What motivates children towards reading ? THE THREE I's

 "The more you read, the better you get at it; the better you get at it, the more you like it; and the more you like it, the more you do it." - Jim Trelease

 The three I's that get your children reading are INTEREST, INTEGRATION AND IINVENTION

lets take a look at what they are as explained by Esme Codell😊

Interest: Interest motivated reading is when a child seeks out reading materials for information and enjoyment. It is the motivation for pleasure reading. Maybe its enjoying a book after seeing a related movie, wanting to read material that a parent or teacher has shared or pursuing a book that helps in pursuit of particular interest. Anything we do for pleasure can have emotional effects: smiles, laughter, tears; the feeling of being less alone; the sense that time is flying; the thrill of new ideas and dreams. Anything we do for pleasure is also likely something we will want to repeat in the future, so even though interest is the simplest motivation, it is also the thing that gets them there. It is a lucky child who is allowed to choose his own books without judgment and whose parents and teachers suggest books solely to make the day more pleasant. It is through the freedom of choice that the child becomes self –actualized as a reader and is more likely to read for a lifetime.

Integration: This is about connecting literature to all areas of interest and learning. Integrated reading happens when a child is convinced to use reading as a springboard into other subjects. Integration takes books into the real world, where life is not separated into subject areas and where things are made and done. Your child may read a nonfiction book because of interest in the subject, but the outcome such as how to work with a recipe may result in experiences that reach far beyond the pleasures and boundaries of the printed page. #letthemread

Invention: Invention motivated reading does not only reflect the many aspects of the book, it showcases the many faces of a reader. In this kind of reading, the child allows the writing to influence his ideas but not dictate the final product. They take the reading and invent something of their own. Reading that initiates or inspires invention may also elicit responses that have a very indirect relationship to the book such as imitating small personal qualities of admired characters. Reading that motivates may be the most powerful of all. It is such reading that helps children experiment and ultimately decide what kind of people they want to be. In other words, it is such reading that helps
chiildren invent themselves. The book holds the child's interest, the child sees possible connections to the world beyond the book , and then the child decides to use that interest and insight to create something new. Invention motivated chidren arent just reading books. They are doing books, living books!.

in conclusion

Helping children to read more is the first step to success, so all motivations are valid.  In combination , they are building blocks to a lifelong love of reading and learning and a sense of competency that may translate into higher grades and better success with other challenges. In combination, they create a fourth I , IDENTITY: I am a reader. I am a lover of books. I can get the information i need from words. I have the power of literacy.

As a parent be on the look out for what motivates your child to read. Work with it and remember there is no shortage of books because INSPIRE library is a call, a text and email away. We can organize how to get books into your childrens hands.  

The Librarian

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How to get your child to love reading - Reading aloud WORKS

 "Few children learn to love books by themselves. Someone has to lure them into the wonderful world of the written word; someone has to show them the way." - Orville Prescott (a father who reads to his children)

We want to make you the hero of your children's reading experience. Therefore this week we will equip you

with a few strategies to give you confidence that you will prevail in your efforts. First on this list of strategies is ......(you guessed it.....straight from the title..........) READING ALOUD. 

Literature based learning (especially during this time when kids are at home)  involves maximizing the potential of what we already have in place,  using our homes, and libraries like INSPIRE. All these places have doors and we need to hold them open in such a way that children can walk through and find a lifelong love of book. AS THE GROWN UPS IN CHARGE, you will win the keys to those doors if you .... READ ALOUD to your children. 

This activity involves nothing more than reading a book out loud to a child (probably everyday but we will allow you to go with your pace here.) The child may follow the text in your copy of the book, or in his or her own copy or  may just listen to the sweet sound of your very beautiful voice when you are reading. It is just this simple. It does not require any paperwork or special training and asks nothing of the child but a little attention. In fact lets just say that it is so easy on everyone's part that it is hard to believe an activity like this could yield results that verge on the miraculous.

Jim Trelease in his book the read aloud handbook (which is an excellent read for both teachers and

parents and can be found at INSPIRE library ) establishes that sharing books in this very way 

1. conditions the child to associate reading with pleasure , an association that is necessary in order to maintain reading as a lifelong activity .

2. Contributes (amazingly) to background knowledge for all other subject areas, including science , history ,geography, math etc

3. Provides the child with a reading role model 

4. Creates empathy toward other people because literature values humanity and celebrates the human spirit and potential, offering insight into different life styles

5. Increases a child's vocabulary and grammar and has the potential to improve writing skilss (please lets avoid using baby language like gugu gaga while speaking to babies)

6. Nurtures emotional development and improves self esteem

7. Creates a strong bond between parents and children. 

Looking at this list of benefits which was much longer, reading could be a type of education in itself . 

