Is Your Classroom Struggling with Reading Engagement? This Guide is for You
As a primary school teacher, you may notice that many pupils struggle to find books they enjoy, leading to a dislike of reading.
Seeking effective ways to help pupils find the right books? Here are the challenges you might encounter:
- You don't know what books the pupils read, and they struggle to explain their interests;
- Teachers don't read much and don't know enough about children's books to passionately promote them in class;
- Teachers are unaware of which books are available at school and in which bookcases;
- This makes it nearly impossible to assist pupils in selecting a good and appropriate book.
Yes, it is possible to ensure every pupil enjoys reading!
To maximise reading enjoyment, every pupil should always read a pleasant and appropriate book.
Balancing this with other teaching responsibilities is challenging for most teachers, but it's essential because:
- You must understand each pupil's reading interests;
- You should be familiar with the majority of the books in the school library;
- You should be able to estimate which books are appropriate for each pupil.
We are dedicated to helping teachers solve this challenge by providing them with insight about each pupil's reading behaviour and engagement.
How to Help Pupils Pick the Perfect Book in 3 Simple Steps
Step 1: Identify Pupils' Reading Preferences
Determine which novels the pupil enjoys reading and which he or she dislikes.
Step 2: Explore Book Themes and Content
Discover hidden similarities among the books in the school library.
Step 3: Guide Pupils in Choosing the Right Book
Assist pupils who don't enjoy reading to select appropriate books from the library.
Step 1: Track Pupils' Reading Preferences
Traditional Method: Using Notebooks to Track Reading
Many teachers struggle to manage reading in the classroom. Who likes to read, and who does not? How much does each pupil read? What level of challenge is that one pupil prepared for?
That is why some schools require pupils to keep a logbook in which they note what they read, how much they read, and what they enjoyed about the book.
Although this technique makes pupils more conscious of their reading habits, the teacher will remain in the dark. It takes a long time to determine what and how much a pupil reads, as well as whether a book is a good fit.
Modern Approach: Digital Tracking of Pupils' Reading Habits
Pupils maintain a digital journal of what they read, how much they read, and whether they enjoyed the book. This allows the teacher to identify at a glance who is at risk of dropping out and what books those pupils enjoyed reading.
Step 2: Deepen Your Understanding of the Books in Your Library
Traditional Strategy: Skimming the First 30 Pages of Multiple Novels
Teachers read the first 30 pages of as many books as possible at school so that they may explain what the book is about and determine whether it is appropriate for the pupil.
In practice, this is hard for many teachers unless they read extensively in their spare time. As a result, the majority of teachers are unaware of the variety of literature available at school.
Modern Strategy: Share Comprehensive Book Insights with Your Team
All books at school are classified according to global themes, storyline, target audience (appropriate age), language level, words per page, and font size. The volumes also provide 1-3 theme labels to help teachers and pupils navigate the collection.
Key Questions to Understand and Assess Books
You can ask the following questions to visualise the books:
- How would you describe the main character?
- How does the story begin?
- What does the main character do throughout the story?
- What occurs at the end of this story?
- How does this affect the main character?
- What themes are explored in this book?
- Who is the intended audience for the book?
- What level is the text?
By delving into the primary character, plot progression, themes, and intended audience, you gain a better understanding of the story and its impact.
These questions are a useful tool for examining and comprehending any book.
Also read: The Connection Between Children's Reading Attitudes and Achievement
Step #3: Help Pupils Choose a Suitable Book
Traditional Recommendations: Using Reading Levels and the Five-Finger Rule"
The teacher or library parent asks the pupil what they enjoy reading and evaluates whether the book is appropriate depending on their reading ability or the five-finger rule.
This method only works if there is someone in the library who knows what the pupil likes and what books are available in the school library. In fact, this is rarely the case, thus pupils frequently request book exchanges.
Personalized Recommendations: Tailoring Books to Pupils' Reading Habits
The pupil receives personal book recommendations for books available in the school library based on his or her reading interests, reading ability and world of experience.
If a pupil 's reading behaviour indicates that he or she is having difficulty selecting a suitable book, the pupil can make a better decision on their own or with the help of a teacher by using the book tips.
As a result, kids will finish more books and develop confidence in their own reading abilities. You build on the pupil's confidence by challenging him or her to read more difficult literature. In this approach, you consciously attempt to cultivate a pleasant reading mindset.
Summary: How do you ensure that every student reads the appropriate book?
- Closely monitor each student's reading behaviour;
- Get to know the books both inside and out;
- Help students select an enjoyable and appropriate book.
How can you accomplish this?
Option #1
Analyse all books manually using the five-finger rule and notebook.
Option #2
Use the School Library App to achieve this. This is the quickest, easiest, and most trustworthy method. Click here to learn more.