Session 35: How can / do we enable students to discover the joy of reading?

–Session Title:

How can / do we enable students to discover the joy of reading? Tips for success?

Session Summary:

[pullquote]I think it is important that staff model. Always have one of the books I’m reading in easy view and talk about it with kids. [/pullquote]Tonight, in honour of World Book Day and World Book Night the discussion was all about reading and promoting reading with students, parents and staff.

We had great contributions from teachers, librarians and education experts about strategies for engaging readers. Contributors also reflected on the use of different reading materials, encouraging people to read anything – books, magazines, manga comics – anything they wanted to.

Individuality was recognised, with students encouraged to read silently, in pairs or even collaboratively, whatever they preferred. Contributors also discussed that practitioners should lead by example; discussing their latest read in the classroom, assemblies or even just by carrying a book around in their bag. And the use of digital technology was touched on, with some teachers encouraging students to read blog or play games. In all a very positive and motivating session in honour of World Book Day.

Notable Tweets from the Session:

• Parents need to model the behaviour of enjoying regular reading, as with all other things! (@informed_edu)
• Never be seen without a book sticking out of your bag/in your hand. Talk about books all the time. Be a ‘mad’ enthusiast. (@SusanElkinJourn)
• Never never never ‘rubbish’ anything kids have enjoyed – even if you don’t reckon it much. (@SusanElkinJourn)
• We now have a few kindles which have really helped with reluctant readers. (@narthernlad)
• I sometimes ask kids to give me a paragraph describing the book they would write. then look for ‘books like mine’. (@teachingofsci)
• I do read a lot of teenage stuff so I can talk to the kids about it! And make recommendations, e.g Alison croggon from twilight (@hrogerson)
• We have literacy days where local people from all industries form a panel and are questioned by students on books, literacy… (@Sport_ed)
• Film or TV tie-ins often work well, graded readers can be a good starting point for leading on to the full-blown book (@ColinTGraham)
• Read up to a cliff hanger then just ‘happen’ to leave the book lying around – always worked with my class! (@JaneWoods3)
• I love audiobooks in class – they should hear other voices (@Joga5)
• We were asked to begin lessons today by sharing a favorite book. Read ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ to my classes. Awesome! (@Arakwai)
• Having the same book in different formats ( and using them side by side) changed the experience of reading into something fun (@playactivities)
• Take them to the public library and introduce them to its wonders, including the staff (while they still exist!) (@SusanElkinJourn)
• I find some children just don’t like novel style books & will happily read comics, text online, poetry & play scripts. (@ICTmagic)
• Run books evenings/sessions for parents & children. Try to persuade parents to understand their job as reading role models. (@SusanElkinJourn)
• Reading stories is vital, but ‘telling’ stories is just as important. It fosters creativity and imagination (@acevansIT)
• Can have kids/parents/grandparents reading events – lads night with chips & James Bond books, girlie ones with cupcakes & chicklit (@LibWithAttitude)
• *So* important to give a choice of books, e-books, magazines, comics etc so they know reading can be about what they want (@misshbond)
• Kids that don’t enjoy solo reading often love reading plays in groups , great ones from Rising Stars & others, social and engaging (@LibWithAttitude)
• I run a weekly lunch club for yr 7 and parents to come and read, paper, magazine, joke book, car manual whatever they like (@guernseylibrary)
• My class blog in school & at home & the kids love to read this in registration. Often put the feed on the whiteboard. (@ICTmagic)
• Short stories are a good way to re-introduce disaffected readers. Sometimes the length of longer stories is an instant obstacle (@te_ach_er)
• Reading together has huge benefits on the emotional development and relationships too (@dhulston)
• The power of role model is huge I have photos of staff ‘caught reading’ on Walls to library (@guernseylibrary)
• Sounds small, but am going to take a book in tomorrow and read at same time as children do (@TeacherTalks)
• Designing book jackets can be a way to get the more artistic to develop an interest in books. Also producing comics. (@doc_gnome)
• I once did a books version ‘desert island disc’ with my class which worked really well. The group had to agree on 10 books. (@ICTmagic)

Tweet of the Week:

#ukedchat I think it is important that staff model. always have one of the books i’m reading in easy view and talk about it with kids (@curricadvocate)
This is really key for me, modelling best practice. Many contributors mentioned this.

About your Host:

I’m a Skills for Life practitioner who also has a background in producing online learning content. At present I work with The Reading Agency @readingagency on their adult reading projects, support Skills for Life learners in the workplace and develop online learning content for Higher Education learners @succeedatsolent
I’m based in Southampton, but am a Cornish lass at heart.
You can follow me @mushychelle

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