Great artists aren't just born, they study and work hard at their craft. And people who take to reading naturally also work at it. Even though it hasn't been your natural inclination to read for fun, it is a skill that you can invest time and energy in pursuing. I have always loved reading but there are times when it's much more appealing to surf the internet, watch a TV show, and just do something else. And I go through phases where I do not read great literature, or informative non-fiction. Sometimes I just want to escape into a spy novel or silly "chick lit" novel. And that's fine. Reading, just like anything, is something that has peaks and valleys.
DeleteIf you seek books on topics you find interesting, that is a stepping stone. Maybe fiction is not your thing and you are more interested in non-fiction, history, or biography. Check out the NYT bestsellers lists for inspiration. They list both fiction and non-fiction and you may find a title that sparks your interest. And ask your friends for suggestions - they know you and your interests and will probably be able to give you good recommendations. You may even consider joining a book club as that will give you an opportunity to discuss the books and make your reading social. Often times the beginnings of books are the most difficult parts to really "get into" and knowing that you have to finish the book will help you get past those initial stages and you may discover that once you're in the middle of a story, it's a lot more interesting.
Hi! I've been enjoying your blog and will be diving in to the Medievel-Intermediate/Jr. High curriculum in the fall. I can't wait! My child enjoys reading now and then but she has never been a child, like some I've seen, who walk around a store with her nose in a book. I almost always have to assign reading times.
ReplyDeleteI have a question I'm hoping you can help me with. This same child, a 12yr old girl,was just tested at a grade 18 reading level with an above 17 grade comprehension level. I'm shocked and not sure how to handle that. I certainly don't want to give her most of the high school, college level books to read due to the content but I would like to challenge her now and then. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you for any advice.
HI! What a great question. How do you continue to challenge advanced readers without giving them material beyond their maturity. There are many parents who face this challenge and usually, it is worth looking into whether or not the student is reading carefully. Many advanced readers are intuitive and can skillfully read at an advanced level but their retention may not be equal with their reading skill. It's encouraging that your daughter has a high comprehension level as well as this seems to indicate that her comprehension and her reading skill are nearly equal. I am wondering if she is able to recall what she's read and discuss points of plot, characterization, etc. with you. Can she discuss themes and relay events? If so, that's wonderful. If not, I would encourage her to read books at a slightly easier level and focus on really processing and reading them. This will make it easier to ensure she's reading age appropriate material and force her to slow down her reading a bit and focus more on content and not just simply reading through the material. I went through a stage like this when I was her age where I could read books that were far beyond my grade level but looking back I wasn't retaining as much as I should have!
DeleteIf this isn't a problem and you are simply wanting to challenge your daughter with more advanced level literature, try adding some of the classics. Anything by Jane Austen will be appropriate. These will more than likely challenge your daughter as the vocabulary is more advanced and the plot lines can be complicated. You can also check out Charlotte Mary Yonge, Sir Walter Scott (although his Victorian works can be infuriatingly flowery!), Charles Dickens, etc. These classics are complex but will not present themes above your daughter's age-maturity. I hope that helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Thank You!! That helps a lot. She is able to recall plot as she narrates but is not familiar with the literary termanology so we will work more on that. Do you have any suggestions for introducing them? I appreciate the advanced reading reccomendations as well. You have been a HUGE help! I appreciate the time you have taken.
DeleteHi, great to read your blog today.
ReplyDeleteI grew up hating to read. Even though my father was the author of over 70 books, I never read them. Today I write action-adventures & mysteries for readers 8 and up, especially boys. When I began a little over 10 years ago, it was with the hope of attracting reluctant readers like myself. Now kids tell me that reading one of them is like being in an exciting movie. The lines are shorter, there's lots of dialog and humor, and the pages have a lot of white space since the lines are spread farther apart than in most books for kids.
These links will give you more information, but please keep up the fight concerning reluctant readers. It's very important.
Max Elliot Anderson
Books for Boys Blog
http://booksandboys.blogspot.com
Author Web Site
http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/index_1.html
My Youtube Videos http://www.youtube.com/user/Maxbooks100
You might also want to know about Knowonder Magazine. They plan to relaunch in June. I've been writing several short stories that will be published there. The target ages are up to 10. Just look at Knowonder.com and watch for their relaunch.
ReplyDeleteBooks are the best and most popular sources of knowledge that we have today. Although there are other popular sources such as Internet, videos, and images, books are still popular. We were born with just a little knowledge but through reading books and socializing with other people around us, we learn new things. Learning always begins with interest, so we really need to be interested to absorb new things and information easier. It is also good to know that there are electronic books today which can be read through the use of devices such as tablet computers, laptops, kindles and other. Thank you for this informative article, keep it up! (SHARED TO SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITES)
ReplyDelete