Engaging Children to be Readers — The Importance of Independent Reading— Part 8

“Practice makes permanent” — Bobby Robson

Yesterday I discussed how important focus and stamina are and how that equates to practice. If you want to improve at anything you have to practice! There is a saying, practice makes perfect. I like this adaptation much better, practice makes permanence. Trying to achieve perfection is an unattainable goal and we should not be sending that message to students. However, practicing to make something permanent is definitely achievable. It equates to muscle memory. That’s why it is so important to practice things correctly as opposed to incorrectly.

Stephen Krashen (2004) found that students’ reading achievement correlates with success in school and the amount of independent reading they do. The volume of reading students do on their own is the single biggest determinant of their literacy achievement. As with learning to do anything, the more time spent practicing the better you will get. As I mentioned in a previous post, 10–15 minutes of reading a night yields approximately a million words a year. If you stop and think about that, one million new words a year expands a child's vocabulary and understanding of the world around them. Without that vocabulary development a child’s world and environment becomes very limiting.

For a child that likes to read this isn’t a problem. However, what about a child that doesn’t like to read? This can be a struggling reader or a proficient reader. Once in a while you will encounter a child that is a proficient reader but doesn’t like to read. This child is what I call the uninterested reader. This was me as a child. I remember going to the school library and seeing all those books and wanting so much to find something that ignited a passion or interest in me but it just never happened. So the question becomes, how do you encourage an uninterested or struggling reader to pick up a book everyday and engage in meaningful reading? Telling them that it’s important and good for them isn’t enough. You’ve got to find a way to engage them. Here’s a message I got from a teacher recently that I haven’t worked with for close to twenty years. Hey Mary, long time no chat. I was looking for a reading resource and thought of you right away. I have a student who really lacks confidence in reading, he has a lot of negative self talk and needs some new motivation. Got any ideas on go to resource I could get my hands on? Thanks for the help! This was a note about a 4th grade boy.

I believe helping a child overcome a negative or defeatist attitude about reading takes time and intentionality. It’s important to engage with the child over time to start building their confidence. I have had the most success when I took the time to build a relationship with the child and find out about their interests, but it doesn’t end their. The next step is to physically help the child locate possible books of interest. Many children need help learning how to select a “just right book.” I know for me as a child I felt helpless knowing how to help myself and find books I liked. I was a very shy child and asking for help was paralyzing for me. Once the book or books are selected don’t just send the child off to read by themselves. The next step is to physically sit down with the child as they start reading. Listen to them read and then ask them what they think? Do they like the book? Do they want to keep reading or try something else? But be careful, some children will never land on a book and engage. A good tip is to have a student select three books and tell them they have to pick one to read. This sets the expectation and sends the message that they have to pick something and read. Then you have to keep connecting with the child and checking in on how they are doing. Don’t abandon them. If they feel supported they will persevere and eventually start picking up books on their own. That’s the ultimate goal — a lifelong reader!

Please take a moment to click this link and share your information with me. I would LOVE to hear from you.

“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”

― Frederick Douglass

The joy is in the journey!

Blessings and Peace,,

Mary