Many of us know of the benefits that come with reading: it helps our brains, reduces stress, improves critical thinking and vocabulary, and helps instill empathy and compassion. Beyond schooling, why wouldn’t we want our children to become life-long readers? But recent studies from education publisher Scholastic and the PEW Research Center have been warning that for the last several years there’s been a persistent drop in children reading for fun.
In a recent What We’re Reading special report, Grand Rapids Area Library children’s librarian Tracy Kampa and Dr. Kathrina O’Connell, professor in the Professional Education program at Bemidji State University talked about what’s behind the problem and what can be done to foster a lasting love of reading in children.
The Problem
Among the findings in their “Kids & Family Reading Report,” Scholastic reported how reading for fun drops off as children get older, fewer parents are reading aloud to newborns, children’s digital activities are on the rise, and a rising number of parents wish their child would read more books for fun.
Before becoming a teacher of teachers, Kathrina taught in elementary and middle school and saw first-hand the decline in students reading for fun and the struggle to stay motivated. She recounted, “My students would complain if they were asked to read or they just didn't read in their spare time outside of school.” Kathrina now works with teacher candidates at Bemidji State University who are also seeing these issues in the classrooms they visit for student teaching or field work.
Both Tracy and Kathrina highlighted how test preparation likely plays a role in diminishing children’s motivation and opportunities for reading for fun. Tracy noted, “We have amazing teachers and we have schools that are really trying to do their best under some really harsh circumstances, but I think that reading for fun is not encouraged in school as much as perhaps it once was.”
Kathrina pointed out that testing is such a big component of time in school and while the tests themselves don't necessarily have a negative impact on reading motivation, the work that goes into test preparation can have a negative effect.
“When we focus on reading skills and strategies, and we put that ahead of actual reading and rich reading experiences, that ‘skill and drill’ work becomes very boring [to students],” she said.
From her past experience as a school librarian for 14 years, Tracy noted that if a school even has a library or media center, kids do not get to go there regularly unless it's important to their teacher. Although, some teachers have libraries in their own classrooms, which may or may not be able to be accessed by their students. The opportunity for students to browse and pick out books is often very limited.
The Solutions
What are some ways we can help children to become life-long readers and read for the joy or fun of it, rather than just for test preparation?
Kathrina advises that one of the biggest things that can be done to foster reading motivation is to let children pick the books they want to read.
“We have in the past restricted our students to read books that are just in their reading level, and we've not allowed books that are above their tested level or below that level. And that really does not go well for our students when we ask them to read books for pleasure and enjoyment,” she said.
Among her many “Clues for Creating a Life-long Reader,” Tracy advises reading aloud to children, even while they’re in the womb.
“Babies remember voices that are heard in utero. Reading to any tiny human helps them connect the idea of reading with something they already love, which is the sound of their parents’ voices. They will remember reading as something warm, cuddly and special. And the great thing is at that age doesn't matter what you read. Just surround them with words you can read out loud,” said Tracy.
Reading aloud isn’t just for at home. Kathrina suggested to keep reading aloud in the classroom too- – all through elementary and high school.
“There's so much research out there that says if we read aloud to our students in all of the grades, pre-K all the way up through 12th grade--that's really a motivator for our students. We often overlook that special time reading, modeling fluency and enjoyment for reading, and that social piece is also very important,” she said.
Modelling is also a very big motivator. If children see their parents staring at their cell phones all day, that’s what they’re going to think is important.
Tracy noted that as children develop, they start to look at whatever their grown up has or is doing as preferable to their developmentally appropriate toys.
“This is when they begin to prefer the remote or your phone or your car keys because those are the things that you use every day. So, their brain tells them that these are important things. I know it's really hard at this stage but let them catch you reading. And not just reading to them but reading to yourself as well. Their brain will see this as important, just as a cell phone must be important,” she advised.
Modelling is important in the classroom, as well. Kathrina noted that teachers need to let their students know that they are readers, too.
“I tell my students who are going to be PE teachers, ‘When you talk to your students about the Vikings game article that you read--that is really motivating for your students. It says ‘Wow, my PE teacher was reading, maybe I should do that too.’ So, what we do as educators, as readers, really influences our youngest readers.”
“Continue to let your school age child catch you reading,” echoed Tracy. “Make reading an important part of your family culture. Yes, you are an athletic family. You are an artistic family. You are a family full of scientists, but all of that is true because you are readers. Making that a culture will make it easier for kids to continue to read for fun.”
In these summer months we want our kids to get outside and have fun, but a lot of those reading skills learned throughout the school year can start to fade if not kept up. To that end, in 2017 Kathrina established a “Literacy Academy” for middle school students at her school district in Lake Park Audubon.
“There's no busy work. There are no worksheets. It's all about engaging with students, engaging with peers, having meaningful discussions, talking about books, acting out books, writing scripts, things like that,” explained Kathrina. She noted that it’s also an equity focused program; students receive free busing, free books, free breakfast and free lunch.
One fun parenting idea comes from Tracy who established a “Friday Night Reading Night” in her household. She explained, “As long as you're in bed in a by a reasonable time, you could read as long as you wanted and nobody could tell you to turn out the lights.”
Friday Night Reading Night proved successful and popular in Tracy’s household. Her then six-year-old once stayed up to 1 a.m. reading, and one of Tracy’s grandchildren now enjoys Friday night reading in his home.
Tracy urged parents to use reading night or find their own ways to keep reading happy and fun. “Because that is the way that you end up raising a lifelong reader,” she said.
Looking for a good book recommendation? Want to recommend a book you've just read? Check out our What We're Reading page on Facebook, or text us at 218-326-1234.
What We're Reading is made possible in part by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
