Transcript Reaching Reluctant Readers: Tips, Tools, and Techniques
YAK November 2014 Patrick Jones / author [email protected]
Getting started
School Library Journal November 2001 “ Why We Are Kids Best Assets”
One in your face: do about it “I hate to read” – what does it mean, why did he say it, and what you can One fact: “Reading ability is positively correlated with the extent to which students read recreationally.” National Center for Education Statistics.
One story from JDC One book from your life
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Why They Aren’t Reading
By the time many students reach high school, they equate reading with ridicule, failure or exclusively school-related tasks. www.connectingya.com
Why They Aren’t Reading
Students are not excited by ideas . They prefer to experience life directly rather than through reading. www.connectingya.com
Why They Aren’t Reading
Many active adolescents are unable to sit still long enough to read for any prolonged period of time. . www.connectingya.com
Why They Aren’t Reading
Teenagers are too self-absorbed and preoccupied to make connections with themselves, their problems, families, sexual roles, etc., between their world and books. www.connectingya.com
Why They Aren’t Reading
Books are inadequate entertainment compared to other competing media such as television, video games and the Internet.
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Why They Aren’t Reading
Persistent stress from home and school to read constantly is counter-productiv e for some adolescents.
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Why They Aren’t Reading
Adolescents may grow up in non-reading homes void of reading material with no reading role models. There is no one to pass down the value of reading..
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Why They Aren’t Reading
Some adolescents may consider reading solitary and anti social.
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Why They Aren’t Reading
Reading is considered “uncool” do. and something adults www.connectingya.com
Why
They Aren’t Reading
Can’t find the good books
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Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers
Cover - catchy, action-oriented, attractive, appealing, good "blurb" www.connectingya.com
Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers
Print style sufficiently large for enjoyable reading
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Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers
Format - appropriate and appealing balance of text and white space www.connectingya.com
Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers
Artwork/illustrations - enticing, realistic, demonstrated diversity www.connectingya.com
Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers
Clear writing without long convoluted sentences of sophisticated vocabulary www.connectingya.com
Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers
Acceptable literary quality and effectiveness of presentation www.connectingya.com
Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction
High interest "hook" in first 10 pages www.connectingya.com
What do you think makes a good book for a reluctant reader?
Gail Giles
the giddy up. These kids won’t give you more than a sentence to snag their attention. . It has to start fast from You have to have a great first sentence. And a really good second sentence. And third, And ninth and twenty seventh and maybe if you’re lucky they will cut you some slack and let you have just an okay two thousand and third sentence, but you better pick it back up on the two thousand and fourth. These kids don’t have time to mess with a sloppy writer. They only read the good stuff so everything in the book has to be good.
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Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction
Well-defined characters and not too many of them www.connectingya.com
Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction
Sufficient plot to sustain interest www.connectingya.com
When you write, do you think about the potential book's appeal to non-readers?
R.L. Stine: Almost all of my books are designed for reluctant readers. When I wrote and edited educational magazines, I learned how to write for different reading levels. I try to keep my scary books at a 4th-grade reading and vocabulary level. In addition- short books, fast-paced, lots of surprises and twists, cliff-hanger chapter endings to force them to go on to the next chapter, and plot-driven books with little description to slow down the action.
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Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction
Familiar themes with emotional appeal for teenagers www.connectingya.com
Young adult fiction emotional appeal:
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1. Show YAs being independent from adults.
2. Reassure YAs they are "normal".
3. Present role models.
4. Demonstrate problem solving in action.
5. Allow to feel like winners/overcoming odds.
6. Display relationships of all sorts.
7. Capture intensity and uncertainty of their life.
8. Help develop of socially responsible behavior 9. Explore lives of other teenagers. www.connectingya.com
Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction
Plot lines developed through dialog and action rather than descriptive text www.connectingya.com
Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction
Believable treatment (that does not preclude speculative fiction however) www.connectingya.com
Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction
Single point of view / nothing tricky / just tell the story / Clear mirrors not pretty pictures www.connectingya.com
Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction
Touches of humor when appropriate www.connectingya.com
25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 1.
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A library card: Booklists: Booktalking
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Build relationships:
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25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 5.
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Celebrate Teen Read Week: Contests: Displays: Follow-up
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25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 9.
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Get an author: Get input:
Get out of the
library:
Get over yourself:
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25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 13.
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Get them in the
building :
Go the shelves: High visibility merchandising : Honesty:
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25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 17.
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Keep current : Listen: Non-judgmental
attitude: Reader's advisory: www.connectingya.com
25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 21.
Samples: 22.
Wave goodbye to just fiction 23.
Weed the collection: 24.
Zowie! Get graphic
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For More Information
Connecting with Reluctant Teen Readers
Patrick Jones, Maureen L. Hartman, and Patricia Taylor Neal-Schuman, 2006 www.connectingya.com