What to Do When Your Child Hates Reading

By Amy Mascott

Would your child rather empty the dishwasher or fold laundry instead of reading a book? Do you have to beg your child to sit down and read—for school or for pleasure? When you see other kids with their noses in books, do you wonder why you never see your own children doing the same? It’s hard to know how to react when your child hates reading, and even harder to figure out how to motivate children to read. Try these simple, but meaningful steps to help move your reluctant reader toward a book-filled future:

Zero in on the child’s interests. Before you do anything, take a step back and examine what interests, excites or intrigues your child. Knowing what interests him can help you pinpoint what types of texts he may enjoy reading.

Start small. Just because your child likes to ride horses doesn’t mean he needs to start by reading The A-Z History of Horseback Riding; that may be intimidating—especially for a reluctant reader. Instead, consider watching a horse race with your child. Talk about the jockeys, the scores, the owners and the trainers. The next day, read the box scores in the newspaper or watch a movie about horses, like Seabiscuit. Then, closely examine the box scores or find a short nonfiction article about a related topic, like the Triple Crown or famous jockeys like Red Pollard or George Woolf. An interactive, reliable, and safe resource online, such as American Experience: Seabiscuit, can also be an engaging and interesting bridge toward books for reluctant readers.If the topic of interest doesn’t lend itself to watching a related program or movie, start small by finding a magazine or graphic novel at the library that relates to the subject. Reading doesn’t need to begin with a chapter book; many other texts and various genres can be worthwhile for these readers.

Practice shared reading. Shared reading or reading as a collective experience could entail taking turns reading pages, sections or chapters, or you and your child silently reading the same book. Shared reading can vary depending on your child’s age and needs.Shared reading is an often-overlooked and underappreciated technique for engaging reluctant readers. Most kids really want to spend time with their parents, but once children reach seven or eight years old, many parents don’t view reading together as an option; they think that’s reserved for preschool or early elementary school days.
For the ideal shared reading experience, choose texts that are rich, engaging and sure to lead to discussion. Part of the “sharing” in shared reading involves talking about the book. Perhaps several of your child’s friends and their parents can start a book club where texts read through shared reading are discussed in a welcoming environment. If book groups are not an option, find a reliable, child-safe website where your child can post a review of that book or encourage him or her to start a book review journal.

Reluctant readers are often struggling readers, so creating safe, comfortable environments where fluent reading is modeled and where children are set up for success is key. Though there is definitely not an easy answer, with a little focus and direction, you can help give your child the reading boost he needs. It’s not magic, but every little step helps.

(from: http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/reading-language/reading-tips/what-to-do-when-your-child-hates-reading/)

5 Reasons Why Books Make the Best Christmas gifts

I recently found this article and thought this was perfect to share with all of my families who are wondering what to give their kids for Christmas...my own son, Konner, is going to be receiving the book: "Merry Christmas Stinky Face" by Lisa McCourt from Santa!

5 Reasons Why Books Make the Best Christmas Gifts!

It’s that time of year again.
Christmas.
Chanukah.
The Holidays.
That means one thing: The mad scramble for gifts.
Whether you’re shopping for loved ones, office mates, friends, or acquaintances, finding that perfect something for someone can be a nerve-wracking task.
It doesn’t have to be, though.
Here are five reasons why books make the best gifts for everyone on your list.

5. Books are inexpensive.

Sure, some books can be as much as $50, but for as little as $10, you can get the perfect gift for someone.

4. You can personalize the book you give.

What makes a book really special is that you can write an inscription in it. It makes the book that you get for someone all the more personal.

3. A book will last a lifetime.

A toy will eventually be discarded and a sweater will wear thin. A book, though, will forever grace the person’s bookshelf. Every time they refer to the book that you gave them, they’ll remember you.

2. You can literally do all your shopping in one place.

Whether you stay home and shop online or you venture outside your house to a bookstore, you can get your shopping done in one place — and probably in one trip.

1. There’s nothing to worry about when buying a book.

When you buy a book for someone, that’s it. Wrap it, set it under the tree, and then watch the smile on the person’s face as they see the book you bought for them. You don’t have to worry about getting the wrong size, forgetting batteries, or hoping you got their favorite color.

(from: http://www.kallistipublishing.com/5-reasons-why-books-make-the-best-christmas-gifts/)

Holiday Reading Magic

Launch your new reader on a holiday adventure!

Beginning readers are always proud to show off their skills. Let your little one shine like a Christmas candle with this great game.

If you wish, teach your emergent reader to recognize some special Christmas words, like Christmas, happy, holiday, tree, star, and so forth. Choose your words carefully if this is a difficult task; pick words of dramatically different sizes, shapes and beginning letters for maximum success.

Now, start searching for words your child knows how to recognize. Look in cards, newspapers, and on decorations. Check marquees when you are out and about. Watch signs and printed Christmas carols. Celebrate together each time you find a word your child can read. Keep a list and watch it grow for the next few weeks. Your child will be pleased and amazed at the number of words he or she already knows how to read, and big ones, too! Nothing boosts self-confidence quite like this simple activity.

 

The Magic of Christmas Music

Many people underestimate the power of music in reading. Beginning readers often feel encouraged and learn a lot from reading the words to familiar songs, and, since most people know Christmas songs, this is a great chance to take advantage of this phenomenon.

Find copies of the words to Christmas music that have the words broken into syllables for singing. By presenting the words in broken up form, you will help beginning readers to see patterns in syllabication and vowel sounds. They will begin to learn about how to attack larger, unfamiliar words.

Songs don't have to be sung, either. Try reading them as a group, or dividing the lines to turn them into choral readings. A few that tell stories can even be presented as plays or puppet shows! Have fun!

 

(from: http://www.squidoo.com/christmasreadingforkids)

Why books aren't the only things your child should be reading...

I'm a big advocate of students reading anything and everything that is appropriate for them.  Be that magazines, (like "Ranger Rick" or "National Geographic for Kids,") newspapers, (the comic section of the Journal Sentinel is a perfect resource-there are short phrases galore!) brochures for fun places to travel, or my husband's favorite: graphic novels.  Graphic novels are similiar to comic books, but often have more text on the page, and are formatted like a book.  Often times, reluctant or struggling readers enjoy graphic novels because they can put down a graphic novel at any time and pick it up without having to read long pages of text.

Recently, I came across one of my favorite things to read: other teachers' blogs.  On one of these blogs, I read an article entitled "Why Graphic Novels Belong in Classrooms."  Here is a short excerpt from that blog.

"Reading is a complex activity at any age. For young adults it's less about decoding the words and far more about making deeper meaning and connections; still no less complicated...graphic novels are less taxing to one's focus. A story setting can be taken in visually and doesn't need to be built within the mind, the way character expressions are drawn can make a muttering tone easily understood, and multiple characters are distinguishable and effortlessly categorized. The net result is that young readers...can push students into the deep end of the reading comprehension pool for longer periods of time. Students can focus more on themes and symbolism because the art has removed so many of the other potentially dangerous pitfalls to understanding."
(from readingteacherct.blogspot.com)

Some examples of wonderful graphic novels to read at home and to encourage your child to check out of the library include: