Getting my students to read a book they're not interested in

Join Teachers.Net

Chatboards

Recent Groups

HS English

MEMBERS

12 Members

+ Join Group

Pinned Posts

ALLAll Teachers

Teachers.Net LIVE CHAT Support group - Tues eve!

Featured Jobs

Full-timeMontessori Teacher

Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

TemporaryTeachers, rural schools

Peace River North School District

Full-timeHead Teacher: 2nd/3rd Grades – Mills College Children’s School

Mills College

Teaching Jobs on Teachers.Net

Featured Job special only $39!

https://teachers.net/jobs

Become a Teachers.Net sponsor!

High School English Teachers Chatboard

Getting my students to read a book they're not interested in

by Erika

Oct 11, 2012

I'm teaching a 9th grade English class at an alternative high school. All of my students failed 9th grade last year. My county has a curriculum and lessons I must use. Though I change the lessons around to include fun activities, I have to teach the stories and books laid out in the curriculum. My students hate the book we're reading because they all read it last year and hated it (we're reading To Kill a Mockingbird). I send my students home with reading assignments and worksheets or questions for them to answer as they read, but they refuse to read, even though they know it'll negatively affect their grade. They've repeatedly asked me if we can read the book in class, but I don't have time to do so because this is an accelerated program (they will finish the entire 9th grade curriculum by the end of the semester). Though I read parts of the book to teach a lesson in class, there just isn't enough time to read the entire book in class. My question is: How do I get my students to read ...See More

Comment

(2)

report post

Sara On 10/11/12, Erika wrote:

Teachers at all schools are asking that question not just at alternative schools and nobody seems to have a magic answer. Some people including me have come to believe that some kids simply cannot do homework. Why doesn't matter so much as accepting that reality does. I believe that homework can hurt some student...See MoreOn 10/11/12, Erika wrote:

Teachers at all schools are asking that question not just at alternative schools and nobody seems to have a magic answer. Some people including me have come to believe that some kids simply cannot do homework. Why doesn't matter so much as accepting that reality does. I believe that homework can hurt some students much more than it helps.

But that's not your students I'm speaking of - I don't know your students and your community but here's a question. If they read this book last year - and for inane reasons the curriculum requires them now to read it again, why push that? Why must they reread it?? I understand you have to go through some of the motions of teaching or reteaching it but you give the fact that they read it last year as the reason they don't want to read it this year.

But even if you would forgive them the rereading (why not if they've already read it?) you still have to reteach it - why not approach it from the angle of 'why do you hate this book?' No author would tell you that everybody must love their writing. No teacher should believe that any one book is to be beloved by all. I actively dislike Hemingway's books and short stories and I abhor Joyce Carol Oates's short story about Arnold Friend - it's well written and a work of genius but I HATE that story nonetheless.

If you ask me why I hate that short story and I have been asked that in various workshops, a lively discussion always ensues around several valid questions - are we allowed to hate otherwise excellent writing? Why do we hate it? Do we fear it - is that the reason we hate it? Does it hit too close to home? Does it hit too far from home and seem unrealistic to us?

Why do they hate the book? What should be different about this book? Instead of a 'what happened on page 200, maybe ask - what do you hate most about this book? Is there one single character that you admire at all?

How are you teaching the book? As a classic work that everyone must know and love? I'd be very interested to know why they hate it - this book is admired across the world but so is Hemingway and I hate his writing...

Kids who've failed English usually don't respond well to worksheets - many alternative schools look past the traditional worksheets. But if you're not allowed to look past worksheets, shorten them, amend them.

If they're begging you to read it in class, it might also be a signal that they can't read the book - many students in alternative schools have very weak reading skills. And these kids have often been failing through all their years of school - they've never known much success in school and the threat of bad grades is one they're very used to and they're unmoved by it.

Einstein once said "Why do we do the same things over and over and expect a different result?" They've been threatened with bad grades before, they've been failed before - if we do that again, why would it work to motivate them this time?

How fast do you expect them to read the book? Weak readers are slow readers. Maybe they really do hate the book but weak readers tend to say "I don't like the book" because it hurts too much to say "I don't read well." Kids who don't read well most often feel dumb and sometimes they've been told they are dumb.

Sometimes it helps to think outside the box and sometimes we need to teach outside the box if we're really going to try to reach the kids where they're at.

