Any child who can read and chooses not to is at a serious disadvantage. My grandmother was right when she said, “Reading is good for you. People who read know more.”
http://www.metrofamilymagazine.com/getting-teens-and-tweens-to-read
Stephen Krashen, author of
The Power of Reading: Insights from the Research, supports Grandmother. According to Krashen, research shows that voluntary free reading has more power in teaching language skills than direct school instruction. Required school reading is not the same as choosing a book of your own to read for fun. Children who are hooked on books have better vocabularies. Even comic books use more advanced words than most television shows. Since reading challenges memory and imagination, habitual readers develop better thinking skills.
The good news is more Americans can read than ever before in the history of the United States. The bad news is, they just don’t read as much as they used to. This is ironic since there is an increased demand for literacy in even the most routine jobs. Krashen says, “We have taught our children how to read but have forgotten to teach them to want to read.”
Reluctant Readers
Aliterates, who say reading is boring, have not found the right books. The “you can’t make me read” aliterate teens in my acquaintance have recently discovered and devoured Christopher Poalini’s book Eragon. They now eagerly await the publication of the sequel and, while waiting, have actually begun opening other books.
Harry Potter has taught us that the right books attract readers, young and old. Marc, an Hispanic sixth grader I know, told me he has read all the Harry Potter books twice. What Marc doesn’t realize is that his love of reading improves his English grammar without any conscious effort on his part.
The more children read, the better readers they become and the more they enjoy it. Reading magazines, newspapers, comic books, graphic novels, and teen romances leads to other more difficult reading. If you’re not sure what to recommend to your reluctant reader, consult a librarian. They’re experts at helping kids find the right book, be it sci-fi, adventure, or fantasy.
The “Three Bs” of Reading
Jim Trelease, author of
The Read Aloud Handbook, offers the three Bs as a way to encourage the reading habit:
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Book ownership. There is something special about owning a copy of a favorite book, reading it over and over, and not having to share it. Megabookstores and your neighborhood bookshop have staff who will gladly help parents find the perfect book for a birthday gift.
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Book rack. Trelease says magazines on a book rack in the bathroom encourage the whole family to read.
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Bed lamp. If a child is big enough to have a real bed, they are big enough to read in bed.
Parents, Foster the Reading Habit by:
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Providing reading materials. A home with books, magazines, pamphlets, and newspapers is essential because when there are things to read, more reading is done. Teens who always have a paperback in their backpack probably grew up in a house filled with reading materials.
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Reading yourselves. Parents will make their children readers by showing them, not by telling them. If kids see their parents making time to read books, magazines, and newspapers, they can see it is something adults do for enjoyment. Parents who have gotten out of the habit will find it is fun to read again.
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Allowing children to read in bed. Bed is a nice quiet comfortable place to read. My mother allowed us to stay up a half hour past bedtime if we were reading.
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Getting a library card for everyone. In regular unhurried visits, parents can teach their kids how to use the library, look up references and find their own books.
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Being a book buddy. Oprah has taught us that one of the best parts of reading is sharing books. Parents who read and discuss books recommended by their teen show the teens that their opinions matter.
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Reading aloud. Even teens like to hear an article from the paper or a funny story their parent liked. Trelease says, “The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.”
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Listening to books on tape. A good book can be savored and debated on a car trip or at home. Our family just enjoyed a riveting mystery while putting a fresh coat of paint on the bedroom walls.
Reading for fun does not guarantee a child’s entrance into Stanford University. However, reading, being read to, having books around, seeing parents reading for fun, and talking about what has been read will, as Grandmother promised, make children smarter. So, read, read, read!
As Director of a Teen Parent Program, Eleanor Wolf has taught and worked with teenagers, their babies, and their parents for over fifteen years. She has raised two children of her own and is a freelance writer and a professional speaker. She would enjoy hearing from you at ruppwolf@pacbell.net.
