Ten Ways to Cultivate a Love of Reading In Students
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Some highlights from the article...Great to think about as we approach the summer days and prepare for the fall (or summer school days) ahead.
1. READ
"If we're going to encourage kids to read we need to do it too. Read for pleasure, information, instructions, connecting with others, and so on." I really like this suggestion, especially to show students how to implement reading into the breaks in their lives.
2. SHARE YOUR READING EXPERIENCES
"Share with colleagues, friends and students. Tell them what you've been reading, what you've gained or learned from these texts, what you recommend." Absolutely, create communities around reading, especially through social media. I've always imagined the possibility of reintroducing the world we were introduced to through Reading Rainbow into the activities of the classroom (even adjust it for each particular age level including much older kids).
RESOURCE: Good Reads goodreads.com
3. INVITE STUDENTS TO SOCIALIZE AROUND READING
"Set up book clubs, reading groups, literature circles. Many students need to interact with each other around texts." Agreed, especially when those clubs are consistent and connected to activities outside the classroom that engage parents and the community (libraries, book stores, etc.).
4. ORGANIZE A READ-A-THON
A very interesting suggestion, especially for raising funds around initiatives to further encourage reading in the community or to encourage students to become ambassadors of reading in school and the community.
5. TAKE A FIELD TRIP
"Visit your local library, a university library or a bookstore." On making reading social and exciting, I couldn't agree more! Especially for the possibilities for connecting their reading to landmarks, stories, and the history of their own community and important local figures.
6. LISTEN TO AUDIO BOOKS
"To me, audio books 'count' as reading." Absolutely! With as much as our students are plugged in and connected to their headphones, would be great for them to have more access to audio books. Or better yet working on summer projects where students can record audio books! What better way to enjoy an audio books read by someone you know or to even create reading recording activities that bring books to life through vocal acting.
RESOURCE: Native Son Audio Book AMAZON
7. INVITE AUTHORS TO SPEAK
Absolutely! Especially local writers or writers from the region!
8. MAKE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN READING AND OTHER ISSUES
"Help students see the wider, historical and political context of the importance of reading to enhance their appreciation." Couldn't agree more. I tried this in connecting our reading about Chess to building a Chess Club and am currently utilizing our reading of Hip Hop to create recording sessions of rap, spoken word, and singing. While we're connecting reading to after school activity, these activities are also connected to issues, local events, and culture.
9. LEARN ABOUT SPECIFIC NEEDS OR SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
"Those responsible for teaching literacy also need professional development in how to serve specific vulnerable populations." This made me think about more professional development in spaces throughout the school such as libraries, public libraries, community bookstores, and other spaces that would be great for reading. Just thinking about safe spaces or ideal spaces where reading can take place. Where reading can become an event as opposed to trying to read in spaces that are normally reserved for other activities in our lives that take us away from the concentration necessary to simply have the quiet and space to read.
10. TEACH READING STRATEGIES
"I believe that all teachers, in every content area, should be responsible for teaching reading...We must give them the skills to read at the same time that we cultivate an attitude." ...Amazing.
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