Literacy Tip #6 - How to Reach Your Reluctant Reader and a Giveaway in Honor of Armchair BEA!

Don't worry. You can and will reach your reluctant reader.  Here's how!

Many reasons exist as to why a child is a reluctant reader - too many to list here! I will touch on a few basic reasons and give some possible solutions. 

• Does your child have a difficult time decoding sounds? Matching letters with sounds? If so, spend extra time daily, even just 15 minutes, reading aloud to your child.  Point to the print as you read it aloud, so your child can follow along.  Your child needs to hear the letter and sound association over and over.
• Does your child dislike having to sit still to do the actual reading? No problem! Books on CD are a great fit for a variety of reading needs, including this one! Download a book or story on an iPod, and have your child listen to it while he or she is doing chores or out for a walk.  To take this a big step further, listen to a book on CD in the car with your child (he or she is sitting down anyway!).  Not only will your child be developing literacy skills, but the two of you will be engaged in the story together.  This is a prime opportunity to discuss the elements of a story (plot, setting, characters) with your child! Ask questions about the story:  Why did the main character do that? What caused him to make that decision? Do you agree with what he did? Posing questions to your child about the story strengthens higher-level thinking skills and encourages him or her to listen carefully to the story for further reflection.
• Is your child a strong reader but seems disinterested in reading for pleasure? This requires some trial-and-error, but the advantage here is that so many different books exist that you and your child are bound to find something he or she will enjoy reading! First, try some different genres that you think your child would enjoy.  The best place to start would be matching your child's real life interests with similar topics in literature.  Next, think about your child's personality type.  Is he or she outgoing, athletic, shy, optimistic, or a deep thinker? Obviously, your child's personality is very unique, but excellent authors can delve deeply into the many aspects of the human experience, so, again, you're certain to find a particular author whose work your child will enjoy.  For example, Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events is a wonderful fit for someone with a keen and dry sense of humor.  Whether or not a melodramatic plotline is your top preference, his writing style will carry you through the series if you enjoy sarcasm.  

Give some of these ideas (or derivatives of them) a try.  Again, these were very broad suggestions, but I will continue to offer more tips related to this topic in future postings! Remember, you can and will reach your reluctant reader!!! 

And to reach your reluctant reader, one lucky person will win this hardcopy edition of Murder at Midnight by Avi, an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.

• To enter this giveaway, you must be a follower of this blog and leave a comment on this post about a future topic you would like to see in my Thursday Literacy Tips.  Please be sure to leave your e-mail address, so I know how to contact you if you win!
• For an additional entry, grab my button and place it on your blog - you do not have to place it on your sidebar; anywhere on your blog is fine, such as in a post or on another page.  (I won't complain if you do place it on your sidebar, though!!!)  Be sure to leave a comment for me that you completed this option!
• For another additional entry, blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.  Again, please leave a comment here so I am aware of it!
• Best of luck! This giveaway is open until 11:59 pm CST, Friday, June 4, 2010.

**The final clues for tomorrow's mystery children's author or illustrator are some words that are associated with his or her creation: brother and sister, bunnies, and Grandma.**