While there are numerous technologies out there that can support parents and educators working with students, perhaps one of the richest is the iPad. It offers dozens of applications designed to meet the needs of a child with a reading disability and beginning readers alike.
Check out Teacherswithapp’s list of 50 great iPad apps to help students with reading, writing, and spelling, but also get a boost in confidence and learn to see school as fun!
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!
Don’t forget to register for CMLE’s Reaching Reluctant Readers event in St. Cloud, next week Friday, December 6th!
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.
CMLE is excited to offer our first reluctant reader event next month! In September, CMLE talked about reluctant readers in a popular post titled, Books & Boys. Then after attending this year’s MLA conference session with Patrick Jones in October, we knew our region would benefit from his message.
This Minneapolis based author, and former librarian, specializes in reaching reluctant readers and teens. As an American Library Association/Scholastic Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Jones will identify leading causes as to why young readers disengage. During this event, he will provide a framework to help us understand what reluctant readers look for including, tempting plot lines, enticing characters and specific book design elements. Jones will leave participants with best practices to recapture a reluctant reader(s.) We hope you can join us!
Event: Reaching Reluctant Readers
Date: December 6th, 2013
Time: 1:00-4:00 P.M.
Location: Stearns History Museum
Registration: Link (light refreshments will be made available)
Note: We are asking attendees to bring at least one, time honored and tested reluctant reader book to this event. When registering, you will be asked for the title (s) and author (s) of at least one book, but, the form will accommodate up to three of your favorite picks. CMLE would like to compile a list of these books to share as a takeaway from this event! Time will be allotted for Patrick to sign copies of his book.
Last month, I blogged about my son who had become disengaged with reading in a post titled, Books & Boys. So, at this year’s MLA conference when I saw they were hosting a session titled: Reaching the Reluctant Teen Reader: From Creation to Circulation, I knew immediately that I wanted to attend. Because of the popularity of this session, I thought our readers would also find this information helpful. Here are my session notes.
This session was a structured panel discussion with an author, librarian (public) and editor. First the panelists talked about why some teens aren’t reading which included the following;
Another important conversation that occurred was the identification of books struggling readers might be more prone to read. The physical appearance of these books are generally catchy, action oriented, with larger print and greater amounts of white spaces on each page. In terms of fiction books, reluctant readers have a tendency to gravitate toward books that they can relate to, with a touches of humor, action rather than descriptive text, with limited but well defined characters. The panel also suggested ways in which librarians can help get books in the hands of reluctant readers through displays, shelving “quick reads” together, posting student book reviews, hosting book talks, taking the library (on the go) out into the community, and developing efficient electronic assess to books.
As a result of this session, CMLE would like to bring a reluctant reader event to our area. Watch for it in upcoming events with CMLE this December!