Ideas To Help Your Reluctant Reader Become A Bookworm (or at least not hate reading)

Story Time! My 7 year old asked for my phone last night to make a video and instantly turned into a news anchor on her very own show 🎤 She updated her “audience” on a new slime creation and read a “5 star” story. I have been asked to watch this video multiple times and as my mind wandered turning the 3rd viewing, I had an idea💡What if my reluctant reader, aka my 6 year old, got to practice one of his decodable readers and then make a video of himself reading it? Experiment on! Keep reading to find out if it worked…

Helping a struggling reader develop a passion for reading is quite an endeavor. Rewarding, frustrating, time consuming, challenging, worth every second. Let’s think this through…

Understanding the Challenges of a Struggling Reader

If your reader is experiencing some bumps in the road to literary greatness, or a total standstill traffic jam ⛔, know that it's more common than you think. That doesn’t make it any easier, but you’re not alone.

Sometimes, the struggle isn’t even about the words on the page, or what the story is about. Sometimes it's emotional - lack of confidence, fear of failure, or just feeling generally overwhelmed.

“SO TELL ME WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT ALREADY!”

😁 Attitude, Attitude, Attitude

Just like “location, location, location” is everything in real estate; “attitude, attitude, attitude” is everything when working with a developing or struggling reader. They need to stay positive and so do you. That means celebrating the small stuff and knowing when to take a break. 

🕰️ Establish Consistent Reading Routines

Routine might sound boring, but when it comes to helping a struggling reader, it’s important. Set aside regular reading time. It doesn’t have to be long and you can work on building up stamina. Start with 5 minutes. Add 1 minute a day until you get to 15, or whatever goal you choose. Whether it's before school, short bursts during commercial breaks, or at bedtime, consistency is key.

📖 Select The Perfect Book

This is a big deal. The books you choose can make or break the whole reading experience. Not all books are created equal. Picking books that match your child's interests and reading level isn’t always an easy task. Decodable books are an amazing resource. There are more choices out there for developing readers than in the past, even for older students who want and need chapter books. If you'd like more guidance on choosing the perfect books, you need to check out this blog post:

Decodable, Leveled, and Trade Books... Oh My! Which Is Right for My Child?

🎪 Design a Comfortable Reading Space

Think a cozy nook, maybe a secret reading hideout with fairy lights. Creating a comfortable reading space is like setting the stage for a literary adventure. Make it a place your reader can't wait to escape to.

🎤 Read Aloud

Time to channel your inner Shakespeare and read aloud like you're performing on a grand stage. Reading aloud not only helps improve fluency, but it can also add a touch of drama and excitement to the story. Plus, it’s a great time to snuggle and bond as a family. Another option is to let your child listen to an audio book while they follow along with the text.

🗣️ Don't Forget To Chat About It

Reading isn't just about decoding words. The goal is to understand the story, learn from the characters, predict what might happen next, make connections, learn new words and enjoy the journey!

⬆️↗️⬇️Change Things Up

If you're saying to yourself, "I've tried all of that!", then give one of these ideas a go:

Have your child …

• practice a paragraph/page/whole story and then call Grandma to read it to her
• read to your pet (No pet - no problem! Go to your local Humane Society or pet store)
• read to a very special stuffed animal that only comes out for reading
• graph their reading minutes, and once they reach a certain goal, they earn a reward
• write their own story (with as much assistance as they need)
• work toward a goal or reward with a reading sticker chart
• record themselves reading so they can watch it back
• get their siblings involved - built in reading buddies!

Remember, reading is like a muscle that gets stronger with exercise. When you add something new to your workout it’s challenging for a while and your muscles are extra tired until you build them up for the task. This is one reason why following a smart scope and sequence is so important when helping your child become a confident reader. You wouldn’t walk into a gym on day 1 and expect to bench press 200 pounds. We can’t expect our children to open a book and do all the ‘heavy lifting’ that even children’s books require.

Consider Erin and I your personal trainers. We’ve put together a program that will build up your child’s reading muscles at just the right pace. If you’re looking for this kind of assistance, check out the LIFT OFF! to Literacy reading program. If you’re not looking for all of the ✨amazing✨ features of the program, but want to add "just right" books to your child’s library, check out the LIFT OFF! Decodable Readers Series.

Ok, now here’s your update about my reluctant reader... It worked!

Thank you super supportive 7 year old sis! Your calm and peaceful presence is a constant comfort to 6 year old bro. Plus, you can make him belly laugh like no other. * Happy Sigh * Proud mom moment.