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Carol, I find that teachers are often unresponsive to this message, but I
believe strongly that the best way to motivate students to read more is
to read to them aloud, every day if possible, regardless of the age of
the student. This is of course best for lower achieving students. For the
more achieving students there is the required book reading assignment,
with one of many products required. (not the traditional book report).
True, some students still don't read the book, but many do, and if the
books they can choose from are interesting (the librarian selects a
bunch) many students will admit that they enjoyed the reading and were
glad to have been "forced" to read it.
The trouble is that , along with TV the great distractor, our students
are just too busy to read. The schools, athletics, their parents, their
desire to earn money to get a car, are all important factors in this
situation. We are probably fighting a losing battle, but perhaps one that
is still worth fighting.
On Thu, 1 Feb 1996, Carol Mackey - MTV wrote:
> Recent action research at this three-year high school indicates that our
> students do not read for pleasure. SURPRISE! Furthermore, they have
> skills that are below the level we'd like.
>
> People on the reading committee who did the research have requested that I
> poll this group (they've heard a lot about you) to see what, besides
> booktalks, you and/or others in your building are doing to encourage
> secondary students to read for pleasure.
>
> Brief messages are fine - don't think you need to write a detailed
> description of what you have done. Success stories are welcomed, as are
> things you may have tried that have not produced the results you wished.
>
> TIA for your help.
>
> Carol Mackey
> Mountain View HS
> Vancouver, WA 98665
> cmackey@egreen. wednet .edu
>
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