The+Reluctant+Reader

= The Reluctant Reader = By Suzanne McCandless From my experience in teaching reading to elementary and intermediate grade students, I know the readers who stand out. There are those students who struggle to acquire reading skills, may have learned to feel inadequate or incompetent and will demonstrate a lack of interest toward reading activity. Then there are high ability level students, who appear bored with reading. Both groups are known as reluctant readers.

These students run the risk of missing out on the many benefits that reading provides. We need to consider the ways they can be reached in order to get books into their hands! An area that parents and educators may want to first consider looking at is school achievement data. Results show student strengths and weaknesses in core subjects such as history, science, math and reading. Another consideration is to observe and make note of students’ various unique learning styles. Are they auditory or visual learners? Consider also looking into multiple intelligences for assistance in identifying student learning modes. In addition, a reading interest inventory, usually designed by teachers, can help tailor information regarding student preferences in reading.

With background information, parents and teachers can proceed in guiding students to explore and discover the type of reading they might find interesting. Some students will prefer non-fiction books over fiction books, newspapers, magazines, audio books or e-readers. In any case, reading genres and platforms in all of their various forms, must be exposed to students through instructional guidance and activities. Reluctant readers need books that //appeal// to them. They need frequent opportunities to browse and select from a rich variety of options.

The results we are aiming for are students who have found books with characters, settings and story lines that they can connect and relate to; or books that are factual, that feed their curiosity for acquiring knowledge. In either case, our goal is ultimately to have all students experiencing reading as a means to more fully understand themselves and to interpret or support their worldview.


 * Resources for Parents and Educators **

The following resources offer further information in identifying methods to reach reluctant readers and providing appropriate books written specifically for reaching the reluctant reader. [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []

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