Motivating Reluctant Readers

Thinking back, I don’t remember much about learning to read, however I do have many
memories that include me having a book in my hand. I remember reading with my
parents, other family members, reading throughout elementary school, going to the
local library during the summertime, and I remember reading on the beach as I grew
older. Luckily for me, reading was something that I was always interested in doing and
something that I still love to do today, especially with my own language arts students.
This love of reading is something that doesn’t always come naturally or easily to
everyone. Learning to read can be an intimidating task, especially if reading does not
come as easily to a student as it may to another. Students may become shy, reserved,
or reluctant to read when they lack confidence in their reading skills.
Reluctant readers can also been seen at many different ages. English Language
Learners or students who have difficulty with their speech, may lack this confidence
that other readers have developed over time. Besides these challenges, maintaining
student’s general interest in reading over time can also be difficult. The following four
suggestions can help motivate reluctant readers and help them acquire more interest in
reading!
1. Get Creative: To motivate reluctant readers I have found that it helps to get
creative. Creating reading games or challenges can help get the students more
interested in participating in reading. Reading books from different genres or reading
your way through a bingo card can help students see reading as more fun overall.
Reading, just like anything else, gets better with practice and dedication. Games will
increase practice and hopefully, over time, increase student’s general interest in
reading.
2. Give Choice: This is sometimes difficult when working with school curriculums and
the different ages of students, but allowing students to choose which book they read
can make a world of difference. When students are interested in what they are reading,
the motivation is naturally there. Creating book clubs or developing literature circles
based on these interests can promote more natural participation. When working with
literature circles or book clubs, assigning students roles can also increase their interest.
Whether students are looking for context clues or certain vocabulary words, they will
feel like they have an additional purpose for their reading.
3. Get Comfortable: Creating a comfortable reading area can help get students relate
reading to a positive comfortable space. I still like to get comfortable before I settle
down with a good book. I can even still remember the reading center my third grade
teacher had created. She turned part of her classroom into a bookshelf covered corner
with comfortable pillows and seating. She referred to it as the “Book Nook”.
4. Think Ahead: Today, a lot of novels have already been turned into movies. Talking
with your students about these movies can help get them more excited for their
reading. After reading the book or novel, students can compare and contrast what they
have read versus what they have seen through the movie. Nine times out of ten, my
students say that the book is always better (and I agree)!
Depending on the age of the readers and the books they are currently interested in,
there may be a fun culminating activity that the students can learn from at the end of
their reading. For example, if younger students are reading Dr. Seuss books, at the end
of their reading, they could create, describe, and learn from making Oobleck from
Bartholemew and the Oobleck. A hands on activity can help connect them to their
reading experience.
These suggestions can help get you started in motivating your students to read every
day! You know your students the best and once you figure out their interests, you can
incorporate these interests into some of these strategies and suggestions.