Reluctant Readers

So, you have a reluctant reader…?

(based on Alice Visser, King Alfred’s Academy Literacy Coordinator) 

Reading independently is possibly the single-most important activity your child can do to improve achievement in school. Research shows that reading helps cognitive development and is the best way to improve vocabulary, essential for success in every subject. 

Reading also has social and emotional benefits. It increases self-esteem and studies show that students who read are more empathetic. Growing up is tough -- reading can help young people explore complex problems from the safe fictional world of a book.  

The problem, of course, is convincing young people of the importance and joy of reading. 

Here are some tactics that you may try: 

• Find books with a connection to something they love. 

  1. 1. 1. If they are football fans, look for fiction like Ultimate Football Heroes or Tom Palmer’s books: https://tompalmer.co.uk/. 

        2. If they like military/action/war, try any of Alan Gratz’s books (Allies, Grenade, Ground Zero). I

        3. f they are into gaming, try fast-paced chapter books or ‘choose your own adventure’ stories. Try visiting Scottish Book Trust website for ideas. 

        4. Graphic novels are wonderful for reluctant readers. For ideas visit: https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/secondary-ks3-ks4-reading-lists/graphic-novels-for-young-adults-aged-12-16-in-ks3-ks4/  

        5. Try Barrington Stoke books: these are produced with tinted pages, special fonts and additional spacing, plus are edited to reduce reading barriers, and they foster success as they are age-appropriate quick reads. We have a huge selection of these in the library. https://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/.  

        6. Try audio books: The Library has free, downloadable audio books through Libby app plus Audible has a wide range of teen books. Many teens like the idea of being able to do something active while listening to a book. By listening to an audio book, your teen will pick up new vocabulary, hear complex sentence structures and engage with stories. You might also listen to audio books as a family as sharing a story together is a fabulous way to bond 

• Use Accelerated Reader programme for S1-S2 pupils to support your child: can they get to 100,000 words read? Or can they read and quiz on 15 short books? It can be motivating to work towards a target and then celebrate its achievement. 

• Try a ‘phone free’ hour, or use a timer/concentration App. Research shows that the average concentration span for a 12 year old is 19 seconds, and the main culprit for reduced concentration is phones. 

• Be enthusiastic about what they are reading: Ask them to describe a character or to read aloud an exciting bit. You might read a teen/YA book yourself; the plot-driven nature of many of these books means they are relatively easy reads – perfect after a day at work.  

• Children can also read to pets, for example for 10 minutes. 

• If you have younger children, ask your older (reluctant reader) child to read aloud to them. This is confidence booster and it helps with sibling bonding. Michael Morpurgo is a good, shared read. 

• Continue to read aloud to your children. You might read until you get to a cliff-hanger in the story, and then say you need to do something urgent but they can read on… 

• Offer incentives

• Another idea is to find the book version of a movie: Stormbreaker, Eragon, Harry Potter, The Book Thief, I am Number Four, The Princess Diaries, The Chronicles of Narnia, Percy Jackson, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Maze Runner, Fault in Our Stars, Twilight and Inkheart and Wonder are all films based on children/YA books. Both of you can read the book and watch the movie together -- then discuss the differences. 

• Visit a bookstore and allow your child to select a book of their choice. The visually appealing marketing and layout of best-selling books can attract even reluctant readers. 

• Try biographies/autobiographies that interest your child. Recent student favourites have been You Can Do It by Rashford & Becoming Muhammed Ali by Patterson & Alexander 

• Gentle encouragement works best