Words matter. We all know this. And I’ve always been uncomfortable with the term “reluctant reader” for people who, for all kinds of reasons, do not want to read. Are we further discouraging people from learning about reading? Enjoying books is not a moral high ground, and not enjoying them is not a failing. But they can bring assorted advantages, as well as enjoyment; so we should be focusing on strategies to help people to build their reading skill.

So I was interested in this article from Book riot. You can read an excerpt below, and read the whole thing here.

Renaming “Reluctant Readers”

“Reluctant readers fall into two main categories: unwilling and unable. It’s important to recognize the distinct differences between these two. While “reluctant” does accurately describe both of them, the motivation and reasons for each have crucial differences.

Unwilling readers are people who don’t want to read for a variety of reasons. They could be bored by reading or by the subject matter about which they are being asked to read. Almost nothing is more unpleasant for a person with a still-developing brain than to sit still and focus on a task that is uninteresting to them. It’s possible that they weren’t given a choice of what to read. Being forced to read something, even if it might interest the reader once they got into it, is something a lot of people fight against. Maybe the person is a slow reader, and as a result, often feels left behind in a group classroom setting. Then they start to identify as someone who’s not good at reading and develop negative self-talk or self-perception around it.

Unable readers are people who struggle with key reading skills and reading endurance. People who have learning disabilities such as dyslexia, ADHD, or oral/written language disorder may be reluctant to read because it is more difficult for them. If these people find themselves in a classroom setting where it seems like all their peers don’t struggle, they are more apt to shut down and be defeated before even giving themselves the time they need to learn the necessary skills. Or they might be people who fundamentally have the skills they need to read but don’t have reading endurance. They read along in class, they read quick or interesting short stories or articles, but they start to wane when they have to sit and read material they consider difficult for extended periods of time.”

“So what do we call them then?

Great question. I don’t have a definitive answer, but I do have some suggestions and believe that people should be able to name or label themselves where they feel they fit best. Dr. Spencer’s “reading reluctantly” is at the top of the list.

One that I think “reluctant reader” was trying to mask is a reader who struggles. I’ve found that people who struggle with learning know they struggle. It’s not a surprise to them. They are able to look around at their peers and see places they have more difficulty than others. So why not call them readers who struggle, rather than reluctant readers? We are not shocking them by labeling them as readers who struggle. They already know. Calling something what it is, shouldn’t have a negative connotation. We need to get away from the idea that difficulties signal inadequacy. Another similar alternative, could be “slow reader.” This doesn’t have to be a negative label or signal an inadequacy. Instead, it can be a statement of fact. I am a slow reader. I don’t read as fast as what is considered normal or average. It’s a skill that can be measured.

Ideally, they could be called “careful readers” or “people who read carefully.”  These are people who take their time because they know they are prone to making mistakes. They are readers who stop occasionally to make connections or take notes. These readers don’t pick up books that are boring to them. They are careful in their selection in addition to their style of reading. Before starting, they choose a book carefully because they know they’ll be spending a lot of time with it, probably more than their peers. Once they start it, they take care with each page, each paragraph, and each sentence. These readers have to take more care in approaching a task that is challenging for them.

It’s time we reexamine the term “reluctant reader” because it is more problematic than it is helpful to those who bear that label. Instead, let’s give readers the opportunity to approach reading gently, carefully. Let’s provide these readers with the care that they need in order to thrive, fall in love with the right book for them, and read at their own pace.”

You can read the whole article here!