Are you looking for effective ways to stimulate reading motivation in your pupils? Put a sign in your school library: 'Forbidden to read.'
Ban an activity, and people will quickly reach for the forbidden fruit. However, stimulating reading motivation is obviously not as simple.
Many studies have been done on the definition of reading motivation and how to apply this in the classroom, but there still hasn’t been an ultimate solution to the problem.
However, Schiefele and his colleagues decided it was time to get everything in order. They sifted through the results of twenty years of research on reading motivation and identified connections.
Their essay provides useful resources for teachers and other reading boosters that will be explained in this article.
The Role of Reading Motivation in Pupil Development
Schiefele and colleagues looked at 34 research on reading motivation in pupils (primary and secondary education) from 1990 to 2011 and discussed all aspects of reading motivation in great depth.
Motivation, reading attitude, reading preferences, and reading time are some of the issues explored. In their essay, they separate five major themes:
- Definition: What qualifies as reading incentive and what does not?
- Refinement: What are the motives for reading?
- Reading behavior: What is the link between reading motivation and reading behavior?
- Reading proficiency: How does reading motivation relate to reading proficiency?
- Chicken or egg: What do we know about cause and effect?
Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation: Impact on Reading Habits
Reading motivation, a key factor in developing strong reading habits, refers to the willingness to read. The willingness to read is determined by the benefits it provides.
Researchers distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for reading. Pupils with intrinsic reading motivation value reading for its inherent pleasures, such as enjoyment, curiosity, and knowledge.
Extrinsic motivated pupils receive rewards outside of activity, such as good grades, compliments from teachers or outperforming peers. Intrinsically motivated pupils read more deeply and employ complicated reading strategies.
Reading motivation relies heavily on one's attitude towards reading. Negative feelings about reading can hinder motivation to start reading.
Self-efficacy (belief in one's own skill, in this case reading) and the perceived importance of reading can have an impact on reading motivation, although they do not necessarily coincide.
Schiefele and his colleagues refer to these individuals as motivation pioneers.
People get motivated to read for different reasons. The researchers sorted through all these different motivations and determined which have been proved in practice. They distinguished seven causes:
Intrinsic reading motivation
- Curiosity: the desire to learn more about interesting topics.
- Involvement: becoming immersed in a story and identifying with the major characters.
Extrinsic reading motivation
- Competition: striving to outperform peers
- Recognition: from teachers, parents, and friends
- Achievement: enhancing reading abilities and academic success
- Obedience: reading due to pressure from teachers or parents
- Avoidance: reading to avoid punishment
Oftentimes, the social motives for reading are emphasized, such as discussing books with peers or going to the library with classmates or parents.
According to Schiefele and colleagues, while social features can be motivating, they are not a sufficient reason to start reading.
Pupils don’t start reading to gather topics for conversation. Rather, discussing books can inspire them to read more.
Reading behavior and reading skills
Is one motivation superior to the other? Absolutely.
Research shows a strong relationship between intrinsic reading motivation and positive reading behavior, leading to better academic outcomes.
Intrinsically driven pupils read a wider range of texts and genres, both at school and in their free time.
Extrinsic factors, on the other hand, have a lesser or even negative impact on reading behavior at school and in leisure time.
And that's not all. Pupils that are intrinsically driven tend to read more deeply and use complicated reading strategies. Intrinsic motivation correlates well with reading skills, as expected.
With extrinsic motivation, the link is negligible, if not negative.
Related article: The Critical Link Between Intrinsic Motivation and Reading Competence in Pupils
Researchers are always quite careful about this, as correlation does not imply causality. Intrinsically driven pupils may read more and do better, but this does not necessarily indicate motivation as a cause.
Which comes first: motivation or skill? None of the research established a causal association.
The study of Schiefele and colleagues suggests that reading motivation and reading behavior are mutually reinforcing. Pulling both strings can lead to more engaged readers.
Despite extensive research, the ultimate solution to the question of reading motivation remains unknown.
Practical Strategies to Boost Reading Motivation
Enhancing reading motivation in pupils can significantly support the development of effective reading skills and overall academic success.
Schiefele and colleagues emphasize the need of promoting intrinsic reading motivation. This involves extensive, diverse, and in-depth reading.
Extrinsic reading motivation shouldn’t be promoted, for example by earning points for completing a book. While extrinsic rewards might temporarily boost reading motivation, they often fail to sustain long-term reading engagement.
This way pupils may start reading at school but not on their own initiative in their spare time. And reading skills are improved by reading frequently and diversely.
Also read: Evidence-based Insights on Print Exposure: Entice Pupils to Read More
Effective strategies for boosting reading motivation should focus on developing a positive reading attitude and confidence in their own abilities.
This can be supported by offering a diverse choice of reading materials in the classroom or school library.
To boost reading motivation, pupils should have access to books that match their reading level and interests, helping them discover the joy and benefits of reading.
In the classroom
So how do you get less motivated pupils to read more frequently, in order to improve their reading skills?
They need to experience the inherent benefits of reading, for example that stories can tell interesting stories about all kinds of interesting places and people.
To achieve this, teachers can read aloud a book that is so engaging that pupils want to complete it themselves. Give them a book or magazine about a topic they enjoy or wish to learn more about.
Facilitate successful reading experiences, that make pupils think: “I can read a whole book and it was also pleasant”.
Understanding your pupils’ preferences and abilities helps you connect with their interests and reading level.
If you struggle to discover appropriate reading materials or your school library is understocked, consider collaborating with your local library. The staff can assist you with theme lists and shifting collections.
Focussing solely on the external rewards of reading is insufficient. Be cautious with giving rewards for finishing a book or organizing reading competitions. This can have the opposite effect.
For reading to be enjoyable and effective, it's important to ensure that children enjoy reading rather than just competing for rewards.
Explaining the significance of reading for academic success and future goals may not be the best option to improve reading motivation in pupils.
Besides the fact that this is true, pupils can’t see this value yet. This motivation should be explained to parents to get them on board in stimulating reading motivation.
Key Takeaways: The Power of Intrinsic Motivation and Enjoyment
Cultivating a passion for reading and ensuring that pupils find enjoyment in books are among the most effective strategies for fostering long-term reading motivation.
- Reading is driven by a desire to learn and engage with tales.
- Intrinsically motivated pupils read more diversely and improve their reading skills.
- Self-confidence leads to increased motivation to read.
- Extrinsic factors like external pressure or competition might be detrimental.
Next up in the series: Thematic Reading Instruction: The Key to Unlocking Reading Motivation