As my 9-year-old son sets his timer and picks up a book, I can’t help but notice the summer reading log from the library sitting beside him, adorned with colorful stickers. While he’s focused on recording his reading minutes, it seems that the true joy of reading has taken a backseat. Unfortunately, he signed up for the summer reading challenge only because of the prize — not out of a passion for books.
As a former educator, it pains me to see my son lose interest in exploring new authors and captivating stories. During the school year, his approach to reading revolved around quickly selecting the easiest books to rack up points on the Accelerated Reader program.
Understanding Accelerated Reader
For those unfamiliar, Accelerated Reader (AR) is a system many schools employ to promote reading among students. However, I believe it’s fundamentally flawed. How can an educator deem a reading initiative as problematic? Allow me to explain.
The program assigns every book a specific reading level and point value, with longer texts usually earning more points. After finishing a book, students log on to take a comprehension quiz, and their points are determined based on their performance. While this may seem like an effective way to motivate children, it often backfires. Over time, students begin to prioritize points over genuine enjoyment, gravitating toward the simplest 0.5-point books that they can finish quickly and test on. My son fell into this trap, which left him uninterested in anything beyond light reads.
The Issue with Reading Logs
The same issue arises with reading logs. Instead of diving into intricate narratives filled with compelling characters, students find themselves fixated on the clock, counting down the minutes rather than savoring the story.
Think about it: how many adults read like that? Do we set a timer and read for a predetermined amount of time? That would be tedious! So why impose this on our children?
Fostering a Love for Reading
What can we do differently? The key to fostering a love for reading lies in captivating storytelling. As parents, our primary focus should be on enticing our kids with stories that spark their imagination. Every child is unique, and discovering what resonates with them often requires a bit of experimentation.
If your child is resistant to reading, start by introducing a book you know they’ll enjoy. My son has always loved the “Dragon Masters” series by Tracey West, so I sought out more of her works. While browsing the library catalog, I stumbled upon “Dragon Masters: The Missing Dragon.” I quickly grabbed it and casually suggested it to him.
With kids, it’s crucial to strike a balance. You can’t come across as too pushy; if they sense you’re trying to coerce them into reading a book, they’re likely to resist even more. Instead, I opted for a casual approach: “Hey, this looks interesting. What do you think?” My heart raced as I awaited his response.
“Meh… not really into it,” he replied. My internal monologue screamed, “How can you not be interested? You haven’t even opened it!” But I played it cool. “Well, maybe just take a look at the back cover and see if it catches your eye,” I suggested.
To my delight, he began to read the back cover and, before I knew it, he was flipping to the first page. Yes! It was a small victory. I asked gently, “Want to give it a shot?”
“Sure, I suppose,” he said, and suddenly, he was reading nightly after dinner without even glancing at the clock. He became so engrossed that he panicked when he realized he didn’t know how long he had been reading. How would he keep track of his summer reading log?
And that, my friends, is when you know you’ve succeeded in breaking the reading log cycle!
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Summary
If your child is struggling to engage with reading, consider moving away from rigid reading logs and focus on finding books that truly interest them. The goal should be to inspire a love for stories, not just to accumulate points or minutes. By introducing books that resonate with their interests, you can rekindle their passion for reading.