6 Steps for creating a Reading Culture in your class

Creating a reading culture in your class is like a marathon and not a sprint. Simple steps but it should be done regularly. Following are the 6 steps that will help you to do that.

1- Do and Talk about Reading

Before you start preaching, make sure to read regularly. Students should look up to teachers - you need to first inspire before motivating them. Once you start doing, please don’t restrict it there – start talking about it. Start carrying the book whenever you are in the class. If your students are on social media, post something about it. In between your lecture do share something from the book. Please don’t push them to read, just share.

The objective is to share that reading is fun and not just for grades. Do this step for at least a month. Once they see you reading regularly, they will be inclined towards reading. Not all, but even if one starts, still a good start

2- Surrounding

Now as you have started inspiring them, your next step is to indirectly ask them to read. The best way to do that is by changing the surroundings. School library is the best place for that. But school uses that space only in the library period, which is on an average just once a week.

But why don’t you use that space once in a couple of days? It’s not necessary to always move them to the library for reading purposes. You can do some other activity like – arts, drawing or even take a class on history. Students will love it as it gives them a reason to move away from their class. Even students who don’t like reading will love coming to the library as they are not being forced to read. As you start surrounding them with books, definitely within a couple of months, more will start reading.

3- Book v/s Movie

In book discussions, only students who like reading will voluntarily come forward. If you force others, they will start hating reading. Following approach is better as it is fun plus gamified.

It’s time to form two teams. In Team A, get more of regular readers and in Team B get more of non-readers. Please make sure that they feel that you have made this group randomly. To the Team A give the job of reading a novel on which a movie is made – Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Hunger Games etc. Ask the Team B to watch that movie. Tell them after 15 days, both the teams have to present the story to the entire class and let’s see who does the better job.

Now three scenarios can take place

• Team A wins – This result has more probability as passionately readers speak much nicely about the book that movie watchers can’t compete. In that case, praise the Team A and ask Team B – do you want to bounce back and beat them? They will say yes (no one likes to lose). So arrange for one more presentation on a different book. But now change the roles, Team B will read and Team A will watch the movie.
• Team B wins – In case this scenario happens, praise the team B and ask Team A - Do you want to bounce back and beat them. They will say yes (no one likes to lose). So arrange for one more presentation on a different book. But now change the roles, Team B will read and Team A will watch the movie.
• Both equally do a good job – This time say it is difficult to pick a winner and you will require for one more presentation. Similarly, as above, change the roles.

The objective is here is to make sure that you do it at least twice a month with different groups every month. Please do it in a way making all non-readers read.

4- Take the Extra Step

The remaining who are still adamant to read, here your effort increases. Find out their interest, let’s say its cricket. Then say something about Sachin Tendulkar which he mentioned in his biography. Create a curiosity. Tell them they will be a better cricketer if they read it.

Kids who don’t read are probably action loving people. Show them a book that will make them better at what they do and they will start reading it. Audio books are also a good option initially, at least it will open them to books.

But don’t force them. Remember – everyone likes to buy but no one likes to get sold. Help them to find a book which will connect to their life. That way they will be motivated more.

5- Bring back the momentum

You worked hard and students are reading regularly but the moment an exam arrives followed by a long vacation, the momentum is lost. To bring back the momentum, you can try the following things

• Reading month – where they have to read for one period every day for a month (you can go more but not less than a couple of weeks). This will help students to get back to reading.
• Author discussion – Calling an author to speak and let students interact with him/her.
• Give rewards – Give the reward to people who read at least two books in a month. Don’t give reward which is not related to reading but no books too. Give something in between – like a good bookmark, awesome sticky notes, a coffee mug which says – “I love reading,” etc. If you want to give books then make them special, get it signed by the author or if it not possible then to the teacher whom they admire.

6- Improve the Skill Set

Once you realize that your kids are reading nicely and have good control over English (usually above 6th standard), it’s time to go for “Velocity Reading” course – where we focus on how to improve interest and understanding of reading material by increasing the speed.

The reason we love movies is that we know the story is finished in less than 3 hours. And the people whom we call avid readers finish reading a book quickly as compared to non-readers. Therefore saying that reading fast will remove your interest in the material is wrong. It’s just you need to learn it properly. People (even adults) have become a regular reader after attending my workshop. Therefore, please also focus on their reading skills and not just on pushing them to read.

These all steps sounds a lot of efforts and they are but reading habit will promote a self-learning culture in your kids and imagine their growth in academics due to that. Isn’t this your dream goal as a teacher?

I would hear your feedback and any other steps which have helped students to create more interest in reading.

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