city schools encourage kids to take up reading report writing
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The big challenge for teachers is not simply getting students to read – it's getting them to enjoy it too. It's one thing for students to trudge through set texts in a lesson, but will they open another book when they get home at the end of the day?
The National Literacy Trust has noted that becoming a lifetime reader is based on developing a deep love of reading.
"Research has repeatedly shown that motivation to read decreases with age, especially if pupils' attitudes towards reading become less positive," it said. "If children do not enjoy reading when they are young, then they are unlikely to do so when they get older."
For younger readers in particular, their home environment is critically important.
"Home is a massive influence," says Eleanor Webster, a primary school teacher in Nottinghamshire. "Supportive and understanding parents are key to developing their child's reading."But if a pupil doesn't see people reading at home, it may be harder to instil the idea of reading for pleasure. So what can teachers do to encourage it? Here are some of the best ideas, initiatives and projects that teachers have developed to motivate children and help them develop a love for reading:Reading challenges
Reading competitions come in many shapes and sizes, with the aim of spicing up literature and giving children an incentive to open a book. Mountbatten School in Hampshire is one school that has run several projects to encourage reading for pleasure.They're always very popular," she says. "Children take pictures of themselves reading in strange places and we display the photos in the main corridor. Some were on roller coasters, in tractors, on top of bookcases or at holiday destinations."
The 100 Word Challenge , created by Julia Skinner, asks children to write regular posts online and read other students' work.
"When you tell kids, 'We're going to do some reading,' it can immediately turn them off," says Skinner.
"But with this you say: 'We're going to support someone who has done some writing. What do you think of it?' It gives them a purpose to read."
Jennifer Ludgate, who uses the 100 Word Challenge, explains: "Their homework is to read two students' writing – they really like it because it's short, easy to read, and it only takes them a couple of minutes."
Escapism
While reading challenges can give a sense of purpose, escaping the challenges of school is a crucial part of encouraging reading for pleasure.
"Children won't find reading pleasurable if there is too much pressure on them," says Webster, "so a relaxed atmosphere and a positive ethos around reading is really important."
"One teacher in my school started referring to library sessions as 'the escape'," says Suzy Dodd, an English teacher at the Co-operative Academy of Leeds.
Promoting reading as a form of escapism from the general pressures of school and their social lives encouraged her class to see reading as a form of self-indulgent relaxation."We wanted them to try reading a broad range of books," says Jennifer Ludgate, an English teacher at the school.
"We challenged students to read one book, fiction or non-fiction, from a wide range of genres. They get them ticked off by their teacher and there are medals at the end of the year."
Another competition saw students race against time to tick off the classics.
"A colleague created the '16 Before You're 16 Challenge' for the older years," says Ludgate.
"We chose 16 classics, like To Kill A Mockingbird and Brave New World, and challenged students to read as many as they can before they turn 16. It's a good way to make sure they're being challenged."
In another contest, Eleanor Webster gets younger children to read for pleasure with "extreme reading" competitions over the summer holidays.Teacher involvement
"Showing students that teachers of all subjects read books, not just the English teachers, is really important," says Ludgate.
"We asked teachers to bring in two or three of their favourite books. Then, at the start of every lesson, whether that be geography, maths or whatever, the teacher would read to the class for ten minutes from their favourite book.
"The students would come in talking about what their PE or history teacher was reading, and that would spark really interesting discussions. It's especially good if they don't see people reading at home. "