10 Ways to Cultivate a Love of Reading in Students
When I was a classroom instructor, one of my primary goals was to instil in my students a lifelong passion for reading. I have always had a passion for reading, even as a little child. In the same way, I feel an equal need to instil a love of reading in my own child, which he does. I am well aware that I am on a mission, but I also am conscious that it is a mission that is important!
The following are 10 recommendations for ways that each teacher, no matter what subject they teach, can contribute in this objective, as well as ways that parents and administrators can assist.
1. Read. The very first step is easy! If we want to encourage reading among children, we need to set a good example ourselves. Read for the sake of entertainment, gaining knowledge or instruction, interacting with people, or any number of other reasons. Read. Read slightly more than you have been doing so recently if you can.
2. Discuss what you’ve read and what you’ve learned. Give copies to your coworkers, friends, and other students. Share with them what you have been reading, what you have acquired or learned from the literature you have been reading, as well as what you would recommend. I brought in the books I read, I read passages to them, I read during silent reading, I told them about how I couldn’t wait for the weekend so that I could read, about my book club arguments, the stories my husband and I read aloud to each other, and so on. As a teacher, I told my students very intentionally and very frequently what I was reading, where I read (“in the bath!”); I brought in the books I read, I read passages to them, I read during silent reading, Assist them in visualising the activities of a reader. Also, I just recently found out about Goodreads, a website where users can discuss books, obtain recommendations from other users, and read reviews that other users’ friends have written. I had a lot of fun on this website, and it brought to my mind how reading and socialising are two activities that go hand in hand very well. Find me on Goodreads if you’re already a member or decide to sign up. Tell me about the book you’re now reading if you don’t mind sharing. I’m also curious whether there’s something similar that can be used by children; does anybody know?
3. Encourage kids to interact with one another while reading. Book clubs, reading groups, and literature circles should be established. A significant number of students, particularly boys, require conversation with one another concerning texts. It makes a huge difference in their comprehension and also makes it a lot more pleasurable for them. Because adults are aware of this fact (we participate in book groups and spend hours on Goodreads), let’s make it possible for children to also have this experience.
4. Put together a reading competition. A lovely occasion in which the parents and school administration can take the lead in organising the details. My kid’s elementary school just finished up the school year with a Read-a-Thon, and for my son, it was the most exciting day of the year. The children were encouraged to bring their stuffed animals and pillows to school, as well as to reread one of their favourite novels or choose one that was designated as a “challenging book.” Snacks were provided by the parents, and the instructors and administrators read. In addition to having a good time and strengthening the community, they were successful in raising a lot of money.
5. Go on a school excursion. Reading can become a communal activity and a thrilling experience in yet another way. Pay a visit to the library in your town or neighbourhood, a university library, or a bookstore. It is not about borrowing or purchasing books; rather, it is about being surrounded by thousands of books, caressing their exquisite pages, seeing the realm of potential printed on the page, and drooling over all there is to learn and discover in the world. During the weekends, my family and I frequently go on excursions to visit a variety of bookstores located throughout the neighbourhood. We turn it into an adventure by discussing the characteristics of a “good bookshop,” and it ends up being a lot of fun. Another event that the faculty and staff at the school can support or encourage the parents to arrange is this one.
6. Spend some time listening to audio books. Play some excerpts for the students and invite them to listen to them. For my purposes, listening to books on tape is the same as reading. While you are not building abilities in decoding or fluency, you are absorbing vocabulary, employing methods for understanding, enjoying stories, and accumulating information. Reading the text of some books has not left as strong of an impression on me as listening to certain audio books has. My thoughts were unfettered, allowing me to picture the events in a way that would leave indelible impressions. (Richard Wright’s novel Native Son is a good example of this type of literature.) An fantastic one to listen to).
7. Host a talk by some of your favourite authors. Another event that the administration and the parents are able to help support. Hearing from an author (preferably one who comes from a similar background to the child’s own, if at all feasible) on the importance of reading and writing can have a significant impact on children.
8. Draw parallels between what you’re reading and other aspects of life. I have just finished reading this amazing article in Harper’s about how people in Mali buried their old sacred writings as Islamic militants took over Timbuktu. The article discusses how people in Mali concealed these texts as Islamic militants took control of the city. Reading and books have always been political activities (think banned books, prohibitions on slaves becoming literate, etc.). In order to foster a deeper appreciation for reading on the part of pupils, it is important to show them how reading fits into a broader cultural, political, and historical context.
9. Educate yourself on the special requirements of various groups. Those who are responsible for teaching literacy require further professional development in the area of how to assist specific vulnerable populations. Reading Don’t Fix No Chevys by Wilhelm and Smith is the one book that influenced the way that I taught reading to middle school students in a significant way. You have no choice but to read this book if you are a male educator. Teaching Reading to Black Adolescent Males, written by A. Tatum, was an additional book that had a significant impact on me. It is imperative that we cater to the requirements of all students.
10. Teach different approaches to reading. Last but not least, I think that reading instruction should be required of all teachers, regardless of the subject matter they teach. It is important for teachers to undergo professional development in reading instruction so that they are able to model effective reading practises for their pupils and teach them to others. If children are unable to read, they will not like the activity because no one enjoys doing anything that is challenging. At the same time as we are cultivating an attitude in them, we need to provide them with the abilities necessary to read.
Everyone in the school, from the principal to the classroom teacher, the janitor to the parent-teacher association, has a lot more that they can contribute. Although I have the want to make this list into a “20 things…” format, I will refrain from doing so in order to allow your participation.