Have you ever heard the saying Learn to read, then read to learn? The idea behind it is that children first have to master the mechanics of reading (frequently using phonics). Once they can read, many learning pathways will open up to them.
However, learning to read can be hard work for young learners. To get the best from our students, they need to enjoy reading. So, how can we encourage positive reading attitudes from the very beginning of their learning journey?
Why positive reading attitudes are important
The ability to read opens doors to many different worlds of information. It enables you to find out about a huge range of subjects independently.
Many studies show that reading for pleasure improves personal development and has a positive effect on children’s educational success.
Even before children can read independently, we should read to them and make it fun! If we can create a positive attitude towards reading, children will choose to read and through reading, they will continue to learn and grow.
6 tips to encourage positive reading attitudes
1. Choice
First, establish how your students feel about reading. What do they read? When do they read? Does an adult read to them at home? Have they ever been to the library? Challenge each student to tell you about one positive reading experience. It doesn’t have to be a book – it might be a comic, a website or a magazine article.
Based on their answers, try to build a resource of reading materials for your students. Children will be more enthusiastic about reading if they are interested in what they are reading.
Don’t assume that their tastes are the same as yours. My daughter adores science fiction, my son loves biographies, whereas I like historical fiction. We all have different tastes and that’s okay.
2. A positive reading environment
Children are more likely to enjoy reading if they are settled and comfortable. Some students may benefit from sitting on a special cushion or being allowed to use a fidget toy while listening to you read, or reading themselves.
If you’re lucky enough to have your own classroom, can you create a reading corner? It can be as simple as a few large cushions and a box of books, comics and magazines. With younger learners, you can create a reading den using a pop-up tent or by hanging up some sheets.
If you’re doing a whole class reading, why not decorate a corner of the classroom to match the theme of the book? Here are some simple ideas based on the classic tale Little Red Riding Hood:
- Get your student to paint a forest backdrop.
- Put some storytelling props in the story corner, such as a Little Red Riding Hood’s basket filled with food.
- Put some dressing-up items in the story corner, such as a piece of red fabric to use as a hood.
3. Performance
Acting out stories and scenarios from texts is a great way to make reading active and enjoyable. It also helps children’s reading comprehension and encourages empathy. Acting out helps develop fluency, as children learn to regulate their voices, and think about intonation and sentence stress.
Some texts, like poems, are written to be performed. Every child I know loves Michael Rosen’s performance of his poem Chocolate cake!
Reading to your students is just as important as independent reading. Whole-class reading helps students’ reading comprehension and increases their vocabulary – plus it’s fun! Use actions to keep them engaged, and try using different voices for different characters.
4. Building reading stamina
Children develop positive reading attitudes when they succeed in reading, so make sure any texts you use are at the right level for your students’ reading ability.
Learning to read is tiring for children. They need to gradually build their reading stamina. A five year old may be able to read simple sentences, but that is not the same as having the reading stamina to read several paragraphs, even if the language is simple.
It is better to read little but often rather than a lot once a week. If you can, build reading into your daily routine. Try to choose a time when the children aren’t too tired. Use a timer so they know how long they will be reading for. Over time, you can increase the length of your reading sessions.
5. Using pictures
Young learners often find pictures engaging. However, sometimes adults can be guilty of trying to push learners away from picture books and cartoons towards chapter books with no pictures. If we do this too soon, it can have a negative impact on reading attitudes.
Pictures can also be a great learning tool. By talking about pictures in books and comics, children expand their vocabulary. They can use pictures to make predictions, to infer what characters are feeling and to aid comprehension.
Why not try a simple thinking routine to help students engage with a book cover?
See – What do you notice?
Think – What does it make you think about?
Wonder – What does it make you curious about?
6. Share the love!
Get the community involved! It’s motivating for children to hear different people read. Can a parent come into class to read to them? Can you arrange a visit to the local library? Maybe you could set up a book club?
Encourage your students to read by being a reader yourself. Tell your students about books you enjoy and why. Display a picture of the book you’re reading at the moment on the classroom wall with a short plot summary and rating. By modelling positive reading attitudes, you will encourage students to read more and become lifelong readers.
What reading texts do your students love? Let us know in the comments!
For more tips on helping learners fall in love with reading in English check out: World Book Day: literacy activities for kids