Motivating the Struggling Reader

Teachers.Net Chat September 23, 1998 Motivating the Struggling Reader with Nelda/HSBio/AL

Nelda/HSBio/AL - Hi! Welcome to tonight's open chat forum on "Motivating the Struggling Reader." The original host, Molly, and Kathleen are unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts. So, I will be your hostess. We will be using an open chat format tonight. Please sign in and let's begin to help each other with ideas on how to motivate our students to read.
Nelda/HSBio/AL - I am SO glad to see another cyber-face. I was getting lonely.
Mary K&1 - Nelda, I'm not even a bit close to being a HS teacher, but I thought that I'd stop by, hope you don't mind
Mary K&1 - At one of our inservice days this year before classes started we had the pleasure of listening to Dr. Mary Bigler. Her topic was "Motivating the low achieving reader." She talked much about middle schoolers and High Schoolers.
Nelda/HSBio/AL - Mary, would you mind sharing some of Dr. Biglar's ideas.
Mary K&1 - She was the best motivational speaker that I have heard in years! She recommended using joke books to get these students into reading.
Kathy/5/IA - Sounds interesting, Mary ... do tell!
Nelda/HSBio/AL - How interesting! Sounds like an idea that a fellow teacher shared with me today.
Mary K&1 - Jokes are short and offer zero threat. Kids of all ages are willing to read them.
Kathy/5/IA - Kids like joke books, funny poetry, comics, etc... They don't think they are reading :0)
Nelda/HSBio/AL - I talked with our reading teacher. She said to get students to read things they LIKE--comics, sports magazines, etc.
Mary K&1 - She gave us a huge list of books that she recommends for these reluctant readers.
Nelda/HSBio/AL - Mary, did Dr. Biglar have any other neat ideas?
Nelda/HSBio/AL - Mary, do you remember any of the titles?
Kathy/5/IA - It is important to let the kids pick a lot of their reading material. One father stated his daughter reads the National Inquirer (she's caught up in the Jon Benet' case). I guess she is reading...right!
Nelda/HSBio/AL - Right, Kathy! Now, once we get them reading that, how do we translate that into our subject area?
Mary K&1 - She also recommended using easy to read poetry books. Once again, the selections are short - a factor that appeals to underachieving readers.
Mary K&1 - I have the lists right here next to me.
Kathy/5/IA - Maybe the list would be good to post on the chatboard - do you think you'd need her permission to do so.
Mary K&1 - Most of the books that Dr. Bigler recommended are in the Teachers.Net Bookshelf http://www.teachers.net/bookshelf/shopping/lit_frame.html
Nelda/HSBio/AL - Mary, our reading teacher said that some novels have been translated into lower reading levels. That way the students are reading the same material as there peers, just at a level at which they can succeed.
Mary K&1 - She welcomes us to spread the word and share the books
Nelda/HSBio/AL - Any other suggestions from Dr. Biglar, Mary?
Mary K&1 - Well, other than keeping the classes on a humorous note, she also tells of the importance to keep assignments and reading material in a non threatening mode. This of course is not news to most teachers, but often hard to achieve.
Kathy/5/IA - I keep trying to expose my kids to all kinds of literature. I find that they think reading is what they did with a "basal" .... hard to switch them to reading is something enjoyable!
Nelda/HSBio/AL - Have any of you used the "Newspapers in Education" materials? Our reading teacher said that her students get so caught up in reading the newspaper, they almost forget to do the activities that come with the program.
Kathy/5/IA - I just hope the newspaper "cleans" up by Newspaper week. The content lately is something I wouldn't want to use with 5th graders!
Mary K&1 - I know, from my own observations, that even the BIG kids enjoy reading children's picture books. I have seen MS & HS students come into my room and pick up the books that I read to my Kinder kids and get a kick out of reading them.
Kathy/5/IA - Yes, I do use newspapers in my classroom, thought! They do like it. Makes them feel grown-up!
Nelda/HSBio/AL - Mary, that is a good point about keeping reading materials non threatening. But, we also do not want to insult them.
Mary K&1 - Dr. Bigler would have HS students write books for young students. She shared examples with us that these "non readers" wrote. They were really very good!
Nelda/HSBio/AL - Mary, it must be that HS students will do that individually, but feel insecure about reading children's books in front of their peers.
Kathy/5/IA - I have my kids scheduled as mentors for younger kids. They read to a first grade, and work on reading and writing projects with an ESL 1st grade.
Nelda/HSBio/AL - Mary, that sounds like a great idea! Writing their own books!
Nelda/HSBio/AL - Kathy, that sounds like a "learn by doing" approach. The more you read to others (or for yourself) the better you become at reading.
Mary K&1 - These HS Students would go into Kindergartens and First Grades to read to the kids. She said that they enjoyed the experience. It gave them a positive feeling of doing something good for the little ones. Plus at the same time got them reading.
