Guerrilla Tactics for Struggling or Reluctant Readers

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Do you have a struggling or reluctant reader? I do, too. Which is why I’ve developed some unusual strategies over the years to get my kids to love reading; strategies that fit with their unique personalities.

My tactics to encourage a love of reading do not involve punishments or rewards –unless the reward is a book. And not a big fan of keeping track of pages read, titles of books read, or minutes read either.  I don’t think it encourages the ultimate goal of enjoying the book. Same with sticky note over-use, I don’t like it. While sticky notes can be helpful to practice and show thinking strategies, one can also get carried away with the notes and they can interfere with enjoying and comprehending the story. I’m just saying.

Here’s the ultimate goal:  The goal is that my child loves reading.

Loving reading happens when my child discovers that the book itself is the reward.

What do you think? Do you agree?

With that goal in mind, here are the strategies I use to get my own children more engaged in books. Maybe these will work for you as well.

struggling readers

Guerrilla Tactics To Get Your Struggling & Reluctant Readers To Love Reading

1. Leave piles of books lying around the house. At first glance, this may appear slovenly, okay, yes it is but it works with my daughter. AJ’s rarely passed up a picture book, comic book, or magazine without reading it. (Yes, she’s 9-years old and still reads pictures books which I encourage. I count everything. And, picture books are generally at a 4th-grade reading level.)

2. Play audiobooks in the car and during home time. This summer, AJ’s school assigned her books to read. She’s not a big fan of being told what to read. So, we got audiobooks for her to read with her ears instead of visually read. Once she listened for a few minutes, she was hooked! (The White Giraffe and Jack Plank Tells Tales were two such books and she ended up loving both.)

3. Read aloud a book until your child is hooked; let them continue on their own. Often I get “too busy” to continue. (Or get a sore throat. Whatever.) Watch your child pick up the book and read to herself because she must know what happens. I did this with Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat which really was a terrific story.

4. Unlimited library book check-out. I don’t understand why we often limit our children to a certain number of books. Granted, there can be fines if misplaced but I like to think of it as my contribution to buying my library a new wing. My suggestion is to not set limits — or set them high. Why not let your kids pick 25 books? Are we trying to encourage lots of reading or not? I let each of my kids fill a large tote bag. Try it and you’ll see how excited your kids get about going home to read all their new books! It’s like magic.

5. Money to spend at the bookstore — on any reading material. 

6. No television during the weekdays and very minimal television on the weekend. (1 – 2 hours.) This means NO television in the background either. Really. Again, try it and you’ll see for yourself. (Let them get bored – they’ll live. Maybe they’ll even pick up a book.)

7. Limit the number of after-school activities during the school year. If you want your child to read, that child needs free time; he can’t be overbooked and too busy to read. Think about your priorities. I would even go so far as to say that if you have a struggling reader, skip after school activities until your reader is up to speed with reading. Unless it is all they love in the world. It does depend on the child.

8. Provide motivating books that keep your child hooked on books. I have a list of highly motivating easy readers and beginning chapter books that kids love. Can I send it to you?

Great Ideas for Reluctant or Struggling Readers

What All Kids Need at Home and School

1. Choice

2. Time

Time in class to read.

Time at home to read.

3. Volume

Lots of books. Reading a lot of books improves reading ability. As in practice makes better. This is the big difference between struggling readers and good readers. While good readers read a lot, struggling readers do not and continue to not improve.

Just-right books. Read appropriate books that are not too challenging. Really. Use the 5 finger test. Or remember the 1 in 20 rule. In a just-right book, the child should only miss 1 in 20 words.
BUT, it’s okay to challenge yourself, too.
And, it’s okay to read easy books!
The suggestion of just-right books is a recommendation for kids who are constantly choosing books that are too hard making them discouraged or too easy so they’re not growing.

                      

As far as what should happen at school, educator Alfie Kohen says, “Children are likely to become enthusiastic, lifelong learners as a result of being provided with an engaging curriculum; a safe, caring community in which to discover and create; and a significant degree of choice about what (and how and why) they are learning.

Well said, don’t you think?

What guerilla tactics have worked in your family to get your kids hooked on books?

If your child is struggling with reading, I highly recommend this FREE webinar –>

“3 Activities a Day to Keep Reading Difficulties Away”

Here are some good books to read…

Short, Nonfiction Books for Reluctant, Struggling, and Wiggly Readers
Short Nonfiction Books for Reluctant Readers

Easy (Not Babyish) Books for Older Kidshigh interest low level books for struggling older readers

Funny Chapter Books That Kids Lovefunny chapter books for kids

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

All Picture Book Reviews

Book Lists by Topic

Easy Reader Books for 5- and 6- Year Olds 
Beginning / Easy Chapter Books for 6- and 7- Year Olds
Books for 8-year olds
Books for 9-year olds
Books for 10-year olds
Books for 11-year olds
Books for 12-year olds
YA Books

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26 Comments

  1. When our children were young we lent our TV to a family that did not have one. They were then given the choice of reading or sleeping. They all developed a love for books. Often we read to them and left the book in the room so that they could finish the exciting bit.

  2. We do all of these and all of our kids LOVE reading (or learning to read). Such great ideas and easy to implement! Between the kids, me and homeschool we have almost reached the limit of books you can have out at a time at our libraries!
    My parents also gave us the choice of reading and/or going to bed! I still have to read every night before bed and it’s such a habit I almost can’t go to sleep without it!
    The only other thing I add is to take a book/magazine with you everywhere you go. You never know when there might be traffic, a wait in the doctor’s office, a delay in travel, or any unexpected delay where there is nothing to do. This is a wonderful time because a book is preferable to just sitting there!

  3. One thing we have always done is put the kids in bed a bit on the early side. Then we say., “You can go to sleep or read in bed for awhile.” Guess which they always choose? 🙂

  4. Here is a practical way to raise a reader. The guerilla tactics you spoke of works. Worked for me as a child and I am utilizing it now with my kids with great results.