A
large percentage of our students, particularly boys, do not consider
themselves to be readers. Somewhere along the line, many kids have decided
that, unless they are reading a 250 page novel, they aren't actually
reading. They don't think that reading about UFC fighters or Snoop Dogg is
reading because they are actually enjoying it, and reading isn't supposed to
be fun. Reading is a drag. It's something you do for an assignment or if
you don't have a life, right? Wrong.
If kids change their ideas about what reading
is and really start to identify themselves as readers, their confidence and
motivation will start to grow, making reading not a "drag", but an
opportunity to discover and learn new things.
So we need to tell our kids:
Reading a magazine article about snowboarding is reading.
Reading the sports page to see if the Mariners won is reading.
Reading the instructional manual to learn how to download songs from
your computer to your Ipod is reading.
Reading the lyrics on the Internet to the newest Snoop Dogg hit is
reading.
For some really great insight into how to make reading more appealing to kids, more specifically boys, check out the excellent article "Boys and Books" by Jane McFann. When you're ready to help kids discover their own personal "reader identities", the attached lesson ideas will be useful.
Reader Identity Activities
Helping kids identify their own preferences, abilities, and interests.
Resources
