This presentation covers some of the ways we address the support of reluctant readers at our middle school.

1. Reluctant Readers
Erin Faulkner, MLIS
Elyssa Hevner, M. Ed.

2. Welcome!
Erin Faulkner Elyssa Hevner
Librarian Reading Teacher

3. Reluctant Readers:
1. Read on grade level
2.Comprehend on grade level
3. Display low motivation to read
independently - "indifference"
Reluctant vs. Struggling
Struggling Readers:
1. Read below grade level
2. Comprehend below grade
level
3. Hesitant about reading
independently - "fear of
failure"

4. Educational research . . .
• Reluctant readers require “special literacy
attention.”
• Reluctant readers require “alternative
teaching practices” and philosophies.
• Reluctant readers require “specific
materials” in classroom and libraries for
motivation.
• Reluctant readers lack confidence.
• Fear of failure is a roadblock for reluctant
readers.

5. If the student is a struggling reader . . .
1.Offer high interest books
2.Engage the support of a
reading specialist or
reading teacher to help
guide the process.

6. Independent Reading Program
Flexibility is key!
We are not advocating any extrinsic reading
reward programs, such as AR or SRC
Use something personal and meaningful to
your student population

7. Don't compromise
Quality for Quantity
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Quality_not_quantity.png

8. Or - The story of Cody . . .
Reluctant Readers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cassandrajowett/3031437851/

9. Book Blurb Test
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cassandrajowett/3118170756/

10. But remember, Cody is reluctant . . .
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rcsemk/7911072370/

11. Cody doesn't know it, but . . .
We actually set him up for success
long before he entered the library.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74571262@N08/6710953053/

12. Bookmatch
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/bookmatch-scaffoldingindependent-
book-1172.html

13. Keep in mind . . .
Cody needs to experience success
at a personal pace
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Military_cyclists_in_pace_line.jpg

14. Evaluate the goals of the program:
Better comprehension?
Love of reading?
Taking risks when choosing books?
Experiencing success?

15. Fit the program to Cody's needs:
1. Allow non-fiction and graphic novels
2. Allow slower readers to read longer books
(this will equal “less” books overall)
3. Make sure requirements are tailored to the
student's needs, not to the teacher’s needs.

16. Relationships matter!
1. Work closely with your reading department
and reading teachers to make these
programs possible.
2. Be willing to go higher to present your case.

17. 33
14
6
4
7
10
58
49
70
168
322
292
1
Book Adventure
1880-1900
1901-1910
1911-1920
1921-1930
1931-1940
1941-1950
1951-1960
1961-1970
1971-1980
1981-1990
1991-2000
2001-2010
2010 +
3
0
0 4
9
11
51
81
135
302
771
2290
27
Total Fiction
1880-1900
1901-1910
1911-1920
1921-1930
1931-1940
1941-1950
1951-1960
1961-1970
1971-1980
1981-1990
1991-2000
2001-2010
2010 +

18. 0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Book Adventure Total Fiction

19. Cody needs a book.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/colinkinner/2200500024/

20. Drive-by technique
1. Offer several choices in an area of interest.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreinafrica/8577314632/

21. 2. Encourage him to read the blurbs, then . . .
Walk away!
Drive-by technique
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartherbert/4891376302/

22. Cody is still struggling . . .
http://s.ipernity.com/T/L/z.gif

23. Collection Development!
Does your library support Cody?
Do you know which areas are popular for
similar readers?
Do you have materials he will be willing to try?

24. Analyze your collection . . .
Circulation reports identify popular topics . . .
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00
Book Adventure book
Regular Fiction book
Bluford book
Hi/Lo book
Sports book
Average Circulation

25. Analyze your collection . . .
Popular genres (in our experience)
1. Post-apocolyptic fiction
2. Realistic fiction
3. Graphic novels
4. Adventure, fast-paced
Jon Scieszka calls these "explosion books"

26. Analzye your collection . . .
Popular Authors
• Lee J. Ames
• Paolo Bacigalupi
• Heather Brewer
• Sigmund Brouwer
• Patrick Carman
• Suzanne Collins
• James Dashner
• Cynthia C. DeFelice
• Chris D'Lacey
• Alex Flinn
• Margaret Peterson
Haddix
• Bethany Hamilton
• April Henry
• Charlie Higson
• Peg Kehret
• Kazu Kibuishi
• Jeff Kinney
• Gordon Korman
• Diana López
• Marie Lu
• Mike Lupica
• Chris Lynch
• Stephenie Meyer
• Han Nolan
• Christopher Paolini
• James Patterson
• Gary Paulsen
• Rick Riordan
• Nicholas Sparks

27. Reports are your friend!
Follett Titlewise Analysis

28. Add to the collection . . .
Hi-lo books from vendors:
Orca
Capstone Press
Scholastic Resource Catalog
Saddleback
Townsend Press (free books)

29. Reluctant Reader Club - Grant
1. Grant money - $750 dollars
o Orca Books
o Conspiracy 365
o Townsend Press
2. Reading teachers identified potential students
3. Implemented via online platform (Moodle) to
create discussion groups, polls and projects

30. Awesome Book Club
+
=
Awesome Book Club

31. Reluctant Reader Club
1. "Create Privilege" - students were part of a
special group
2. "Create Demand" - restricted materials to
students only in that group.
3. "Create Community" - students were able to
engage, discuss, recommend, review

32. Add to the collection . . .
If you have limited funds
be honest about what you need.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhcseattle/2363517834/

33. Weeding
Weed your library every year!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/iwona_kellie/4788733540/

34. Create areas . .

35. Create displays . . .

36. Cody finally found a book!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/8476803105/

37. Cody finished his book!
What’s next? Create routine of independence,
create future success.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AIndependence_Town_Sign.jpg

38. What if Cody didn't finish that book?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smemon/6062580946/

39. The Path to Success
Eventually, Cody will find his own path.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/clairable_view/8357392283/

40. Cody is a success story!
Cody went from refusing to read
to reading novels independently.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/addyeddy/4322766974/

41. Other resources . . .
http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/quickpicks
http://www.guysread.com/
http://orcabook.com/reluctantreaders/
http://www.townsendpress.com/specials/

42. Selected Bibliography
Gallagher, Kelly, and Richard L. Allington. Readicide: How
Schools Are Killing Reading and What You Can Do About
It. Portland, Me: Stenhouse Publishers, 2009. Print
Gear, Adrienne. Nonfiction Reading Power. Portland:
Stenhouse Pulishers, 2008.
Senn, Nicole. "Effective Approaches to Motivate and
Engage Reluctant Boys in Literacy." The Reading
Teacher 66.3 (2012): 211-220.