When students begin reading, it’s often a time of excitement and high motivation. But when it’s time to start reading entire books, students can feel intimidated and motivation quickly wanes. Luckily, we’ve got some tips to help you prepare your students for “Harry Potter” or “War and Peace” that will keep momentum going.
It’s one thing to read something that a student has chosen for themselves but another matter entirely when it’s a set-work book. Chances are there will be very little prior knowledge to give the work context, and it’s difficult to go into a new piece of literature or nonfiction selection without any prior knowledge. This is where confidence and assurance come in. It’s a bit like getting kids to eat their vegetables. Once they realize they’ve had vegetables that they’ve liked before, they’re (a little) more confident in trying new ones in new ways.