As the primary conduit between my students and books, it's important to me to know my students, their reading histories, and their personal reading skills and levels of confidence.
In the first quarter, unfortunately, many of my preteen readers are picking up a book for the first time after a three month hiatus. I'm sure you've seen a graphic like the one I'm sharing from Perry Public Schools.
These "summer" students (averaging 0% during the summer) may not have read anything deeper than the description of a double-cheese on a restaurant menu. So it's my job, a daunting task at times, to dig through their interests and backgrounds to find what works and what doesn't for each and everyone of these students.
Today, I worked with a student in my RtI small group. She struggles with fluency but is very motivated to read and she is not afraid to talk about what she likes and doesn't like. Although she started out with Andrew Clements and similar realistic, middle-grade fiction, I could tell that they weren't calling her back for more.
That's when I directed her to scan the backs of ghost stories and mysteries...There are dozens of great mystery writers and engaging "spooky" series for middle school students available. Mary Downing Hahn appeals primarily to the girl readers in my classes, but Peg Kehret, the 39 Clues series and Patrick Carman attracts all readers!
She choose The Legend of Ghost Dog by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel. I'm happy to say; she's hooked on reading!
Of course, there are also a handful of junior high students who know exactly what they want to read and are voracious readers. They have their favorite series, author's they crave and genres that they gravitate towards.
For these readers, I provide a "shopping list" that they can fill out that will help me find new books for them.
I utilize my local libraries (and the lending library systems)! Once you've established a good relationship with them--you've returned books on time, in good condition, and share your knowledge to help the library out too--you will find that your local library can be your best outlet to keep these thirsty readers fed. (They have great library sales too!)
I have plans for the student I worked with today, though. (And she's not aware of it yet!)
As much as every reader struggles with it, we tend become comfortable within that "favorite". In the '80s I remember reading a dozen or so Danielle Steel and Stephen King books. The patterns were predictable and the characters were easy to imagine.
To grow as a reader, students have to get outside of this comfortable space. This is the hardest part of my job. I have to "shake it up" a bit in their comfortable reading world. That's why it is so important to have a plethora of books available.
One of the best ways to "sell" a student on a book that they may not have considered reading before is to let the students "advertise" to each other. Book talks, chats, reviews, "speed dates" etc are valuable ways to get the word out about an interesting book.
Recently, a student in one of my 7th grade classes demonstrated how Odysseus fooled and then stabbed Polymepheus. He learned this from reading Mary Pope Osborne's series. Another student read the chilling moment from Neal Shusterman's Unwind in which the main character, Connor, is asking, pleading, not to be unwound. (Beware teachers! Letting students share what they are reading can create wait-lists!)
Keep these things in mind as you cultivate a class of readers:
1. Making the right match for the right student takes work. As the "model" reader for your students, they will look to you for reading advice.
2. Stay current and read books at their levels. Your knowledge is invaluable!
3. Read aloud and share your feelings about the books you personally enjoy and those that are not the right fit.
4. Most of all, let students know that you are listening to them. If they like horses and you don't have any horse themed books in your class library, ask around! Find some and share them.
Raising a nation of readers will take time and hard work, but if you stock up on books and share those you love, soon, you'll find that your once "Summer Readers" will become "Seasoned Vets"!
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