Tag Archives: Reluctant Reader

Get them reading!

To be or not to be (Project 365: 24/365)
Read on!

Encouraging young reluctant readers is always a topic for thought and conversation, especially among librarians, or even just among parents that want to foster a love of reading in their children. As a new mom, I definitely fit into the second category! What can we do to help young people that can be hesitant to pickup books?

You can read this article or listen to the conversation from MPR News that tackles this challenge in a fun and informative way. See below for some of the tips included in the article, and keep in mind a common theme is persistence!

  • Show your kids you love reading, too!
    – Read in front of your kids, for your own enjoyment, and they will eventually take notice
  • Make sure books are always available
    – Books should always be visible and accessible, whether around the house or at frequent visits to the library or bookstore
  • Give audio books a try
    – They are great options for kids that have trouble concentrating or sitting in one place. They are also great additions to car rides and road trips!
  • Keep your judgement and expectations in check
    – Try to refrain from pushing books that may be too challenging, or critiquing a book choice that you may view as too easy. Allow kids to gain enjoyment from books, at their own pace.
  • And finally, my personal favorite, when in doubt, get out the Harry Potter!
    – Described as “a gateway drug,” in the article, the series “really allowed kids to fall into a world that was so cool. When you give it to a kid at the right time, it unlocks something for them.”

 

AASL Recommended App (Humanities & Arts) Newsela

newselaIn June 2016, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their 25 Best Apps for Teaching and Learning. The apps encourage qualities such as innovation and active participation, and are user-friendly.

Newsela is an app that provides news for students at their reading level. There are 5 different reading levels, from 2nd – 12th grade, and features a variety of content. The news sources are reputable and include the Guardian and The Associated Press, among others. Educators are able to track reading progress and each article comes with a quiz for comprehension.

Cost: Free
Level: Upper Elementary, Middle and High School
Platforms: iOS

This article from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute describes how Newsela can be very helpful in providing reading text that fulfills the Common Core State Standards.

Watch this video that details how to use Newsela in the classroom:

Reluctant Reader Post Event Wrap-up

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On December 6th, CMLE hosted the Reaching Reluctant Readers Event with author-librarian Patrick Jones, in St. Cloud, MN.  The purpose of this event was to continue to support literacy within the CMLE region by providing additional insight as to why some youth are reluctant to read, along with potential tips and tricks to engage patrons/users. Thirty people registered for this event, and attendees included librarians, media specialists and paras, college professors, principals, reading teachers, and even some college students. The passion and buzz in the room was contagious; the goal was simple. We all wanted tips and best practices about how  to encourage the joy and wonder of reading!

Patrick  is considered a state-wide expert on teen reluctant readers. He presented from the perspectives of a librarian  and as an author and offered fantastic suggestions that attendees could easily implement immediately.  Jones identified why some youth elect not to read (aliteracy) even if reading was modeled by reader example(s.)  He suggested that the act of reading can be perceived as a barrier to engaging with other youth. Some view reading as an anti-social, solitary and a sedentary act that poorly competes with today’s electronics. As an author, he talked about the physical appearance of books that tend to capture a reluctant reader’s attention; including larger fonts, extensive open space on each page and eye-catching covers. Jones also referred to the best writing style for this type of reader as straightforward, minimal characters and action packed. His concluding thought was to remind us that people who don’t read well sometimes actually fear books, which can feel foreign to us as avid readers. Jones reminded us that the main thing we need to do is to use strategies to reduce the fear!

As a take-away from this event, CMLE asked attendees  about their personal reading experience and discussed favorite reluctant reader books during a round table rally. Topping the list were Diary of a Wimpy Kid (series) by Jeff Kinney, Speak by Laurie H. Anderson and American Born Chinese by Gene Yang.

If you attended this event, what  was your favorite takeaway or “aha moment” ? Please share in the  comments field!

Best Books 2013: Graphic Novels

Tis the season-for lists! Over the next month, CMLE will highlight the “best of” 2013 books.

Image by sirexkat. Retrieved from Flickr. Used under Creative Commons' licensing.
Image by sirexkat. Retrieved from Flickr. Used under Creative Commons’ licensing.

This week, we would like to share the Library Journal’s list of top picks for graphic novels, published in 2013.  Graphic novels are a continuation of the popular superhero comics from the 1940’s and 50’s. According to Internet Public Library 2 (IPL2), one of the first novels recognized in this genre was, A Contract With God and Other Tenement Stories, published in 1978 by Will Eisner.

Packed full of dynamic illustrations, with minimal text, these quick reads are also resources for librarians/media specialists to engage reluctant readers. Additional information about graphic novels can be found online at http://tinyurl.com/6q6rjca.

Tip: A free webinar on graphic novels will be held on December 13th. Click here to learn more.

Reluctant Reader Event Deadline Approaching!

J-O-L-DDon’t forget to register for CMLE’s Reaching Reluctant Readers event in St. Cloud, next week Friday, December 6th!

 Registration Link

Tip: Invite the reading teachers at your school to attend!

If you are struggling to identify a favorite reluctant reader book- bring it with you the day of the event.