Working in a Media Center, I am surrounded by books and computers. I tell my students that they have to keep a big secret from the principal that all I do all day is play (on the computers) and read (the library books) all day long. Kindergartens look at me with longing for my job and Middle School students look at me with a smile on their faces as they imagine what it would be like to play video games or read the latest dystopian novel all day long.
As a teacher, of books and technology, I help my students everyday learning how to make choices on the internet and how to choose books.
Rebecca Alber in her article 5 Tips for Helping a Student Find the Right Book does a great job of summing up tips to keep in mind as one helps students find the right book.
#1 Get to Know the Student - make it a personal mission to get to know the students interests and previous book choices. Knowing the student's reading level is also key in getting to know the student.
#2 Experiment - You need to experiment and try different genre and your students will too. " Ms. Alber suggests that you share your own story or another student's story of genre switching. Middle school students especially relates to the personal testimonies.
#3 Exposure - Scavenger hunts, Book Talks, Middle School Book Trailers, and Book Speed Dating or Author visits or Authors who Skype are all great ideas to give students a taste or glimpse of a book. Ms. Alber suggests a "read and tease" by reading aloud the middle of the book where there's action.
#4 Permission to Abandon a Book - I suggest books with the disclaimer that "if you don't like reading it tonight, come back tomorrow and we'll find something better." You don't want a student to keep trying to read a book that they don't enjoy.
#5 Time to Look - The books in our Media Center are in 2 conditions - very worn because they have been lovingly read a lot or brand new because I have just purchased and cataloged the book and I don't expect that book to stay in that condition. Our collection of books is for the students and I have displays everywhere that are seasonal or genre related. Our students know that they can check out whatever book is in the collection even the display copies. I take it as a good thing if I have to redo my displays because there are open places where the books have been removed and checked out.
I believe that Rebecca Alber's best point is when she says that we need to provide the students with time to read. As Ms. Alber's quoted from author Kylene Beers, "the single best way to improve reading interest and reading ability is to read."
Alber, Rebecca. "5 Tips for Helping a Student Find the Right Book." Edutopia. N.p., 28 Oct. 2014. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.
I read this same article, I totally agree with you, the most important thing is that students have time to read!!
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