"Practice makes perfect." This old adage holds true for dribbling a soccer ball or playing an instrument, and it holds true for reading as well. In fact, numerous studies indicate a link between independent reading outside of school and improved reading achievement.
Motivating students to want to read—inside and outside of the classroom—requires a robust toolbox of curiosity, authenticity, and community. By creating opportunities for each of these to thrive, and keeping classrooms and backpacks full of high-interest reading materials, teachers can equip even the most reluctant readers with the tools to succeed.
Start With (a Variety of) Books
Sometimes motivating students to read can be as simple as providing access to a good selection of books, and that often starts with a well-stocked classroom library, says Clemson University professor Linda Gambrell. In a study she conducted of elementary and middle school students, more than 90 percent said the books they were currently reading for enjoyment came from the classroom library.
Experts suggest a classroom library should contain roughly 5–10 books per student. The key is balance—balance between fiction and nonfiction, between classics and new titles, and among reading levels. "You want to create a library that 'pops,'" Gambrell says. She suggests classrooms have a "what's new" table featuring the latest titles.
One challenge, of course, is the cost of buying books. Maurna Rome, a Title I teacher from Minnesota, checks thrift stores, half-price bookstores, clearance sales, and Goodwill. She's even used Craigslist to find specific titles. She has also applied for grants from her state teachers' union and the Minnesota Reading Association, and looks to company foundations that might fund book purchases.
As summer approaches, teachers can work with districts to keep the access to books flowing, which is especially important for disadvantaged students. University of Tennessee professor Richard Allington says that by 5th grade, approximately 80 percent of the reading gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students may be attributed to "summer slide."
"The primary factors seem to be related to the volume of reading they do over the summer," Allington says. A study of 6th graders showed that those who read five or more books over the summer improved in reading. Those who read between two and four books showed mixed results, and those who read less lost ground.
Disadvantaged children are less likely to have books at home or access to libraries, so the best way to encourage summer reading, says Allington, is to provide free books. A three-year Florida study found that providing free books to primary students over the summer was as effective as summer school in boosting reading achievement.
The study, which was funded by a grant, covered the cost of the books, which came to just $40–$50 per student per year. "It's not that we don't have enough money to make this happen," Allington says. "It's that we spend money on things that don't work."
Keep It Interesting and Authentic
Providing access to books is the first step, but keeping students hooked on them is another. ASCD author Douglas Fisher says that engagement rises when reading materials are "worthy"—challenging, but not beyond a student's ability to comprehend.
Fisher notes the importance of helping students build both reading strength—the skills developed in the classroom—and stamina—applying those skills to relevant reading tasks that will hold their interest for long periods.
Gambrell says teachers can try to build interest in various titles by giving brief "teasers." For instance, she says teachers might introduce Mark Teague's book Pigsty like this:
This book is about a little boy named Wendell. His room is so messy that his mother calls it a pigsty. One day he comes home from school to find a pig in his bedroom, and he thinks that's neat. Soon, a second pig moves in. But when more pigs arrive, his room really does become a pigsty. Read the book to see how Wendell solves his "pig problem."
"Our job is to convince kids to have a mind-set that they can be readers and enjoy reading," says Rome. "The key is finding books where kids can make connections with universal themes."
Julie Coiro, assistant professor at the University of Rhode Island, suggests four ways to keep reading motivation high: wondering, anticipating, exploring, and "mattering." Wondering involves taking children's interests or questions and linking them to reading. To help develop anticipation, Coiro sometimes shares a small segment of a photograph and asks students to guess what the full picture shows.
After exploring a topic through reading or Internet research, students can work on a concluding project that matters—meaning it has an authentic purpose. If students see a homeless person in the park during a field trip, for example, they might research homelessness and create a small publication outlining ways to help.
Linking reading assignments to real-life tasks always helps build interest. For instance, Fisher says engagement rose when students in grades 7–10 were required to post an Amazon.com review after reading a book. Knowing that other people would read and use their reviews boosted student interest tremendously. Break the Isolation!
Reading can grow into a true community experience when students are given a platform to connect with others and share ideas. Reading motivation programs such as NEA's Read Across America and Jumpstart's annual Read for the Record campaign allow kids to feel the excitement of taking part in programs involving thousands—or even millions—of other students.
The Read Across America event at John Bassett Moore Intermediate School in Delaware brings in firefighters, politicians, high school football players, police officers, and business leaders to share a reading experience with students.
"It's a great opportunity for students to see members of the community model reading and talk about how it impacts their lives every day," says 5th grade teacher Janna McGowan, who organizes the annual event. "We hope it helps students enjoy reading for the days to come."
Pernille Ripp, a 5th grade teacher in Wisconsin, founded the Global Read Aloud in 2010 as a way to allow students around the world to share perspectives on books. Last fall, Ripp's class read Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper and connected with classes in Illinois and Vermont to discuss the book. "Just to have that connection with other students has been really powerful," says Ripp. It has also set up lasting collaborations. Ripp's class later did a social studies project with the students from Vermont, and on World Read Aloud Day this March, they shared a reading activity with the school in Illinois.
"Reading a book aloud can be an incredibly intimate experience," Ripp says. "Bringing that into the classroom and marrying it with technology creates something really special."
To involve her whole school, Rome started the Nifty Fifty Reading Club, which is open to students who read 50 picture books, 50 chapters in longer books, or complete 50 10-minute reading segments. In a school of 300 students, 200 have participated. Reader rewards include lunch with the teacher, a chance to read to the principal, or a free book.
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Recommended Reading
Heat up reading interest with these expert-recommended titles.
Ben Rides On by Matt Davies (Roaring Brook Press, 2013). A page-turner about what happens after a bully steals Ben's new bike.
Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Kevin Cornell (Disney-Hyperion, 2013). A lively, interactive counting book and a great option for reading aloud.
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers (Philomel, 2013). Crayons send resignation letters to their owner.
Poem-Mobiles: Crazy Car Poems by J. Patrick Lewis and Douglas Florian, illustrated by Jeremy Holmes (Schwartz & Wade, 2014). Pairs 13 hilarious poems and 13 uniquely created cars.
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan (Dial, 2013). A quirky young genius teaches lessons about diversity and perseverance.
Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America by Tonya Bolden (Harry N. Abrams, 2014). The story of a young girl who acquired an oil-boom fortune.
The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson (Viking, 2014). Hayley's father, a victim of PTSD from his service in Iraq, moves the family from place to place before relocating them to the town where he grew up.
Wonder by R. J. Palacio (Knopf, 2012). Inspirational book about a young man with congenital deformities who is about to attend school for the first time.
Suggestions provided by Karen Hildebrand, an Ohio library and reading consultant; Dave Richardson, manager of Blue Marble Books in Kentucky; and Minnesota teacher Maurna Rome.
More Online
Help parents create a culture of reading at home by sharing eight tips from top literacy experts. Access the list at www.ascd.org/eu0514parents.
Annual Report Commemorates Anniversary
ASCD is celebrating its 70th anniversary with a special 2013 Annual Report titled "The Promise of Leadership: Sustaining Learning, Transforming Teaching." The association's storied history is documented through an interactive multimedia site dedicated to sharing ASCD's past and taking a look into the bright future that lies ahead. The site is full of animation, photos, and videos that illustrate ASCD's sustained core values, as well as the ways the association has transformed teaching. Visit http://ar2013.ascd.org.
