There are many people who struggle with reading. Even more, many people do not read for leisure. Is reading boring? Would reading be enjoyable if it were meaningful? This is a question I often think about. I think about this question as I teach. I think about this question when I look back into my childhood struggles with reading.
There’s got to be a solution, right!
Sometimes I think back to when I was younger and hated reading. I hated being put on the spot to read and anticipating the mistakes I would make reading aloud. I hated feeling dumb when I couldn’t pronounce words correctly. Reading was not fun until I read books that I thought were super cool and did activities I enjoyed with teachers I enjoyed.
Throughout all the educational articles I've read, reading specialists are still researching literacy strategies. The common idea is that students improve their reading skills when assignments are personal, interactive, and reflective. It is these three characteristics that enable students to feel empowered by and interested in reading assignments.
As a book lover myself, I agree that these three characteristics make reading meaningful. Stories come to life when they are personal to your experiences. Reading is more fun when you interact with story elements. Reflection helps put thoughts, feelings, and ideas together into a new interesting perspective. That's what makes stories magical!!
Reading can be hard for some and easy for others, but it should be made meaningful for everyone.
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