Sometimes, it can be a trick to get kids motivated and excited to read, especially if they are struggling with reading because of dyslexia and other learning disabilities. So what is any teacher-turned-magician to do when it comes to showing kids the magic that is contained within the pages of a book? All the best enchanters know that the secret to a really great magic trick lies within the very imaginations of those observing. So, why not bring the stories to life for your students? With some planning and preparation, any teacher or parent can inspire young minds to get excited about reading.
Here are some tips to help mystify your students:
- Set the scene for a book…literally! Have a day in class where kids get to dress up as characters from a story the class is reading together. This will encourage their imaginations to become more engaged in and focused on what they are reading, plus it will be fun for everyone. If you are studying Greek Mythology, have a party where kids can dress up in togas, just like the Ancient Greeks. Read about how a story was brought to life for this group of 4th graders in Indiana.
- Act it out! Arrange your students into groups and assign each group a scene, chapter, or character's story to act out in a skit. The groups will work together to interpret meaning and important themes. Seeing the stories acted out will help carry emotion and value across that is often hard to comprehend by simply looking at words on a page. For a little fun and added motivation, offer an additional 15 minutes at recess or extra credit for the group who can come up with the best costumes!
- Make the connection -- help your students find themselves in a book. There are many different forms of self-expression, but poetry and art are two great options. Offer students the choice of writing an acrostic poem to describe their own traits and then have them write another poem of the same style to describe personality traits of a character in a book to which they feel they can most closely relate. You could also let the more visual learners put together a collage for their favorite character, using pictures they draw themselves or those cut out from a magazine to describe the personality of the character.
Some students need extra help with learning to read before they can enjoy it. If you would like to see how a reading software program can help your struggling readers, click here.
Got any great tips and secrets for inspiring kids to read? Share it in the comment section below!