Posted on 01/20/2015 at 10:47 AM by Blog Experts
Kids need to read. We need them to read at home in addition to school. One way to get kids to read more: let them pick! Here's a great short article: How to Get Kids to Read- Let Them Pick Their Own Damn Books updated by Lauren Katz on Vox blog.
Here's a part of the article below. Be sure to click the link above to see all the cool graphics.
Begin article.
Many parents identify a multitude of benefits reading can provide for children, but getting their kids to read is an uphill battle. In Scholastic's new Kids & Family Reading Report, 75 percent of parents with kids ages 6-17 said, "I wish my child would read more books for fun."
As children age, the study of 2,558 parents and children points out, kids' activities shift towards using a cell phone, visiting social networking sites and playing games on electronic devices. 71 percent of parents with children ages 6-17 said, "I wish my child would do more things that did not involve screen time."
So what can parents do to encourage children to read more? For children ages 6-17, 91 percent of kids said "my favorite books are the ones that I have picked out myself."Kids & Family Reading Report, 5th Edition
Humor is another important factor when it comes to choosing a book to read for fun: 70 percent of kids ages 6-17 said they want books that "make me laugh."
While humor is a popular choice overall, what kids look for in a book varies depending on their age.
These illustrations, populated by children's favorite books or series, demonstrates the age-driven theme preferences when selecting a book for fun. There are many more characters who are in love, for example, in the favorite books or series of children ages 15-17.
No matter what kind of books they're reading, 86 percent of kids in the study agree: "I feel proud and have a sense of accomplishment when I finish reading a book."
End article
My two cents: As teachers, we need to teach students how to find a just right book. But if they are motivated to read a Harry Potter book and the parents are there to help, and it's just a bit more difficult than their independent level, let them read it! It's our job to support and guide them in choosing books, but ultimately let the kids choose. Don't let a number/letter dictate all the time. (Key word "all")
