Strategies for engaging the Strategies for engaging the reluctant readerreluctant reader

Jodie GiardinoJodie Giardino

Aliterate: a person who can read but Aliterate: a person who can read but chooses not to readchooses not to read

Dormant readers: like to read, but don’t Dormant readers: like to read, but don’t often make time to do itoften make time to do it

Uncommitted readers: don’t like to read, but Uncommitted readers: don’t like to read, but say they may read in the futuresay they may read in the future

Unmotivated readers: don’t like to read, and Unmotivated readers: don’t like to read, and don’t ever expect that to changedon’t ever expect that to change

Why are these students reluctant to Why are these students reluctant to read?read?

Many students are lost after grade 4Many students are lost after grade 4

Textbooks are too difficult for studentsTextbooks are too difficult for students

Students become accustomed to failureStudents become accustomed to failure

Students have no “voice” in reading choicesStudents have no “voice” in reading choices

Teachers create a risk-free Teachers create a risk-free environmentenvironment

Make a guessMake a guess model guessing informationmodel guessing information

Allow doodlingAllow doodling allow students to “doodle” as they are readingallow students to “doodle” as they are reading

Allow talkingAllow talkingallow students to discuss their thoughts in order to understand their allow students to discuss their thoughts in order to understand their thoughtsthoughts

Get “lost” in a bookGet “lost” in a bookallow students to see you get lost in a good bookallow students to see you get lost in a good book

Make our goal to get kids readingMake our goal to get kids reading

Use writing that interests students to get Use writing that interests students to get them to readthem to read

NewspapersNewspapers MagazinesMagazines Graphic NovelsGraphic Novels Read aloudsRead alouds MusicMusic

Sports LiteratureSports Literature North Carolina alternative school North Carolina alternative school

experimented with using sports literatureexperimented with using sports literature

(newspaper, magazine articles)(newspaper, magazine articles)

Found that sportsFound that sports literature provided literature provided effective means for changing negative effective means for changing negative attitudes toward readingattitudes toward reading

Sports-themed units could grab the Sports-themed units could grab the reluctant readers who would be interested reluctant readers who would be interested

Graphic NovelsGraphic Novels

Exciting, book-length Exciting, book-length comics that tell a storycomics that tell a story

Teens are comfortable Teens are comfortable with the format of these with the format of these books due to daily books due to daily technologytechnology

Topics available include Topics available include Holocaust, Judaism, Holocaust, Judaism, Women’s History, War and Women’s History, War and othersothers

Critics argue that graphic Critics argue that graphic novels aren’t literary. novels aren’t literary.

Advocates argue that Advocates argue that these novels will reach these novels will reach readers who otherwise readers who otherwise wouldn’t be reachedwouldn’t be reached

Read AloudsRead Alouds

Stories should: Stories should:

1.1. Be interesting for Be interesting for teacher and studentteacher and student

2.2. Stimulate discussionStimulate discussion

3.3. Require 15-30 Require 15-30 minutes to readminutes to read

4.4. Lead to additional Lead to additional readingsreadings

Students enjoy having a teacher read to them.

Nonfiction Read AloudsNonfiction Read Alouds

Nonfiction read alouds may appeal to Nonfiction read alouds may appeal to reluctant male readersreluctant male readers

Readers Digest Great LivesReaders Digest Great Lives Newspaper articles about teensNewspaper articles about teens Sports related materials such as Sports Sports related materials such as Sports

IllustratedIllustrated

Music Music Music is appealing to studentsMusic is appealing to students

Musicians have written picture booksMusicians have written picture books– Find books that match interests of studentsFind books that match interests of students

– Mood music: play different types of music to Mood music: play different types of music to create a certain mood or to set the tone of a create a certain mood or to set the tone of a storystory

– Supplement readings with musicSupplement readings with music

““Let me call you sweetheart” Let me call you sweetheart”

In order to better prepare our students, In order to better prepare our students, we must re-think the way that the we must re-think the way that the

teaching of reading occurs.teaching of reading occurs.