Engaging Students in Reading
The month of April is not only National Poetry Month, but also contains Library Week, International Children’s Book Day, Young Writer’s Day, and Drop Everything and Read Day. Teachers are constantly trying to get their students to improve their reading levels and to develop a love for reading, but sometimes it can be more difficult than just choosing a book to read as a class or assigning a book for students to read over the weekend.
There are countless benefits to reading, including mental stimulation, improved memory and analytical skills, improved focus and concentration, not to mention that it’s entertaining and educational at the same time. Yet many students end up thinking of reading as an assignment, or something that they have to do, instead of something that should be enjoyed.
During the month of April, how can teachers engage students in reading and help them develop a love for it?
The simplest answer is that giving students a choice when it comes to their reading will make them more excited to read. Reading ability and success is directly correlated to how they read recreationally, so in order for students to improve their reading, they simply have to read more.
Here are our favorite tips from TeachHub to motivate students to read more:
- Let students see you read: Encourage your students to love reading by reading yourself! While they are working on an assignment, read a book, and let them know what you think of it and how much you love it.
- Allow them to dislike books: It’s okay for students not to like certain books, just like they don’t like certain movies or music. Help them find their favorite genre and allow them to choose the books they read.
- Help them see the importance of books: Teach your students the benefits of reading and all they have to gain from it. By understanding these benefits, they will be encouraged to read on their own.
See the full list of ideas from TeachHub
How do you engage your students in reading?
