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From time to time, parents and teachers are challenged by various parts of the learning process for young people, including reading. Therefore, we’d like to share some easy ideas to help children and young people to read more during the holiday period.
In this article, we will focus on readers in bloom and readers bearing fruit.
9-11 years: readers in bloom
Talk about their reading
From the age of nine, although children are still gaining in autonomy, there are some ideas you can put into practice to promote reading. One simple idea is to talk to your son or daughter or your students about what they are reading. Take an interest in the books they are reading from their personal library, school library, etc. Conversation is a powerful tool. In addition to showing interest and respect for their reading activity, it will give you many clues about their reading tastes; clues that you can use to make a recommendation, give a gift, or take action on the following suggestions:
Involve them in shared reading activity
Children aged nine to eleven are frequent readers. However, at this age, schoolwork increases, and a large number of extra activities are added. Therefore, it is important to continue helping them to find time for reading. Reading is an activity with a strong social component, and activities in which readings are shared are very powerful in developing a taste for reading and promoting its practice. Involve them in a reading plan. An active reading environment doubtless contributes to reinforcing advances in reading skills.
Reward their achievements as readers
If you have kept in mind the ideas we have been sharing with you so far, it will not be difficult for you to think of some reward for the achievements of your readers. One example could be watching a movie based on the book you have read. You could also redecorate the reading space in a way that is more in line with their new tastes, etc. If you already have a bookworm at home or in the classroom, extending the reading activity will probably work. You can also evaluate their choices of titles to reward their efforts in relation to reading.
Since 12 years: readers bearing fruit
Share reading experiences
Adolescence is a complex period. At these ages, the act of reading must above all be free and without strict conditions. However, one can always look for opportunities for conversation around reading, whether by asking your son or daughter, your student, what they are up to, or by sharing your own reading experiences. In the latter case, if you limit yourself to literature, it may be difficult to connect with the new generation of readers reader, so you can think of other ideas to establish the dialogue. For example, sharing a link to an interesting article on the web, or a video of a song you particularly like.
Make readings of interest available to them
These days there is a great amount of digital content consumption among children. And it is especially necessary to understand reading as something that transcends printed paper, and to contemplate the diversity of sources that form part of the day-to-day life of an adolescent (music, films, magazines, comics, ebooks, audiobooks, videos…). Although of course, if you have a voracious reader at home, it is easy for them to become attached to reading on paper as well. In any case, you have to make readings available that are of interest to them. Remember to keep always asking questions, encouraging dialogue, and maintain a strong capacity to listen. Never impose the reading activities; reading at this age should be an exercise of maximum freedom.
Choose content that poses a challenge for the reader
Challenging someone is a strategy that works very well at almost any age, so we couldn’t leave challenges off this list of ideas. With young people they can work too, especially if you compliment them with an attractive reward. An academic award of some kind (diploma…) or a family trip to the site where the plot of one of your favorite stories was developed, for example, can be a good call. Although it may not seem like it, there is always something that can motivate your son or daughter, your student, to read. If the seed has been planted at an early age, with an interest in reading, promoting activities around reading, maintaining a dialogue around them, even if the flower has wilted a little during this period, it is easy for you to know what to offer if the challenge is overcome. The reader can also propose their own reward!. And you join in, of course. Setting an example is fundamental for young people of all ages.
Elisa Yuste – ODILO School Product Owner
More information: https://www.elisayuste.com/