How can I encourage the sudents of our school to READ books during the library period?

We have an excellent collection of books in our library for children of the primary and lower secondary grades.The only problem is that they don't actually read.Instead,they are more interested in looking at the pictures and at the end of the day,they have read nothing,only browsed through the books and scanned the pictures.

How can I encourage the sudents of our school to READ books during the library period?
maybe offer an incentive to those who read the most books by like the end of a month---and you can collect data and proof by having the children answer questions on the books
Reply:Give a prize for the person that can tell you what they read.
Reply:aint you a teacher. didnt they teach you how to deal with these issues. start earning my tax dollars for a change.
Reply:I think that if you grade them for it.In other words, tell them that you will be asking for a short summary of the book they choose to read and you will grade them on that short summary.Also the best summary will get a little treat.
Reply:...sounds like "they" need to be taught to "read"...then, get the books with the pictures "out of their reach".... or have a "selective" choice to read during that period of time... Take control of your class... you are in charge...? or is it the kids?
Reply:Want them to read? How bout getting some subscriptions to Gamepro, PC Gamer, Electronic Gaming Monthly, Inquest, Scrye, Nintendo Power... maybe even some strategy guides for the games they play?





Perhaps you should setup a tv and X-Box 360 in the Library so they can enjoy that too. Oh, and tell them they can pass notes while they're playing... so I guess that's kinda like reading.





Well, let's just back up. Scratch all that. Lose the books and put more game systems in the Library and I bet you couldn't keep the little buggers out.





Good luck trying to keep people interested in a dying hobby when there's so many better things to do with your time.





You might as well get a new job. Librarys are going to be sort of phased out in the new generation. Live with it.
Reply:Maybe in the lower grades u choice a book to read to all of them and each child gets to read 2 pages or get a system up that they take a book out and read it and then at the end of the week they tell you bout the book and if they did read it (or u could ask them to read something they thought that was intresting or funny bout the book) to u and the class... For the older ones if that wont work maybe ask them what kinda books they wont or something


Hope I helpt!
Reply:probably start some reading groups......make it fun to read...find books that they can relate to....give them some incentive to read.....have them do reading logs......read out louds.....etc
Reply:Have a read and share day. Give some kind of incentives to help motivate them.
Reply:It appears to me that you have lots of help here. Young people like to be read to, I know I always liked one story that my mother used to read to me. Being read to will generate more interest in reading. There is always some reading material that will appeal to each and everyone of use. So, you have to find what fits most of the class. I know that there was always something that I had to find out, and that is how I started to read for myself.
Reply:Well this is natural for young children to only browse the pictures. But if anything, see if they will read a book of their choice that has fun facts in it. Maybe this will help them want to read a little more.
Reply:consider getting the program Accelerated Reader into your school. The kids read books and take computerized tests on them for points. At the end of the month the kids get prizes for the amount of points they have. Find more information about it here.


http://www.renlearn.com/ar/


My son's elementary school had it and it is a great program
Reply:Your definition of excellent my not be the same as theirs. First, I'd make sure that what you have meets their wants, needs, expectations...





Have you thought of a contest, maybe, to see who can read the most books from a chosen selection? Test their reading speed and comprehension by giving some simple (yet telling) questions about the books on the list after they say they've completed them. Offer prizes to the top readers for the week. NOTE: Make sure the prizes are worth their time and within your budget. If all they're going to get is a sticker that says "GREAT" you program will most likely fall on its face.





Just my $.02 worth. Hope it helps.
Reply:Start a book program with incentives for avid readers. Similar to what Pizza Hut did with Book it. Or start a battle of the books program and offer special prizes or a class trip for a day outing.
Reply:have them look for books for a limited amount of time. the person that isn't sitting when that amount of tim is up doesn't get a sticker on a board. ***when a student reaches 10 stickers they get a prize.
Reply:give them quizzes on the books. That's what my teacher made us do all through Elm-HS. It made me read. I didn't like it but I didn't want a bad grade. :X
Reply:Offer the students some sort of incentive for reading...a tasty snack or free play for reading.
Reply:Well, the obvious - you have to give them something interesting. My son is 7 years old and it is a fight to get him to read his homework. But, give him a dinosaur book - and he will study every word until he gets it right (and memorized). I hate to hear that they're not reading because I think it's such a great thing!


Suggestions ...


reward programs (my son's school offers free tickets to events, coupons for free personal pan pizza to Pizza Hut, treats from the classroom treasure chest, for reading so many books in a month, week, etc.")


make it fun (have them make a poster about the book they read, divide them in groups and have them make out a scit from a scene in the book)


show that it's great when they read (constant encouragement, be impressed if a child goes thru a decent amount of pages during library time, ask them to share something with the other students about what they read)


don't let them pick and choose books thru the time (make them pick one book for the week - they'll get tired of looking at the same pages and might actually read)


Don't know the right answer, but good luck. It's nice to see that you care if they're reading or not - too many people don't care.
Reply:At this age, initial interest is important. It doesn't matter if they are actually reading it...as long as they are paying attention.
Reply:I find that if they get a book in a genre they enjoy, it works wonders; peer "pressure" works; and so does a commercial.





So...put it together: Pull excerpts from a variety of genres (action, fantasy and sci-fi work well at all ages, drama and "thought-provoking stuff is great to us, but not to a developing reader). Have some of kids learn the passages well then videotape them "performing" these. I would suggest a voice overlay of the real words (maybe a teacher or two wouuld help out - or even better, a good student reader) while some of the hammiest kids act out the scene (even in costume if possible). That way, the kids can get a taste of what words lie inside the books.





The other way, of course is to provide incentives. Have contests over who can read the most books. Provide individual incentives (candy? certificates of completion?) or have a game show like Jeopardy where kids who have read a series of books can compete for fabulous cash and prizes (minus the cash) :)
Reply:Our school district uses the STAR program. Students read books and take 10 question quizzes on them. Points are accumulated based on the reading level and questions answered right. For instance, a second-grader reading a first grade book and gettin all the questions right would still only get half credit, because it is below reading level. At the end of the year, a pizza party is given for the students with the most points in each grade. You could also try just a traditional reading program with reading logs. Good Luck!