Comments on: 5 Ideas for Kids Who Hate to Read

By: Ilene Fine

Ilene Fine — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:10:48 +0000

All great ideas. To continue on with the “comic, graphic novel” theme, children will also be more inclined to stick with a book if they can relate to the subject matter. Toddlers love books with real pictures of things that they see in their daily lives. They can identify with the story easier; if they are not interested in the words yet, then they often will make up a story about what they are seeing and eventually their curiosity will lead them into the story.

By: Dr. Alice

Dr. Alice — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:51:07 +0000

Great ideas — thanks for sharing this very important information.

Another idea for reluctant readers is Think It Ink It Publishing’s (www.thinkitinkitpublishing.com) professionally illustrated wordless picture books in which kids write the story and become authors. The pictures provide just the right amount of scaffolding to lessen the intimidation of a blank page. And we have seen reluctant readers SO PROUD to read their own writing that they are motivated to read other books because of this opportunity!

Try it and let us know what happens!

By: Rosemary P

Rosemary P — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:12:45 +0000

Thank you for the idea, the main problem with me also that I lose interest in finishing her book with her. I will try on the recommended steps again.

By: Emily F

Emily F — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:17:03 +0000

My 5-year-old has never liked it, not even as a toddler. I struggle because I don’t want to force it if he hates it and make him hate it more, but he HAS to do it. These are great ideas, I really hope some of them work.

By: Jeannine Herron

Jeannine Herron — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:51:28 +0000

If a child hates reading, perhaps it is because the way he is being taught sets up inefficient pathways in the brain. Inefficient processing makes reading hard work, and not fun (no matter how interesting the subject matter). Memorizing the appearance of words is a pattern recognition task. The right side of the brain is best at pattern recognition. Brain research shows that struggling readers use the right side of their brain, probably using pattern recognition strategies. But intervention with phonics not only improves their reading, but moves the brain activation to the left side where the meaning and pronunciation of words are stored. Learning to sound-out words is a better way to make sure that the 3 critical elements of reading–the visual appearance, the pronunciation, and the meaning are all stored together in the left hemisphere of the brain. With practice, the child no longer has to sound-out the words because the visual appearance is stored in the left side, and is efficiently connected to the meaning and the pronunciation of the word. A child will stop hating reading when reading is easy. Reading will be easy when reading pathways are efficient.

By: admin

admin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:29:06 +0000

Thanks so much for your kind comments, friends! I respect your websites tremendously – it means a lot.

Warmly,

Melissa

By: Terry Doherty

Terry Doherty — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:45:37 +0000

I’m just echoing what others have said. These are great and easy for busy parents to digest. Thank you!

By: Lynette

Lynette — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:33:21 +0000

All 5 of these ideas are practical and easy to try. I think it is so important for kids, especially reluctant readers, to have a positive experience with reading. That means that if they enjoy comic books, graphic novels, or are interested in books on the iPhone or reading on the computer, go for it. Shakespeare can come later once they’ve developed their reading skills and a love of the written word!