One of the largest concerns from librarians, educators, and families is about engaging young readers.
The evidence and benefits about the importance of reading is well known. Reading increases comprehension, builds vocabulary and background knowledge, critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity.
So when children are disengaged from reading, it is concerning.
We know the benefits disengaged readers will lose out on. Those who read increase vocabulary and comprehension, have higher capacity to think critically and creatively, and are problem solvers.
We know that not reading will put them behind their reading peers.
This is why we spend so much time, effort, and thinking about how to transform disengaged readers into engaged readers.
There are so many reasons why kids disengage from reading. Overall, some of the reasons include:
Knowing which of these reason can help in re-engaging reluctant readers. With some observation, probing questions, and a little digging the answer usually appears. However, that doesn’t always convince a reluctant reader to pick up a book.
This can leave us feeling like we are hitting a brick wall. The last thing we should do is give up on reluctant readers.
Reluctant readers aren’t always easy to spot. But most do engage in similar behavior.
When you see students fidgeting, talking or fooling around with others, or making a hasty exit out of the room, that’s usually a sign they hate reading.
This is true even when we are reading aloud to reluctant readers. They have developed such strong opinions of themselves as readers that they tune out during read alouds as well.
There is nothing more disheartening than a child that doesn’t enjoy read aloud time. It’s the one time that they don’t have to do all of the heavy lifting while reading. It should be easier for them.
If a child struggles with comprehension, even read aloud time is difficult for them.
As someone who enjoys literature and reading aloud, it is frustrating when a child mentally or physically skips out of a read aloud.
One of the best ways to engage reluctant readers is to empower them. Let them choose what they want to read.
If they want to read easy books; let them. If they want to read a challenging book; let them. Sometimes a child’s background knowledge and interest makes up for any reading deficits they may have. This in itself makes them feel successful.
The question that still needs to be is answered is how to keep reluctant readers engaged so they stick around for a read aloud. After all, they don’t necessarily have choice in what gets read aloud to the class.
That’s where Novel Effect comes in.
Novel Effect is an app that follows your voice as you read aloud a story. With word cues from the book it adds music, sound effects, and voice overs. This is highly engaging for students. Even the most reluctant readers.
Try these tips to elevate engagement during a Novel Effect read aloud:
