"I don't want to read." "Reading is boring." Reading is old school." "Reading takes an excessive amount of time." "I'd rather watch the movie." I'm sure most of us have heard either these lines or something similar when attempting to encourage a reluctant reader to read. Oftentimes we will hear this from children; however, there's a sizable amount of adults who express exactly the same sentiments. This may be problematic for us as a country because reading is the building blocks for learning. As self-service automation becomes more and more a part of our daily lives, the more critical the capacity to read and process information quickly becomes. The only method to build our reading and comprehension skills is through the practice of reading and for the reluctant or non-readers, they are not getting this practice.
A study conducted by the Pew Research Center in March of 2018 titled Who Doesn't Read Books in America discovered that about a fraction of American adults (24%) say they haven't read a book entirely or in part before year, whether in publications, electronic or audio form. I'm sure we can safely make the leap that those who say they haven't read a book before year are those who don't find reading to be their activity of choice.
So, how do convince reluctant or non-readers that it is actually in their utmost interest to see more? How do we help this segment of the population understand how critical reading would be to everything we do today? How do we encourage those who would prefer to watch paint dry than reading, get a book and read it?
What's promising is, everybody has a minumum of one interest and will probably have several. There's no topic that's not been discussed either in a book or article form. In reality, there's not been a better amount of time in our history with regards to accessing information. It generally is at our fingertips. For example, I love aviation and the notion of becoming a pilot and while I haven't obtained my pilot's license yet, I continuously read books, blogs, and articles that I'd read if I were a real pilot. Aviation and piloting an aircraft interests me, so reading about it is not boring or arduous. I share this story to express that the first step is to obtain the reluctant reader to choose reading material about a subject that he or she is passionate about. Allow the reluctant reader to self-choose and not be forced, assigned or mandated to see something which he or she isn't interested in. Internet search engines did wonders for to be able to read about any topic under the sun. Believe it or not, our mindsets have a lot to do with how we view reading. You will want to make reading fun? Enjoyable?MyReadingManga
Secondly, we must prioritize our time to include sometime for reading each day. Reluctant readers may start with maybe ten minutes per day and work their way up to thirty and then sixty. The same way avid television watchers can sit and watch television for hours at a time, avid readers read many books for hours at a time. If you should be an avid television watcher, would it not be possible to trade one of many T.V. hours for reading about something you're passionate about or would like to know more about? Take into account the long-term great things about learning something new or increasing your vocabulary or bolstering your comprehension skills. Reading feeds into lifelong learning.
That is for the teachers and parents who may be scanning this; Never assign reading as a punishment. By assigning reading as a punishment, we're sending the incorrect message and signal. We do not need one to associate something negative (punishment is negative) with something we would like to see more of, as in this instance, reading.
Once the reluctant reader has begun to see reading as something that's enjoyable, he or she should use down times such as for instance waiting for appointments, relaxation after work, etc., on airplanes, trains, and buses as opportunities to obtain some reading in. Like whatever else, reading can and must become a positive habit.
One final step for the reluctant or non-reader to accomplish is to generally share what he or she has read either in conversation or instruction. It is said that the simplest way to understand something is to show it, and could you imagine how proud a reluctant reader would be of him/herself after having taught somebody else about a subject that he or she read about? Just even as we get excited and tell others about how precisely great a film is, we must also get excited and tell others how great a book or article is. We ought to generate exactly the same type of excitement that we do for movies, concerts athletic events and other entertainment about books.
Three Obstacles to Reading and How exactly to Overcome Them
I personally cannot read extremely fast, but I have noticed that after years of reading consistently my reading speed has increased exponentially. Something that helped me to even begin a reading habit was starting with books that interested me. If you should be reading a book just for reading's sake you will not begin a lifelong reading habit. Focus on books that you actually enjoy. Another action step is in the first place books that are significantly less than 100 pages. Do not start with your great grandpa's "Chronicles of World History." You can normally finish a book of 100 pages in only several days of reading for 20-30 minutes. The thrill of closing a book having completed reading it enables you to eager to start another one.
Obstacle Number Two: I Can't Locate a Quiet Destination for a Read.
Solution: Be Intentional and Communicate.
Some of you scanning this have multiple children and a small home. I very much know this obstacle. One way to overcome this is to schedule reading time into your day. Get this to an occasion if you are naturally alert and awake. 30 mins of focused reading time will yield much more profit than three of hours of distracted reading. I discover that mornings are the most effective time for me. Make sure to communicate to your household, spouse, roommates etc. if you are going to cover away to accomplish some reading. This may keep you from getting frustrated if they can be found in the room to ask you a concern or to discuss the new Star Wars movie. You may be thinking, "I can't inquire further to leave me alone for thirty minutes. That's selfish." Believe me, men, our wives do not need ignorant, boring husbands. Just imagine actually having something to talk to the wives about other than politics and the latest ESPN stats. Our wives won't mind us taking sometime for intellectual stimulation. Ladies, make the most of the days of the day when the children are doing homework or taking a nap. Another strategy is to make the kids read with you. Some mornings my spouse and I make our boys read a book (or consider the pictures) by themselves while we've our reading times. Ask your husband and tell the kids to accomplish the dishes while you slip away to enjoy a few momemts of quiet reading.
Obstacle Number Three: I Don't Have Time.
Solution: Remember that Quality Time is More Important than Quantity Time.
Really? You don't have time and energy to read. "I don't have time" is one of many greatest cop out phrases of our day when it relates to commitments. The real issue is that we have made a lot of commitments to the incorrect things. The greatest time waster for all of us may be the television. I promise you. Turn off the TV, and you will find that you've plenty of time that you could use to see a book. Focus on cutting out just one single thirty minute show and concentrate on a book. You will find your appetite for good reading to start crowding out the appetite for mindless television shows. Oh. Yet another thing. Make sure to turn fully off your mobile phone while you read too. May your reading become easier and your appetite for good books grow stronger as you begin this great lifelong habit.
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