| Occasionally a reluctant reader can read, but | | | | this simple strategy. Give each student a reading |
| chooses not to read. They are not interested in | | | | log to record each finished book. No times, parent |
| picking up a book. Reluctant readers never | | | | signatures, number of pages read, or |
| discovered the joy of reading. Perhaps they | | | | summaries...just books completed. You are going |
| associate reading with school work, or they are | | | | to have to trust your students (and yes, some |
| so wired with gadgets reading seems like a boring | | | | students will violate your trust). Each time your |
| activity. | | | | student finishes a book they record it on their |
| How do we motivate these kiddos to pick up a | | | | reading log. You must establish two requirements |
| book and read just for the sake of reading a | | | | up front: (1) Students must select books on their |
| great book? Let's explore a few ideas. | | | | independent reading level. (2) Students must |
| Create a "Joy of Reading" Environment | | | | record books they read on their own time |
| Let's begin by not attaching assignments to | | | | (assigned readings do not count). |
| everything our students read. We may need a | | | | Set a class goal for a number of books the class |
| grade, but our students need to value reading as | | | | will read as a whole. Fifty books is a good start. |
| an enjoyable activity. We want our students to | | | | Each Friday record on a visible chart the number |
| discover the mystery, adventure, suspense, | | | | of books students completed reading during the |
| horror, and joy of reading. Give your students | | | | week. Divide your class into groups using a |
| choices and opportunities to read for enjoyment. | | | | random grouping system. Give them ten minutes |
| Reading aloud is the most effective way to | | | | to take turns telling the group about the book |
| introduce a variety of genres to your students. | | | | they read. They should share what the book was |
| Select high interest books to read aloud. If time is | | | | about and whether they recommend it or not. |
| an issue, select "hot" passages from great books | | | | This is like a mini book talk. Positive peer pressure |
| to read aloud that will make your students | | | | works wonders on reluctant readers. |
| salivate for more. Read both fiction and nonfiction, | | | | Once the class reaches their goal hold a "reading |
| and most importantly, read dramatically. Your | | | | celebration." This event can be anything from a |
| students will tune you out if you sound as if you | | | | read-in to a guest reader visiting the classroom. |
| are droning on. Don't put your students to sleep ~ | | | | You might want to surprise your students with |
| wake them up! | | | | cookies or Popsicles. Keep it simple, but make it |
| Add Up the Books | | | | important. Set a new, higher goal, and begin again. |
| Get your students reading on their own time with | | | | |