Ways to Encourage Your Middle School Student to Read

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As a middle school teacher I was always asked “How do I get my student to read more at home?” The answer is simply – the same way the teacher does in the classroom. 🙂 It does take a bit of effort up front, but if routines are set with interesting books to read, a student can maintain an at home reading practice.

I collaborated on this blog post with Sonja of the blog Too Much Character. She’s a “recovering” elementary teacher who boasts 13 years in an elementary classroom and a Master’s degree in teaching and learning. If your student is in elementary school, check out her blog post on how to get your elementary school student to read at home, or recommend it to a friend. 🙂

8 Ways to Encourage Your Middle School Student to Read

1.Be The Example

Do you read in front of your student? If not, start. It doesn’t have to be classics. It can be magazines, or even cartoons, but show your student that you enjoy reading. Pssst! (Even if you don’t enjoy reading….) Your student is watching you and has been watching and imitating you since toddlerhood. Show an interest in reading to motivate your student.

2. Identify Reading Level

Have a rough idea of your student’s reading level. With the amount of testing going on in schools today, emailing their teacher for a quick report on their reading level should answer any questions.

Another trick is the 5 finger rule. If a student reads the middle page of a book and there are already 5 words they don’t know, the book is probably too challenging. Aim for 2-3 unknown words in a page, and the book should be just at their reading level, not too hard, and not too easy.

3. Follow Their Interests

The sneakiest way to get a student to read is by asking them lots of questions about what they are interested in. If a student doesn’t like to read, I usually ask them what types of movies they like. Write down their interests for a variety of topics to cover in your book selections.

You can also google search “books like….” and then list a book or movie that your student liked in the past. For example books like The Hunger Games

4. Seek Expert Advice

The librarian at the school or at the public library can be a great resource to help find books around your child’s interests. Many of the librarians that I know read so many books they often have ideas based on a student’s interest and can find a great fit.

5. Get a Variety of Books

Students can’t read books they enjoy if they don’t have access to variety of books. Independent reading has to be based on student enjoyment. Don’t be afraid to allow comic books, or graphic novels, and even audio books coupled with the print book.. These can be great ways to get a student interested in reading. After you have asked the librarian or searched for books based on your child’s interest, bring home a variety.

Students, especially middle school students, want to have choice. Allowing them to choose what books they want to read allows them a bit of independence and proves to be motivating.

Furthermore, having a variety of books on hand allows students to stop reading a book and start another one if they are no longer interested in it. Try to encourage students to stop reading a book if they don’t find it engaging.

6. Set Expectations and a Routine

Set expectations and explain why. Explain the reason behind reading independently and why your student should try to make a habit of reading. Perhaps explain what you gain from reading, or what you have struggled with in school and why reading independently can help.

Make sure to set up a weekly routine of reading independently. Maybe the reading routine is right after school, or right before bed, or every Saturday morning. Whatever the routine, try to make this schedule reliable.

7. Limit Screen Time

Screen time is just another distraction. Set boundaries on the use of screens to encourage students to pick up a book when they are bored. You can even make screen time a reward for after reading has been completed.

8. Be Interested in What Your Student Chooses to Read

You won’t know every story your student picks up, but you can ask follow up questions. Showing interest in the stories your student reads can be motivating and an extra opportunity to learn more about your student’s interest.

Honorable Mention

9. Hire a Tutor

Honestly, if you have the funds available hiring a tutor for a struggling reader is well worth your money. As someone with a Masters degree in reading instruction, great strides can be made when working with students one on one. The proof is with my students.

Not all families have these resources available or know who to contact. You can ask the student’s classroom teacher to recommend someone, or you can even ask a high school or college student to read with your student on a weekly basis.

Middle schoolers are just kids, but they think they are older. When middle school students are paired with an older student it can also turn into a mentor type relationship too. Nothing replaces the expert knowledge of an experienced teacher, but setting up routines with motivating mentors can be positive.

Final Words

Middle school is a tumultuous time in your student’s life. So many distractions are available and expectations with their ever important friend group. However, it’s the perfect time to really engage with your student to find out what they are truly interested in. You might just find something you didn’t know.

I once had a student in class who was an average “C” student, but he was really motivated by sports. I suggested all types of sports books and he diligently checked them out to appease me each library visit. I’d check in and see he was returning it again next week. This went on for most of the school year, and then finally he found a book he could not put down. I was by no means his favorite teacher, but he took the time to come into my class and tell me directly that he had finished the book and that he enjoyed it. It is possible to find that perfect book and once a student experiences getting lost in a book, they’re hooked for life.

Join the Discussion

Ask me any questions about motivating your middle school student in the comments below! What has worked for you in the past to get your child interested in reading?

P.S. I always ask readers to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. I consciously try to document my everyday simple life. Since we happen to be on a debt free journey it can be motivating because most of my activities are intentionally inexpensive. However, if you’re trying to cut out social media, you’ll need to subscribe directly to this blog.

Author

-Maria Halcumb
B.A. in Secondary Education, English, and Physical Education
M.A. Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction and Reading Specialist