First, you need to drown yourself in children's or adolescent
literature. You need to become an expert. Then, you'll be
prepared to help match students to books that they'll like.

Book talks are one way to hook kids. Tell the kids a bit about
the book (about the plot, action, etc--NOT about awards its won,
etc,). Read a bit aloud to them; particularly an action scene
that can end in a cliffhanger. Then tell the kids they can sign
up on a waiting list for the book.

When you get new books, line them up on the chalk tray and
write "New Books!" on the board above them. (I did this last
week and all 8 new books were checked out within 4 days.)

Honestly, all we can do is keep throwing books at them until they
click with one.

On 9/24/09, Brett wrote:
> Have you considered reading aloud to these students on a daily
> basis? Maybe 10 minutes out of each class period. You could
> read "The Skin I'm In" to them. Have class discussions about
> the daily reading. Use ideas and events from the book as
> writing prompts. When finished reading one book, begin another
> chosen by you or one of your students. Possibly the books could
> have similar themes or be of similar genres, etc., and the
> class could compare and contrast the two, either orally or in
> writing, or both.
>
> But at the very least, consider reading aloud to them daily.
>
> Brett
>
>
> On 9/24/09, Hermione wrote:
> How do you convince reluctant readers ... that ... reading is
> ... very enjoyable?
>
> ... I saw one student with the book, "The Skin I'm In" which is
> a title I have been wanting to take out of the library and read
> myself.

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