High School Readers Are Different
Things You Can Do To Help
1. Read out loud to your child (Zehr, 2010). It might seem awkward at first to read to a 14-18 year-old but it really can help, especially if they are a struggling reader. They need you to model what good reading looks like and sounds like. It's okay if you don't know how to pronounce all those challenging biology terms either. It is beneficial if they see how you work through or look up how to pronounce the words.
2. Find different texts. If your child is really struggling with the text, find the same information for them in a picture book or simpler text. Zehr (2010) interviewed a high school history teacher who said she uses picture books for her 11th graders in U.S. History because "such books communicate a lot of basic information in a concise way. You might also try using e-book formats, especially for texts the child may be embarrassed to have others see him or her read (Braun, 2012).
3. Encourage light reading. This is just lingo for letting students read for pleasure. "Adults who encourage students to develop the reading habit through light reading can lead them to further reading" (Cullinan, 2000).
4. Talk about what you're reading. Howard and Marney (2009) recommend adults "share their enthusiasm for books they love through book talking."
2. Find different texts. If your child is really struggling with the text, find the same information for them in a picture book or simpler text. Zehr (2010) interviewed a high school history teacher who said she uses picture books for her 11th graders in U.S. History because "such books communicate a lot of basic information in a concise way. You might also try using e-book formats, especially for texts the child may be embarrassed to have others see him or her read (Braun, 2012).
3. Encourage light reading. This is just lingo for letting students read for pleasure. "Adults who encourage students to develop the reading habit through light reading can lead them to further reading" (Cullinan, 2000).
4. Talk about what you're reading. Howard and Marney (2009) recommend adults "share their enthusiasm for books they love through book talking."
Teens also search through identity through their reading choices. They read a variety of materials (fiction and non-fiction) to learn about other people and how they lead their lives. the comparisons they can make put their lives in perspective and help them figure out the kind of person they want to be. ~ Linda W. Braun
Bibliography
Braun, L.W. (June 2012). Judging a Teen by His Cover or Her Cover -- Or Not. VOYA, 142-143.
Howard, D. and Marney D. March 2009. "Our job is to promote reading": North Central Regional Library's Mission. ALKI, 14-15. Retrieved from https://resources.oncourse.iu.edu/access/content/group/6eed208c-bc4b-4658-ab50-6c9ee012c201/Public%20Library%20Services/Week%202/Howard%20Ourjobpromotereading.pdf.
Zehr, M.A. (2010, January 6). Reading aloud to teens gains favor among teachers. Education Week, 29(16), 1.
Howard, D. and Marney D. March 2009. "Our job is to promote reading": North Central Regional Library's Mission. ALKI, 14-15. Retrieved from https://resources.oncourse.iu.edu/access/content/group/6eed208c-bc4b-4658-ab50-6c9ee012c201/Public%20Library%20Services/Week%202/Howard%20Ourjobpromotereading.pdf.
Zehr, M.A. (2010, January 6). Reading aloud to teens gains favor among teachers. Education Week, 29(16), 1.