Recent polls indicate that with the burgeoning entertainment available today and the ever-expanding world of media, fewer and fewer youths are reading literary works [or much of anything else, for that matter] . As an article in Reader's Digest indicates, our society is not illiterate, but rather aliterate...a community of people who CAN read but choose not to.
Modern educators must recognize the fact that many students feel very little need for reading. One goal, as educators, is to help pupils develop an interest in reading by helping them to relate reading to their own goals.
DO
Allow self-selection and offer books according to expressed interest level...not difficulty
Offer several books to choose from
Read portions of interesting books aloud to the class to spark interest
Set an example by reading while your students read, by reading to your students, by taking an interest in what they are reading, and by talking about books, magazines, etc. that you have read
Make a wide variety of books available in your classroom
Offer some instruction on how to use the library and its resources [see back article: "Library Skill-Building Scavenger Hunt"]
Realize that self-insight may not come spontaneously without guidance
Allow a child to put back a book [unfinished] if he still doesn't like it after the second chapter...allowing him to pick another that same day
Vary the types of presentations you will require, understanding the individual difference among pupils' verbal skills, artistic talents, etc. Ideally, offer several choices of acceptable projects. [see past article: "Something New Under the Sun for Book Reports"]
DON'T
Choose low level books for poor readers
Select a book for a child...only make suggestions
Expect stars on a chart to motivate a child to read
Designate books as "boys'" or "girls'"
Expect pupils to finish every book they select
Expect formal library usage instruction to suddenly motivate a student to want to read
Put too much stock in books for particular "mental ages"
Send a poor reader to the library to bring back a book...better, bring back a large selection of interesting books to choose from
Expect a student to want to develop fresh interests via reading...stick to topics that he/she is already enthused about
Require written and/or oral reports EVERY time...occasionally give students a "break" from having to report on the story...other times, allow them to make a shadow-box, a poster, or to come to school dressed as a character from one of the books they have read
Modern educators must recognize the fact that many students feel very little need for reading. One goal, as educators, is to help pupils develop an interest in reading by helping them to relate reading to their own goals.
Following are some "Do's" and "Don'ts" meant to serve as ideas to guide young and/or low-level readers into a lifelong love of literature:
Allow self-selection and offer books according to expressed interest level...not difficulty
Offer several books to choose from
Read portions of interesting books aloud to the class to spark interest
Set an example by reading while your students read, by reading to your students, by taking an interest in what they are reading, and by talking about books, magazines, etc. that you have read
Make a wide variety of books available in your classroom
Offer some instruction on how to use the library and its resources [see back article: "Library Skill-Building Scavenger Hunt"]
Realize that self-insight may not come spontaneously without guidance
Allow a child to put back a book [unfinished] if he still doesn't like it after the second chapter...allowing him to pick another that same day
Vary the types of presentations you will require, understanding the individual difference among pupils' verbal skills, artistic talents, etc. Ideally, offer several choices of acceptable projects. [see past article: "Something New Under the Sun for Book Reports"]
Choose low level books for poor readers
Select a book for a child...only make suggestions
Expect stars on a chart to motivate a child to read
Designate books as "boys'" or "girls'"
Expect pupils to finish every book they select
Expect formal library usage instruction to suddenly motivate a student to want to read
Put too much stock in books for particular "mental ages"
Send a poor reader to the library to bring back a book...better, bring back a large selection of interesting books to choose from
Expect a student to want to develop fresh interests via reading...stick to topics that he/she is already enthused about
Require written and/or oral reports EVERY time...occasionally give students a "break" from having to report on the story...other times, allow them to make a shadow-box, a poster, or to come to school dressed as a character from one of the books they have read
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