Reaching reluctant and struggling readers with "just right" books
Have you read anything recently that you just couldn’t put down? Something that captivated you so much that anything outside of the words in front of you seemed to fade away?
Now compare that experience to reading something you found boring and difficult to understand. I’m guessing you had a bit of a harder time staying focused on it than you did when you were reading something you really enjoyed.
If a child believes a text to be too difficult or uninteresting to them, then executive function skills such as sustained attention, task initiation, and goal-directed persistence become exponentially more difficult.
This is why it is essential to match children, and especially children with weaker executive function skills, with books that are at the appropriate level and of interest to them.
When I was a classroom teacher, my reluctant and struggling readers often followed the same pattern when selecting books. They would trudge over to the classroom library, run their hands along a shelf, and randomly pick a book. They would then give it a quick glance, shrug, and head back to their desk.
Can you guess what would happen next?
I'll give you a hint--these were not the students who would get so lost in their books that they needed to be reminded when class was over.
Instead, I would find that hastily selected book abandoned in the hallway, pages left unread.
And that student would be left even more convinced that reading just wasn't for them.
So while the strategies I've shared during this blog series (Part 1 and Part 2) and on Instagram are helpful, they can only work once we have a successful match between reader and book.
How to do that? Keep reading!
How to select high-interest “just right” books
Think of it like finding that perfect pair of jeans. You can't just randomly grab one from the shelf and check out. You have to look over the choices, consider the color, check the size, and then try them on to see how they feel. Picking a book follows a similar process.
Children need to be taught and supported in selecting books that appeal to their interests and reading preferences. Action packed? Talking animals? Historical fiction? Relatable characters? There's a book out there for everyone's taste, but it usually takes a little effort to find it.
Teach your child to follow these steps to select a book that appeals to him or her:
Look at the cover
Read the description on the back
Read the first page or two and use the 5 finger test (hold up one finger for each difficult word; if all five fingers are up at the end of the page, then this book is likely not quite at the right level).
Book genres and features that support executive function skills
If your child is a reluctant reader, struggles with task initiation (actually picking up the book to start reading) and goal-directed persistence (getting to the end of the book), then look for books that....
have short chapters. This helps your child feel like he or she is making steady progress. Short chapters make it easier to start and stop reading at logical places in the story.
are written in verse. There are more and more middle grade and YA novels written in verse. Because there are fewer words on the page, this can be less intimidating for some children.
are high-interest. What is your child interested in? Try finding books that connect to his or her interests.
If your child is a visual learner and/or struggles with working memory, look for books that...
have some illustrations. Some middle grade novels have illustrations scattered throughout even though they are not picture books.
are graphic novels. Many parents are quick to dismiss graphic novels, but there are many of high literary value. I particularly like the graphic novels by Raina Telgemeier.
All reluctant readers can benefit from reading books in a series. It can be hard for children to start a new book, learn new characters, and get familiar with a new world. In a series, they only have to do that with the first book. This lightens that cognitive load in subsequent books, and they are more motivated to read them because they are already invested in the story.
Potential challenges to be aware of
There are some common features of middle grade and YA novels that can pose a particular challenge for children with weaker executive function skills.
Novels that shift between different narrators or back and forth in time can be challenging for children who struggle with working memory and flexible thinking.
Fantasy and historical fiction novels challenge readers to adapt to a new world and quickly learn the rules of that world--that can also challenge a child's flexible thinking and working memory.
Children who struggle with sustained attention and goal-directed persistence might be discouraged by novels with long chapters and lengthy descriptions and might do better with shorter novels in general and shorter, more action-packed chapters.
Big disclaimer: This doesn't mean you should avoid novels with any of these features. If your child wants to read a book and is highly motivated to do so, that motivation can help him or her persevere despite whatever challenges the novel might pose.
But if your child is struggling with reading, experiment with finding novels that don't have these particular challenges to see if that makes a difference.
Tips and Tricks
Audiobooks:
Audiobooks can be a valuable tool for reaching even the most reluctant of readers AND readers who struggle with executive function skills.
One way we can support students with EF skill deficits is to reduce the complexity of tasks. By reducing the cognitive requirements of reading with an audiobook, the child's attention is not being completely consumed by decoding the words on the page. Now her attention is free to focus on other skills, such as retaining information about characters and plot.
Audiobooks also appeal to children with strong auditory processing skills, and can help develop those skills in other children.
They provide a model of a fluent and expressive reader. I typically encourage students to follow along in a physical book while listening to an audiobook so they are getting the best of both worlds. The audiobook helps them keep pace and stay focused on the book in their hands.
Finally, for children who need to move and fidget to learn, audiobooks are an excellent solution. It's hard to move you body while reading a physical book, but any kind of movement is possible while listening to an audiobook!
Use Book Trailers:
Youtube is filled with book trailers made by publishing companies and students. If your child is a reluctant reader and struggles to sit down and start a book, try finding a book trailer for the book to build excitement.
It is easier to start a task if there is some familiarity. The book trailer gives your child an idea of what to expect from a book, so starting that first page can feel less overwhelming.
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