Disclosure: I received this CD from the publisher. Opinions shared are mine; post contains affiliate links.
Twenty years of working with teenagers has taught me this, at least……they don’t like to do anything they’re told to do. While you might understand the benefits of being a strong reader, most teenagers DON’T CARE. If you’re telling your teen, “You should read this book” and it’s not working, try these sneaky strategies to get your teen into a book. It worked for me!
Gift your teen an Audible subscription. (Download 2 free audiobooks when you join here.) This is especially helpful if your family spends a lot of time in the car. Does your child have to read specific books for school? Check with the teacher about this first, but it might be acceptable for your child to listen to the required reading instead of reading the print format. I’m a language arts teacher and (gasp) require my students to have a book continually in progress. If they turn noses up at traditional books, this is my suggestion.
The bonus benefit of having an Audible account is that you can likely find dozens of free audiobook downloads from your local library! Plus, no books to return.
Similarly, don’t forget to download the FREE Kindle Reading App. Again, your library will have so many free book choices that can be borrowed. Many books are available to read while you listen along. That is the top choice for many of my students, who want to read (because it’s required) but they have a hard time staying focused. Listening to the narrator makes it easier to follow along.
Alternatively, it can be fun to pop in a CD and listen to it while you do chores together. Old school, right?
Batgirl at Super Hero High is a great title for teens. I especially like the narration by Mae Whitman in this version because she reads with appropriate inflection and tone. This helps readers to understand reading fluency and, hopefully, imitate the skill when reading aloud. The Super Hero High presents classic superheroes as teens in high school. Fun concept, right? It’s interesting to see how the heroes battle peer pressure, which can’t be eliminated even with super powers. Barbara must deal with her father, friends, and troubling situations. Author Lisa Yee uses vivid language to describe the scenes, making it entertaining and engrossing. Teens who are reluctant readers won’t be able to help themselves….they’ll be drawn into the story. The plus side of the super hero story? I find that getting a series starter into a child often makes him want to read the rest of the series.
Do you have suggestions to help teens enjoy reading?
One of the most important things you can do to improve your children’s reading skills is read to them. Reading to your kids frequently helps them to build their own vocabulary and to learn to love reading. As a parent, you may be uncomfortable reading to your kids because you don’t know what to read. The good news is, it doesn’t really matter. The time spent together, with your child listening to the rhythm and intonation of your voice is enough to have a positive effect that will last for years. Time spent reading and talking together instead of watching television costs nothing, but has priceless returns.
Cheers then.
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