By TBHS | Posted: Thursday March 14, 2019
From our Librarian...
As part of the English course at school, all students from Years 9 to 13 are required to read at least two books a year. Increasingly we are finding it difficult to engage students with reading and we are seeing a divide among the students, with some voraciously making their way through an entire series of books, and others who boast to me that they have not read a book since primary school. However, reading and reading for pleasure are important for student learning and wellbeing as there is evidence to show that reading books can develop vocabulary, broaden imaginations, improve writing, lower stress levels and make you kinder to other people.
In the library, we have diversified the types of books available, opening up more options to students who have previously felt that they could find nothing that they wanted to read. We have purchased access to eBooks, for those students who like to read on their devices but in some cases, the need to just ‘check’ the latest from YouTube, snapchat and Instagram is too strong. However there is only so much we can do at home and support at home with literacy and reading is as necessary when boys are teenagers as when they are new entrants. Here are some things that you could do to help your son with his reading:
1. Be an example. Let your boys see you reading.
2. Fill your home with a variety of reading materials. Leave books, magazines and newspapers around and check to see what disappears for a clue to what interests your son.
3. Build on your son’s interests. Look for books and articles that feature their favourite sports teams, rock stars, hobbies, or TV shows. Give a gift subscription for birthdays to a special interest magazine.
4. View pleasure reading as a value in itself. Almost anything your son reads helps build reading skills.
5. Read some books written for teens. Young adult novels can give you valuable insights into the concerns and pressures felt by teenagers. You may find that these books provide a neutral ground on which to talk about sensitive subjects.
6. Make reading aloud a natural part of family life. Share what you have read in books, magazines or newspapers without turning it into a lesson.
