Sparking Joy in Reading
Books. We all have a different relationship with them. Some love them, some hate them, some wish they had more time for them. We all know that books are good for our kids, but what happens when our kids just aren’t interested in reading? Here are my top tips to encourage reading at home and in school.
Find reading material of interest.
Children are more likely to engage with anything that is of a topic of interest. Everyday in my class, I have some sort of independent reading time. In my early years of teaching, I taught in a rural, country school. I found that the boys in particular, we not interested in daily silent reading and found this part of the day extremely boring (leaving them prone to disruption). However, I managed to get my hands on a stack of tractor magazines. After this, the boys were racing into the class after lunch to get their chosen magazine and settle down to read. They weren’t necessarily able to read all of the words, but they were excited to read.
Find books that will make them laugh
Every year I read The Unbelievable Top Secret Diary of Pig by Emer Stamp to my class. It holds no educational value, nor is it linked directly to our curriculum. So why bother? I read it because it is hilarious. I put on a funny voice for all of the different characters and embrace the silly humour, with the book talking about ‘farts’ and ‘poos’ throughout. This leaves the children laughing out loud, looking forward to the next chapter. I’ve lost count of the number of parents who have told me that their child never reads at home but has asked for this series of books to be bought for them. Finding time to read ‘silly’ books to my class, has taught them a valuable lesson - that books can be just as exciting and funny as any Netflix series.
Give the children choice in what they read.
When I first began teaching in Key Stage 2, I hated teaching reading. Getting the children into a group, constantly reminding the rest of the class to be quiet, going around the circle to listen to each child read, asking them questions about the book (only to discover that they didn’t do their reading homework the night before). It was rarely a positive experience and only made reading feel like a chore. Introducing Accelerated Reader in our school was a game changer. You may have heard of Accelerated Reader in your child’s school, it’s become very popular. Accelerated Reader is a programme that allows the children to choose a book that is at an appropriate level for their ability. The key is that the children choose their own book. They are in charge of what they read (within the boundaries of their level) and this gives them a sense of ownership. Children are more likely to enjoy books which they have chosen to read, rather that being handed a dusty old book, which is likely to be older that their parents. At home, I try to take my son to the library regularly. It can be tempting to pick books which I think look good, but I try to take a step back and let him choose what he wants to read. Most libraries host different events and clubs to engage children and encourage a love of reading.
Intertwine reading into your routine.
In our house, we read the homework reading books every night a tea time. Then at bedtime, we read two stories before lights out. This is a chance for our little one to choose his own book that he wants to enjoy with either of us. Having this woven into our routine, means it can’t be missed. We won’t ‘forget’ to do it, because it’s become a habit. Something to look forward to at the end of a busy day, setting a pattern for years to come.
Occasionally listen to audiobooks.
I enjoy books, but I don’t have an abundance of time to read them. So a few years ago, I took out a subscription to Audible. This allows me to listen to books when I’m walking the dog, ironing or driving. I had gathered up a few credits and decided to use a few on audiobooks for my little one. These have been invaluable. Although he is not physically seeing the words and developing any decoding skills, he is being drawn into stories for pure enjoyment. He’s also developing his listening, attention and concentration skills. He’s excited about listening to his stories and is eager to browse the digital library.
Reading is a necessary skill that is required in almost every aspect of modern life. We need to show children, while they are young, that reading is not a boring chore, only associated with school. I’m not suggesting we throw away the high frequency word cards and guided reading books - these have a very important role in developing the necessary skills required to decode and understand a text. However, what must go hand in hand with the necessary skill-building, is an opportunity to spark the joy that can come from a good book.