As adults, we need to think about what WE do as readers. Would we LIKE to read if we had to answer questions about everything we read? Would we LIKE to read if we had a test after every book? NO!! When do we like to read? When we read books or articles we WANT to read; when we can talk about what we read in social situations; when we read on our terms in a comfortable setting.
Well... kids are the same way! So here are my top 10 ways to get kids to LOVE to read:
10. MAKE THE READING EXPERIENCE COMFY COZY!
By setting up cozy little book nooks around your room, reading becomes a fun and relaxing experience...opposed to a boring or stressful one. Set up some areas around your room where students can get lost in a book. Also, comfy seating like bean bags also enhance the reading experience!
9. CHOOSE READ ALOUDS THAT YOUR STUDENTS WILL LOVE!
Picture books, chapter books, mentor texts--all of the books you read to your students should be relatable and enjoyable. Read alouds should be the highlight of the day! If kids don't even enjoy being read to, how could they ever want to read on their own?! Here are some of my students favorite read alouds. What are some of yours?! (POST IN THE COMMENTS!)
8. MYSTERY READERS
Make reading a community affair! When family members, community members, staff members, and even local celebrities come in to read their favorite books to the students, it makes reading an event... even a celebration! It brings back the joy of reading that many (but NOT all) students had when they were younger!
7. CUDDLE-UP-AND-READ DAY!
This is one of my FAVORITE days of the year... and we have it once a trimester! When each trimester ends, we have a special celebration called CUDDLE-UP-AND-READ DAY! This is a day devoted entirely to READING! The students bring in a BIG OL' STACK OF BOOKS along with pillows, stuffed animals, or blankies, and we spend the whole day reading. For fun! The students are SO excited for this day each trimester. They all cuddle up with their favorite books, eat some snacks, and relax. They see reading as a FUN experience. They see reading as something to look forward to!
6. 40 BOOK CHALLENGE
First of all, if you haven't read The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller, READ IT! It honestly changed my life as a reading teacher! Miller is the one who came up with the idea of a 40 book challenge. The concept is based around the idea of just getting kids to read... anything... and a LOT! If their goal is 40 books... chances are they will reach that goal. And if they don't reach that goal, chances are that they will reach...what?! At least half! That is still 20 books!! Think back on your years of teaching... there are years that I am not sure if all my students even read one book! But with this mindset... students are more apt to read a LOT... 40 books even!!!
CLICK HERE TO GO TO DONALYN MILLER'S SITE:
CLICK HERE FOR A FREE DOWNLOAD OF THIS 40 BOOK CHALLENGE STUDENT LOG:
5. CREATE A COMMUNITY OF READERS
Students should TALK ABOUT BOOKS! Not because we make them... because they WANT to! A reading community should be fostered so that students are eager to come to school each day to talk to their peers about the books that they read. How do you do this?! Get EXCITED about things like BOOK FAIRS and BOOK ORDERS! Come to school boasting about the latest book you have read. ASK STUDENTS WHAT BOOKS THEY WOULD SUGGEST! THEN READ THOSE BOOKS! Read what the students are into and start up conversations with them! Are your students asking to read with a friend?! SAY YES! ENCOURAGE PARTNER AND GROUP READING! Make reading be a SOCIAL ACTIVITY!!!
Show students that YOU love to read! Whenever you have a Cuddle-Up-and-Read Day or another extended period of reading, READ WITH THEM! No... not every time... of course we want to read with our students. But show students that we LOVE to read. Tell them about books you have read. Get excited about the books they are reading. Is there a series that is super popular?! Hunger Games? Divergent? Diary of a Wimpy Kid? Matched? Origami Yoda? Artemis Fowl? Harry Potter? Middle School Series? Etc.?! READ THEM! TALK ABOUT THEM! Not only will you be making READING seem cool... but you will also be making YOURSELF seem cool! :-D
3. TEACH STUDENTS TO PICK JUST-RIGHT BOOKS!
2. CLASSROOM LIBRARY!!!
Students need to understand that they need to pick books that are JUST RIGHT for them. It is okay that not everyone is reading the same book. It is BETTER that students aren't all reading the same book! Some people like fiction, some nonfiction, some read at higher levels, some lower levels, some students are reading to learn, some are reading for fun... they need to pick books that are just-right for their reading purpose, their interest, and books where they can comprehend and know most of the words. We use the I-PICK acronym from The Daily Five by The Sisters! We use their shoe analogy--which is AMAZING--to show that every student reading the same book is as fair as every student getting the same pair of shoes (same size, same style, same brand)! Click the image below to learn more!!
This is probably the component that has the BIGGEST impact on my students as readers! I truly value the notion of having the BEST classroom library as possible. I get all the newest books, all the student favorites, and constantly replenish my books. We tell the kids, "DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER!" But they do... WE ALL DO! I had The Sign of the Beaver in my classroom for years and NOBODY wanted to read it. Then, they came out with a new cover, and I bought it brand new... all the sudden, ALL MY KIDS WERE FIGHTING OVER IT! Sell your old books! Buy some new ones! Get the newest, coolest books you can! Why!? Because kids want to read those! And if you have books they WANT TO READ... guess what?! THEY WILL READ!!! Want to know what the kids want to read?! I have my kids put POST-ITS on my desk of books they want in the classroom! No, I don't buy them all... but when I am looking for some new books for my classroom, I take my student suggestions first. That way, I know people will want to read them!! :-)
1. GIVE STUDENTS CHOICE IN WHAT THEY READ & TIME TO ACTUALLY READ!
Studies show that students who READ MORE, read better! Just give students...especially elementary and middle school students... TIME to read! Time to read books that they WANT to read! Feel funny?! Feel like you are not doing enough "teaching"!? Release that! If you can't... pull kids up and read with them! They LOVE that! But ALWAYS be sure to set aside time EVERY DAY for student to just READ for the LOVE of READING!!!
What are some ways YOU get your kids to LOVE reading?! What are some of your students' favorite books?! Post below in the comments!!!
~Keep Calm & Branke Bunch On~
Great post! Good suggestions. I agree with you the covers of books must be appealing. Last year I had the spines facing out in my library & kids had to really search for a book that appealed to them. Took way too long & they wasted valuable reading time searching. THIS YEAR I am displaying my books in baskets with the covers facing out to make it easier for them to find a book. Can't wait to observe the difference this makes!
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