I have several centers in my classroom (art, writing, computer etc. ) that they get to choose from each day. They go to the other centers but are not as interested in the reading center. The books are books they can read and are colorful, all sizes etc. Space is limited in my class so I can’t do a table and chairs and other things like that. Any ideas on how to get them to be more interested in that area of the class? Thanks.
Posted in Kindergarten information
To encourage the kids at my son’s school to read more, they have a book bag and each child in turn gets to choose one of the class books to take home with them until the next day. The child at circle time than gets to talk about the book for a minute or two. This helps the kids understand that books are special, and are fun too!
READING BUDDIES!!!!
that is if you’re in a school with older kids..in grade 5 and six we read to kindergarteners and they were always so excited when we came. and they would always want to show us how well they could read…so you just pair up one or two kids with an older one..depending on your numbers.
Hang up some interesting pictures and put some of their favorite toys in the reading center. Serve a light snack there.
Put some cool bean bag type chairs there, maybe a hammock type swing to sit in or something. i remember when I was that age the library had a cool playground type jungle gym in it where you could climb up and find a comfy spot to sit a read. I know you said you’re tight on space so that’s not an option but try to make the limited space you have very inviting and cozy.
But honestly… if they kids dont’ see their parents read, they most likely will never get interested in reading. Just personal experience there. I enjoy reading and so does my husband so I’m sure our kids will also.
If you have someone available to do it, perhaps you could have someone read a book aloud to them while they put on their own puppet show to the story. Or they can simply act it out.
Maybe one day you can help them each make their own book, and then put the class created books in the reading center for all of them to read.
Could you provide some art materials, and read aloud to them without showing them the pictures, and have them draw their own scenes?
Make it into a different, funky area to go to… if you can, built a tent or canopy above it, with some cool lighting (like a kids Ikea lamp) inside and a beanbag chair that they can snuggle up on together to read.
The other thing you can do is whenever you read to the class (which I assume you are doing… if not, you need to start), drop little comments about how much you love to read, and what you love about the book you are reading that day. At the end of reading time, ask the kids why they loved that book too. Only focus on the positives, and that will likely be what they remember, making them more curious about the other books in the class. You can also get a different child to pick the book each day, instead of you choosing. This will force the kids to go into the corner and look at the variety of books.
Good luck, and happy reading!
This is only November. What kind of books can a five year old read? This really makes me feel even stronger about the fact that we are pushing our kids too fast.
I agree that they should be read to, or have audio books, or one of the Leap Frog systems…
Is this an advanced class? If not do they all know their colors, shapes, numbers, and the words for them. Can they spell their colors? Can they do rhyming words? Do they know all their sight words? I’m assuming this is how they’re taught to read since phonics doesn’t seem to be taught anymore.
My suggestion get a volunteer or yourself and challenge the kids who can read all their colors or how fast can they read them. Get a magazine or newspaper and see how many of their sight words they can find, or words that begin with A.
The first one to find a color word in a magazine gets a sticker or a number spelled or a sight word.
If you really want them to sit and read make a chart and when they read a book and can tell you something about it, they get a star by their name.
I think because we are expecting way to much out of children in school, more students are being left behind, because they are not ready for what is being given to them. What is the rush to teach five year olds what used to be taught in first grade??? To me it’s like putting and infant on the floor and expecting it to do what a toddler does!
Have comfy pillows/mats for them to lounge in (these should store well).
Also, try having some audiobooks that they can follow along with in their books. It might be fun to hear the story at the same time (provide headphones for this, so they don’t disturb others).
Finally, integrate reading into the other centers. Get more computer games/activities that involve reading/phonics and for the art center, encourage the use of words and letters in their projects.
Good luck!