Reply to Vent - Instilling a love of reading

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I am an English teacher. There’s ways to try and encourage kids to read but they aren’t foolproof. Some people just don’t like it and with kids now, you are competing with the instant gratification of screens. If something is boring, they scroll or move on. It’s hard to convince them to invest in a long story. That being said:

-simply reading in front of them and talking about what you’re reading helps 
-offering tons and tons of books and LETTING THEM CHOOSE. Were you just picking Dr seuss and reading it before bed all those years? That could be part of the problem. 
-mandatory reading time and associated writing assignments at home is killing any possible love they might have for it. [b]You’ve made it work and unintentionally completely sabotaged your own plan to get them to want to read.[/b] [/quote]
This is OP, and I want to clarify myself.  I spent years NOT making them read, just hoping that doing these other things but not making it a chore would instill this love of reading.  Both kids would test on the low end of on grade level or slightly below, depending on when they were tested.  They are being raised in a book-heavy middle class home that values books and reading.  This year I decided that I'm done with trying to instill the love of reading.  When kids are below in math, no one says not to make them do math because it will destroy their love of math.  Instead, they get tutors and more math practice!  Reading has benefits even if you don't enjoy it for pleasure.  Increases vocabulary, helps with all other subjects, helps with standardized tests.  They still get to choose the book, but I make them put in the 20 minutes a day.  One is now reading solidly at grade level and the younger is slightly above.  (I do choose the book I read at night - which is an activity they enjoy - but I'm good at choosing books they like).

We do not have a completely screen free home.  That probably would have helped, but I don't want to be completely screen free myself.  They have screen limits and when not on screens, one chooses basketball and the other likes playing with toys.  They are only 9 & 11, so I guess there is still time for them to decide they like to read, but I'm not waiting for it.[/quote]

Maybe try just telling them “we are all going to read each day.” Don’t tell them 20 minutes. That puts a cap in their mind: I only have to get through 20 minutes. Without requirements they just might read longer some days. Other day shorter but hopefully it evens out. Are you reading when they do? You ought to be. You’re missing enjoying a book and validating that reading IS worth taking time out of your day or not doing other things for awhile. If you’re puttering around cleaning while they read you are co crying the message reading is something you have to do but it’s not worth my time. When I have my kids read at school, I sit right there and read a book too and then talk about my book and ask questions about theirs.

What books do they have to read? Are you allowing them complete freedom and choice? Different mediums? Graphic novels, picture books, etc? Don’t underestimate the value of those and the value of total choice. [/quote]
This is OP, and you know what, I have not tried not putting a cap on their time.  You make a really good point regarding that.  It might be too late -- right now they ask how much longer is left.  I'll see what I can do about removing the 'cap' idea from our mindset.  I do worry that it will lead to just a few minutes every day but I'll see.  I do usually read with them (and that's not my only time to read in front of them) and I do allow them complete freedom of choice.[/quote]

Okay, you’re on the right track. Again, some kids will never love it, but you’re doing good things to try and foster it. My next suggestion is to try to push their stamina by asking what happened and then stuff like “well what do you think will happen next?” Or help them see how it connects to other parts of their world- “oh that’s just like the time you ____” or “isn’t that a lot like [movie/game they like]?” Talking about books can help a lot and take away that perception of “I do this alone as some sort of punishment or requirement.” I try to teach my kids that reading isn’t about answering multiple choice questions or learning vocabulary. It’s about understanding themselves and their worlds better, or getting a joke or reference someone makes because they have that background info. Or winning an argument, because you came with facts. [/quote]

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