> they refuse to read, even though they > know it'll negatively affect their grade. They've > repeatedly asked me if we can read the book in class, but I > don't have time to do so because this is an accelerated > program (they will finish the entire 9th grade curriculum > by the end of the semester). Though I read parts of the > book to teach a lesson in class, there just isn't enough > time to read the entire book in class. My question is: How > do I get my students to read this book at home?

Oct 11, 2012

report post

I'd be more pragmatic.. Why are they reading the same book again? They failed this class last year..so they have to repeat it.

What if I refuse to read it? You'll fail again.. make sure they can't make a decent grade without reading the book.

Prior to an F for the year, you'll get detention for refusing to do homework, calls to parents and Fs on first w...See MoreWhy are they reading the same book again? They failed this class last year..so they have to repeat it.

What if I refuse to read it? You'll fail again.. make sure they can't make a decent grade without reading the book.

Prior to an F for the year, you'll get detention for refusing to do homework, calls to parents and Fs on first work/tests and then quarterly grades.

Failure to read at home should NOT NOT NOT mean casstime to read.. that is rewarding bad behavior.

Try having discussions in class and requiring all to participate. If not everyone can talk every day, maybe requre 3 comments per week, something written to be turned in daily, etc.

On 10/11/12, Sara wrote: > On 10/11/12, Erika wrote: > > Teachers at all schools are asking that question not just at > alternative schools and nobody seems to have a magic answer. > Some people including me have come to believe that some kids > simply cannot do homework. Why doesn't matter so much as > accepting that reality does. I believe that homework can hurt > some students much more than it helps. > > But that's not your students I'm speaking of - I don't know > your students and your community but here's a question. If > they read this book last year - and for inane reasons the > curriculum requires them now to read it again, why push that? > Why must they reread it?? I understand you have to go through > some of the motions of teaching or reteaching it but you give > the fact that they read it last year as the reason they don't > want to read it this year. > > But even if you would forgive them the rereading (why not if > they've already read it?) you still have to reteach it - why > not approach it from the angle of 'why do you hate this book?' > No author would tell you that everybody must love their > writing. No teacher should believe that any one book is to be > beloved by all. I actively dislike Hemingway's books and short > stories and I abhor Joyce Carol Oates's short story about > Arnold Friend - it's well written and a work of genius but I > HATE that story nonetheless. > > If you ask me why I hate that short story and I have been > asked that in various workshops, a lively discussion always > ensues around several valid questions - are we allowed to hate > otherwise excellent writing? Why do we hate it? Do we fear it - > is that the reason we hate it? Does it hit too close to home? > Does it hit too far from home and seem unrealistic to us? > > Why do they hate the book? What should be different about this > book? Instead of a 'what happened on page 200, maybe ask - > what do you hate most about this book? Is there one single > character that you admire at all? > > How are you teaching the book? As a classic work that everyone > must know and love? I'd be very interested to know why they > hate it - this book is admired across the world but so is > Hemingway and I hate his writing... > > Kids who've failed English usually don't respond well to > worksheets - many alternative schools look past the > traditional worksheets. But if you're not allowed to look past > worksheets, shorten them, amend them. > > If they're begging you to read it in class, it might also be a > signal that they can't read the book - many students in > alternative schools have very weak reading skills. And these > kids have often been failing through all their years of > school - they've never known much success in school and the > threat of bad grades is one they're very used to and they're > unmoved by it. > > Einstein once said "Why do we do the same things over and over > and expect a different result?" They've been threatened with > bad grades before, they've been failed before - if we do that > again, why would it work to motivate them this time? > > How fast do you expect them to read the book? Weak readers are > slow readers. Maybe they really do hate the book but weak > readers tend to say "I don't like the book" because it hurts > too much to say "I don't read well." Kids who don't read well > most often feel dumb and sometimes they've been told they are > dumb. > > Sometimes it helps to think outside the box and sometimes we > need to teach outside the box if we're really going to try to > reach the kids where they're at. > > > > >> they refuse to read, even though they >> know it'll negatively affect their grade. They've >> repeatedly asked me if we can read the book in class, but I >> don't have time to do so because this is an accelerated >> program (they will finish the entire 9th grade curriculum >> by the end of the semester). Though I read parts of the >> book to teach a lesson in class, there just isn't enough >> time to read the entire book in class. My question is: How >> do I get my students to read this book at home?

Nov 26, 2012

report post