As a teacher and a homeschooler, I often get questions about effectively educating children, especially reluctant students. I am definitely no expert, but using many different approaches, I have been educating all kinds of learners for over 10 years.
One of the most frequent questions is how to get children interested in reading. In a generation full of toddlers who are basically born knowing how to manipulate touch screens, it is very hard to compete with technology for a child’s interest. Attention spans are getting shorter, and learning disabilities are on the rise. A lot of kids have to be dragged kicking and screaming into educational experiences, the hardest of which seems to be reading. So, what is the secret? How do we get unwilling kids to enjoy reading?
One trick that I have used is to place interesting books randomly around the house, as if they just happened to land there. It is human nature that the more a person feels nagged to do something, the less he or she wants to do it. If the books don’t feel forced, a child is more likely to pick it up of his own volition, purely out of curiosity. I am always amused when I see my kids reading books they think I don’t know about.
In this same vein, frequent trips to the library where children can choose the books that appeal to them are also a great idea. Many times, when books are given as assignments, this can turn a child off to reading, as the assigned books may not necessarily have been ones that he would choose for himself at that point in his life. This may cause him to feel that all books are as unappetizing as the assigned reading. I have found that many people don’t appreciate classic literature until it is no longer mandatory to read it. By allowing our children to have reign over their own choices, we give them to room to discover the joys and wonder of books without pressure.
I also pay close attention to subjects that my children are passionate about. My boys have very different hobbies, so I am always on the lookout for books that complement their interests. One of my children is a major sports fan. Any book with football trivia or baseball stats is sure to be a hit. Another one of my children has been creating a super hero comic book with his cartooning teacher for the last couple of years. For him, I try to find books with drawing tips or art projects.
Another idea I have found effective is to use an amazing new mode of reading called the graphic novel. I know a lot of people who could have benefited from these when they were kids. The graphic novel takes the stories that we know and love and turns them into comic format. This style of book is especially popular with my cartooning son. He has a hard time reading long chapter books, but give it to him in manga format, and he’s game. You can find old classics like Nancy Drew and The Boxcar Children in graphic novel form or even educational books. A favorite in my house is Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales, which is United States history in disguise. My kids read these over and over, even the one who doesn’t usually like history. They have science and math books in this format, as well.
One of the greatest ways to get children to love reading is to start them early. There is a direct correlation between the amount a parent reads to a child and how early and efficiently a child develops vocabulary, reading, and writing skills. I read to my children every day, starting from when they are babies. Board books with simple pictures and words help babies learn how to recognize basic objects and verbalize them. You can always tell a young reader by the more sophisticated words he or she uses.
My toddler chooses three books every night before bedtime, and he loves to read the same familiar stories over and over. This is how kids learn best. When they recognize the stories, they start “reading” along with you. In addition, a psychology research lab at the University of Florida found that the more you name specific characters and objects in stories, the better and faster they learn about the world around them and the longer their attention is held. There are so many good series out there with memorable characters, so crack open the Pete the Cat and the Elephant and Piggie books!
My own passion for reading has definitely spilled out into my life. In my house, we have an entire room dedicated as our library, overflowing with books for all age groups. People come over to borrow books stamped with the Lazar Library emblem on the cover page.
I also order my children a Scholastic Book Box every month. (I consider it part of the homeschooling tuition!) My husband has been known to exclaim, “More books?! We have no space for the ones we already have!” The kids are always excited when they come home and see the Book Box sitting on the doorstep. It’s fun for them to receive the package delivery, and they always rip open the box to see the books I have surprised them with this month. As an avid reader myself, I shep nachas every time I hear the enthusiastic, “The Book Box is here!!” The more exciting you make reading, the more excited your children will be.
And of course, the absolute best way to encourage a child to read is to read yourself. Like anything else, when we set a good example for our children, they will follow in our footsteps. My children hardly ever see me without a book in hand, and they are always interested to know what my book is about. They know they can ask me for opinions on books they will like, because I have most likely read them myself (well, at least the more classic ones!). They know that I do extensive research on all the books I get them. I also make sure to check reviews and kids-media-safety websites to be sure the books I am getting are appropriate for them, and they have learned to trust my opinion. They see that I love to read, so they also love to read.
In my opinion, reading is the number one learning tool. If I had nothing but books to homeschool my children with, I know my kids would still learn everything there is to know! There is so much information out there, and books are a very accessible way to gain knowledge. So hop in the car and scoot over to the library! See you there!
