One of the most important things we can do as teachers is help our students develop a love of reading!
One way to get them to love reading is to get them hooked on books!
I am committed to reading daily to my students. Sometimes I read to them to emphasize a particular literature skill, or to teach a specific non-fiction topic, but for the most part, I read to them to help them develop a love for books! Here's a post I wrote a few years ago about the importance of reading aloud. (Plus, there's a freebie!) The Importance of Read Alouds!
Want to make story time even more fun?
Take them all outside on a nice day!
Even better:
Take them outside for reading! There's nothing more fun than being outside on a nice day! Here's another post about learning outside: Five Ways to Get Them Learning OUTSIDE!
Students are social beings!
Let them read with their friends! Just be careful... make sure they are reading books at their independent level (or easier) and are working with friends close to the same level. It needs to be a positive experience!
Here's one of my favorite ways to build enthusiasm for reading:
I confess, I've always been a big fan of integrating the arts and I even have an acting background. Both posts below show many reasons to use Reader's Theater, and suggests several resources, including a freebie!
Once in a while there's a reason to plop a kiddo down in the teacher's chair and have them read to the class.
Just like when they're reading with friends, be very careful. This needs to be a positive experience for all involved. One thing I do sometimes is let children choose a passage from a book they like, practice it, then read it to their classmates. (This also works in a reading group!) It's a win-win! The child gets to share a book, and their friends get a taste of a book they might want to read! Here are some other ideas for building fluency and accuracy: Seven Ideas for Reading Accurately And yes, there's a freebie in there!
Don't they love those tablets and laptops? (and their parent's phone for homework)
There are plenty of places to find reading materials to be read on these devices. May I suggest these Boom Learning resources? Teachers can check to see how students are doing, links can be sent home, and the children love these!
This idea is a bit obvious for teachers:
Where to get all these books? Well, first of all, the school librarian (media specialist) is your best friend!
There are also those wonderful book orders. The books are quite reasonably priced, and the more books children purchase, the more free books you can get! I'll always let the kids look over the order sheets and circle the ones they might want. Then, I'll have them show the face they'll use when they're begging their grown-ups for books! (Melts my heart every time!)
Besides books at their level, they need books they enjoy!
Again, time to visit that librarian! They know what kids like!
But you know your kids best! Some very popular topics in my classroom: sports, animals, humor, mystery, friendships, school life, and any upcoming holiday! Let them talk to each other about the books they're reading. They can "sell" a book better than I can!
Did you ever notice when children are playing a game, they get caught up in a game and forget they are practicing a skill?
Here are some reading games that will help them forget they're practicing important skills: Reading Games and Activities.
As I've mentioned, integrating the arts is a valuable tool in the classroom! Music is magical in many ways!
This post has several reasons to use music in the classroom, and some fun resources! Sing With Your Students
Don't hesitate to sing with them, it will increase their learning in many ways. Plus, it's fun!
This is probably the most important! (in addition to reading to them, of course!)
Let them see you reading!
Let them see that you love books!
Let them see you talking about the books you're reading!
Let them see your passion for books!
How do you get your students to LOVE reading?