Kathy/5/IA - Yep, that's my motto! The more you read, the better you get at it. The better you get at it, the more you like it. The more you like it, the more you read. And the more your read, the more you know!
Nelda/HSBio/AL - Kathy, that needs to be on a poster!!!
Kathy/5/IA - I have it on a poster in my room - one I made myself!
Nelda/HSBio/AL - Another suggestion our reading teacher made was having students write in journals. This is similar to your earlier suggestions. They are able to express themselves without fear of rules.
jd - My setting is one where a great # of my students need individualized attention. I have about 15 to 20 slow readers per class and my #'s keep increasing. I need suggestions.
Kathy/5/IA - What grade, jd?
Nelda/HSBio/AL - jd, do you have any way to use alternative materials that are on a lower reading level, but are the same curriculum?
Mary K&1 - Writing is a great way to get to reading. Writing pushes the reading skills. Students who are having reading difficulties should be given lots of opportunities to write.
jd - 9 -12
Nelda/HSBio/AL - One thing I do is guide their reading with questions they must answer as they read. I try to keep the questions simple, but not rote.
Kathy/5/IA - Do you have a "book" you are to follow, or could you do more individualized reading - like a readers workshop approach (Nancie Atwell?)
jd - different resource materials including the internet
Kathy/5/IA - I have had a lot of success with Literature Circles.
JP - How do their reading problems carry over to other academics ?
jd - They have similar problems.
Nelda/HSBio/AL - I have found that my students don't realize they are reading when they use computer tutorials and the internet. They seem more engaged, less frustrated. Why are they so intimidated by BOOKS?
JP - Could you use the Internet with text articles to stimulate them - start them reading ?
Kathy/5/IA - Tutorials and the Internet are great ways to get them to read. I also encourage mine to shut off the sound of their TVs and us the closed captioning!
JP - Great idea
jd - They do enjoy using the internet but I do monitor their sites though. WCW is one of their favorite.
Sandy/4/FL - Saw the comment on having the HS students read to K & 1. Well, I do this with 4th graders as well. They take ownership in their reading and have a purpose to want to read.
Nelda/HSBio/AL - I like the close captioning idea!
Kathy/5/IA - What is WCW? I'm not familiar with that.
Mary K&1 - What kinds of writing activities and assignments do you do with these older struggling students?
jd - Wrestling site.
JP - I have my older students use word processors to do some of their writing
Kathy/5/IA - My kids have had fun with the CC (close captioning). I "require" them to read 20 minutes each evening and they can count CC. They then get to see their shows and read, too. Parents must verify.
Nelda/HSBio/AL - So, if we "sneak" them into reading, they are not as fearful--more receptive?
jd - I prefer cnn, msnbc, or other sites of the like.
Kathy/5/IA - Yes, mine would like WCW, too - but we aren't hooked to the net yet.
Sandy/4/FL - Nelda, sounds like a good way to rephrase our tricks.
Nelda/HSBio/AL - Since reading is an essential skill on most standardized tests, do you have any "tricks" for preparing students?
Nelda/HSBio/AL - I have seen too many students put their heads down during that portion of the test and not even try.
LindaWV - Were talking about the SAT's?
Nelda/HSBio/AL - Linda, is this an area in which you have some ideas that work?
LindaWV - I am a reading specialist....
Nelda/HSBio/AL - Yes, Linda, the SAT's.
LindaWV - What questions did you have?
Nelda/HSBio/AL - Great! Please tell us any ideas you know that work.
Nelda/HSBio/AL - Linda, how do you prepare students for the SAT? How do you encourage students to make an effort?
LindaWV - Are these students who don't give a ___?
sue - i work with special ed. teenagers and do at times get them reading and motivated
LindaWV - First of all, let me tell you I definitely am not a proponent of standardized tests.
awesome - I teach a class of lower level students in reading,,,,any good books that you have found to use for 9th graders?
LindaWV - We really stress plain old reading, reading, reading --the enjoyable kind....We also teach strategies on how to take those tests--which really helps...But, give them a reason for wanting to do well???That is hard when they aren't motivated and have no purpose.
sue - i feel it's a matter of matching the students with the right reading mateirals..be it rap music, poetry, short stories,novels,etc
Nelda/HSBio/AL - To all, thank you for coming. You are welcome to use the conference room to continue this discussion. Good night.
sue - it would be interesting to contribute to a list of novels that have "worked" for teens
Kathy/5/IA - Maybe something like that could be started on the Literature Chatboard, Sue. The lower elem. teachers do a great job of combining their ideas for books they are reading.
Mary K&1 - Sue, if you have some books to list here, email me mmiehl@alltel.net
Kathy/5/IA - Good night all! Thanks for all the neat ideas and thoughts!