RELUCTANT READERS

Outline for the session

1. Reasons for reluctance to read and tips to get children reading.

2. Reluctant boys and tips to get them reading.3. Recommended books-have a look at some in school.4. How we tackle reading at school.5. Open discussion-what has worked for you?

There can be many reasons why a child doesn’t develop good literacy skills ‘first time round’. -Short attention spans, hyperactivity and simple reluctancecan stop kids picking up a book.-Low self-esteem can impact heavily on reading confidence.-EAL learners can find complex literary conventions confusing.-A home with no books or reading. If kids don’t see adults read, they don’t have positive reinforcement of the value of reading. Kids whose parents don’t read to them may find it harder to learn to read. This reinforces the idea that reading isn’t fun.

-A lack of reading role-models. Boys in particular may never have seen an adult of their own gender reading.-Disenchantment with ‘beginner’ books. Children with no book culture at home may not associate reading with story and pleasure. If they are limited to ‘at-level’ texts (e.g. Reading schemes), they may give up.-Competition from other media. Immature and inexperienced readers have to ‘work’ at books while games consoles etc offer instant gratification.-Book selection may be wrong. We often value ‘big books’ more than short ones and obsess over ‘progression’ and ‘quality’, meaning that children don’t get to pick what they want to read. Children’s books are also still quite white, middle-class and middle England, and so some kids may feel shut out(SMSC).-Dyslexia, which can make it hard to recognise and remember words and letters. -Irlen syndrome, where words and letters can seem to ‘jump around’.

RELUCTANT READERSTIPS

• Start with your child's picks. Comics or joke books may not be your first choice to boost literacy, but the reality is they can be very motivating. Kids will often amaze you with their ability to read something that they really want to read.

Don't worry that these texts may not be substantial enough. They can help kids understand some fundamentals, like how events take place in a sequence and how stories are laid out. They also help build vocabulary and show that books can be visually appealing. Once your child is comfortable with the experience of reading, you can encourage other literature selections with a variety of challenging content.

• Sometimes electronic books (e-books) can help get reluctant readers reading. When your son or daughter becomes interested in a book, regardless of the format, help make connections between the story and your child's own life. Start conversations that will build a love of reading and learning.

• Read and reread. Many kids reach for the same books over and over again. That's not only OK, it's a good thing! Through repetition, kids learn the text and eventually read it with ease and confidence. Each new reading of the book also may help them notice something new and understand the story a little better(talk for writing).And that positive experience can inspire kids to give new books a try.

• Read aloud. Reading aloud to your kids helps them build their vocabularies and introduces new concepts, facts, and ideas. You also show that you enjoy reading for fun, and help them connect sounds with letters on the page. Reading aloud provides together time that you'll all enjoy. And it doesn't have to end once kids get older — the comfort of a parent's voice and undivided attention is something kids never outgrow.

• Create opportunities to read and write beyond the pages. Provide kids with many chances to read every day. Write notes and leave them on your child's pillow, in a lunchbox, or in a pocket. Ask friends and relatives to send postcards, letters, e-mails, or text messages. Leave magnetic letters and words on the refrigerator, and you may find your child spontaneously creating words, sentences, and stories.

• On road trips or errands, play word games that strengthen language skills. You might try "I spy" ("I spy something that starts with an 'a' …") or games where you pick a category (like "food") and everyone has to name foods that begin with a certain letter. Kids often enjoy reading the signs they see while on the road (like those on restaurants and stores, plus road signs and billboards).

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TIPS FOR GETTING BOYS TO READ

• Research shows that boys are less likely to enjoy reading than girls. More boys than girls struggle with reading and writing at school and boys are more likely to say they don’t spend any time reading outside the classroom. • So what can we do to encourage boys to read and to

enjoy books?

• 1. Make reading activeBoys thrive on activity, so incorporate this into reading time.  Get your them to “act out” what they have read, and pretend to be book characters – you can join in too!  For younger children, after reading a book, draw the characters together, or even make puppets and put on a show.

• 2. Provide male reading role modelsMale role models are really important. Fathers, grandfathers, uncles and older brothers can all play their part by letting younger boys see them reading.  It doesn’t matter if it’s the newspaper, a book or a recipe. In copying reading behaviour boys will gain confidence and get to be great readers too.

• 3. It doesn’t have to be just booksReading is reading, no matter what it is.  Magazines and comics are a great way to encourage boys to read as they tend to be visual learners. Try visiting www.Comicmaster.Org.Uk to make your own!  Reading doesn’t have to mean just sitting down with a book; words are everywhere.  Use road signs, posters, television guides and shopping lists to get boys reading.

• 4. Give lots of praiseBoys thrive on praise and will love getting attention for positive behaviours!  When he is reading well, give him encouragement and be specific rather than general about the praise you are giving. If a boy can understand exactly what he has done to earn the praise he will learn more quickly.  Make it clear that if he makes a mistake reading he is not a failure – that’s the way you learn.

• 5. Use an interest as a hookIf there is a hobby or sport they like, find relevant fictional or non-fictional books that will appeal to him. Whether they like soldiers, nature, aeroplanes, pirates or motorbikes, go to the library together and look for books on the subject. Many boys enjoy football and you can see our recommended football books later.

• 6. Build regular reading time into the daySet aside a regular time to read with boys and listen to them reading. Ask younger boys to point out things in the pictures. Don’t stop reading with boys once they can read themselves, as boys can switch off from reading once they know the basics. Keep them interested by talking about the plot, asking who their favourite character is and what a different end to a story might be.

• 7. Experiment with genresEncourage boys to try out a variety of books and authors to see what suits their taste - fast-paced adventure, horror and science-fiction are often popular, as are fact-based books such as the Guinness Book of Records

RECOMMENDED BOOKS FOR RELUCTANT READERS

• HTTP://WWW.LOVEREADING4KIDS.CO.UK/GENRE/REL/RELUCTANT-READERS.HTML

• HTTP://WWW.BARRINGTONSTOKE.CO.UK/

• HTTP://WWW.COLLINS.CO.UK/CATEGORY/PRIMARY/LITERACY/COLLINS+BIG+CAT+PROGRESS

• HTTP://WWW.WORDSFORLIFE.ORG.UK/TOP-10-FOOTBALL-BOOKS

READING AT SCHOOL AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE

• Smidge reading dog• Well-resourced library and excellent librarian• Barrington stokes and high-low books• Kindles• Reading bus• Book week• Author visits• Guided reading• Book buddies• Most improved reader award-Pippa Goodhart award• Reading teacher• What I’m reading posters-teachers as readers• Big read and write Year 5• Talk for writing

Other initiatives under discussion• Reading champions in year 6• Boys zone in the library and boys reading club led by some

older boys or volunteer male• Male volunteer readers• Further recruitment of volunteer readers• Further investment into high-low books• Re-designing book areas outside the classrooms and using

recommended reads and rewards across the school

What has worked for you?