Learning to read comes so easy for some students, and for others it is a continuous challenge. This can create a challenge for teachers trying to teach kids to read when there is a wide-range of abilities and interests.
Keep in mind that each child will learn at their own pace. Some children just need a little encouragement. They need that first experience of reading a word, phrase, or sentence competently to give them the confidence-boost they need.
Others may feel that reading is drudgery. It seems that you have to fight them tooth and nail to get them to sit down and read a book. There can be a number of reasons for this. First of all, see if the child is reading text that is appropriate for their reading level. There is no greater turn-off for kids then to have to read material that is either too easy or too difficult. Their attention span is already limited at this age, so don’t lose their interest by presenting them with material that is obviously not appropriate for them. Another reason may be that the student does not find the topic or plot of the story interesting. If “Jim” is stubborn about reading “See Cat run” books, try putting an interesting animal book in his hands that has captivating illustrations with description textboxes or let him read books about his favorite super heroes. Many kids toy trends have influenced publishers to produce a line of easy read books to interest students. Whether it is first reader Phonics books about Barbie or slightly more advanced books with robust vocabulary words about Star Wars, there are a lot of different reading materials to entice children.
Be patient with your students as well as yourself as you go through this reading process. The main goal is to nurture a love for reading and to help them catch the vision of what full-literacy can do for them throughout their lives.