Getting students excited about reading can be a challenge, especially in this electronic age when kids would rather text, chat, and listen to music than pick up a book. So, how do you promote reading in your school in ways that kids can relate to? Here are 5 easy ideas to try.
1. Reading Events
Host reading events to get your students excited about books. School-wide Read-a-thons are traditional favorites. For a fun twist, try a Reading Carnival where every booth is reading-focused. Hand out reading award ribbons or reading medallions as prizes. A Family Reading Night or story time is also a great idea. Transform your gym or classroom into a reading den with beanbag chairs, cushions, and plenty of books. Encourage families and kids to bring their favorite books (or choose some that you provide) and spend some time reading with each other.
2. Start a School Book Club
Book clubs are popular in the adult world; why should kids miss out on all the fun? Starting your own school-wide book club is a great way to get kids excited about reading. To accommodate all the ages in your school, you may want to divide your book club up by grade level (or by a couple of grade levels). Let the kids name their book clubs and get them involved in choosing which books to read. Choose one day a month to meet and discuss each book. Kids will love offering their insights and will be eager to read more.
3. Offer Options
Kids won’t read if they don’t enjoy it. Be sure all your classrooms or media centers are stocked with books on a variety of topics and appropriate for a variety of reading levels. And don’t limit the options to just paper books. Be sure to include e-books and audio books, too, to keep all your little readers engaged and motivated.
4. Keep it Interactive
When kids interact with the stories they read, they retain the information better, and they have more fun, which means they’ll want to keep reading. Hand out reading pencils to your kids and have them keep journals about books they read, or have them write and illustrate their own books. For a fun twist, divide kids into groups and assign each group a book or play to read. Then, have them act out their favorite scene from the story.
5. Set Goals and Track Progress
Kids are more likely to read if they can see the progress they’ve made. Set school-wide reading goals, hang tracking tools in common areas and chart progress by classroom, so kids and parents can see how far they have come. Recognize participation and achievement with reading certificates and award pins.
Show your kids how much fun reading can be with fresh, fun, easy and relevant reading ideas like these.
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