Key note

Reading aloud need not be stopped just because a child is older. More mature readers still need the flow of discussion to encourage prediction skills, to understand character development , to determine cause and effec. They seriously benefit from the model of an adult reading with proper paciing and attention to pronuciation and punctuation and leart to troubleshoot by watching an adult. 

A worthy mention

Read aloud has the power not only to sustain but to resuscitate an interst in and affection for books for children of all ages (those who were asking now they have a fun solution of how to excite your kids to read)

A love of reading and a strong ability to read can be a compass leading children to the information they need to survive or to live better and leading them to a view of themselves and others that reaches towards the horizon. 

like a very important point

Anyone who reads to a child can be assured that on some level they are giving a child the best tha can be offered, whether they child attends public, private or home school.

Again we thank Esme Raji Codell, and Jim Trelease who put such great thinking into words and even if we add our own we know they are the real geniuses in books that have changed the world . This books deserve a worthy mention here "The Read-Aloud handbook and How to get your child to love reading - a parents guide"

THE LIBRARIAN

WE want to thank our worthy readers and those who have given back such wonderful feedback. Keep it coming.

In the same spirit of reading to children we wonder if we could ask you to do something for us. We are looking for an orginal story to highlight on our "We can write wonderful original things segment coming soon." We would love to be the ones to give you the title. Here it goes

  

" I live in Africa. Recently due to covid issues and the fact that i have no reason to hide in the bush because the number of people coming to see me has gone down, i have recently acquired a very weighty issue. I am a hippopotamus and i need a diet plan. Can you write one, send to the librarian and save me from myself? - yours the hippo who lives near a water body in the bush. Yes ..that one"

HOW TO GET YOUR CHILD TO LOVE READING - Connecting your children to Authors

 "To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark." — Victor Hugo, Les Miserables

Books can be found everywhere....but today we shall be looking at teh kind of books and reading materials you can find readily available at bookshops and ofcourse libraries like INSPIRE . These books, and i will point out here, that we are looking at childrens books,  have clearly designated authors and illustrators, with characters that usually appear in print before they appear on a television screen.  Take note, that in these places , you will find every genre and every subject that you have ever thought about for kids here, many at a level of quality that actually rivals or exceeds that of adult literature - only speicially designed with children in mind and encompassing so much energy, joy , and imagination that these elements become the criteria for excellence.

The Author 

it is our duty and right to constantly remind children that authors and illustrators are real and singular people with intentions, we will not only be giving children the books, we will be giving them the people behind the book. (I am sure if you were to write something earth shattering good, you would want us to definately know your name) And if you were to talk about reading, you will be definately talking about connecting the two. 

In making this connection, the most important question we should be asking ourselves and ofcourse the children is, "why did the author write this?" "what do you think the author wanted to share?" and simply by asking those two questions, you connect the child across time and space with this real person, this author , who had something to share , and cared enough to share it. It also opens up a world of picture books to older readers, because any reading is made more sophisticated when this relationship is addressed. 

a little explanation

The connection between the author or illustrator and the young reader is a particularly remarkable relationship in which an adult trusts a child with all sorts of dreams and stories and memories and confidences and explanations (because basically that is what books are about). For many children, this relationship with an author may be the first emotional bond shared with an adult outside her own family and community and because of this small thought expressed here, the whole idea should not be taken lightly. 

a point of understanding 

If your child understands that a book is an extension of an author, then your child will also understand that he may not always connect with an author's style (parents and teachers please take note), just like he may not always like everybody he meets. And he will understand that he can always get another book and read what someone else has to share. With the right guidance and some freedom of choice, he will find authors he likes. Most problems arise when too many mismatches in terms of books are assigned to a child on a daily basis (and here is one reason why a child would hate reading) or if the literature made available to that child is of poor quality or incongrueous with the child's ability and interests (sigh) . When this happens, no one can accuse a child of being unjustified if he forms negative associations with books and takes that bloodcurdling leap into the world of "I HATE READING".

To make that relationship between author and reader possible , people in the position of matching children with books are responsible for making informed choices so that the children are matched appropriately, so that they are most receptive to what the author or illustrator is trying to communicate. This is only difficult if you 

a) dont know the body of literature available 

b) dont know the child or 

c) dont have access to books.

(remember , INSPIRE IS HERE TO HELP incase you have ticked a, b, or c)

It is my hope that now we all know this , we will be better able to match children with books. We also want to thank Esme Raji Codell the author of "How to get your child to love Reading " for writing this particular book that has such great ideas - even if we added a bit of our own thinking . 

you may comment on the article and give us more points on how we can get our children to love reading. 

The Librarian

THE PLEASURE OF READING - A SHORT INTERVIEW

 “Keep reading. It’s one of the most marvelous adventures that anyone can have.” – Lloyd Alexander

 

 

 

 

Reading should be fun – not just a compulsory part of the curriculum. Unless it’s something that excites children, they’re unlikely to become an eager reader for life. We need to be reminded often that good books are a great investment for people of all ages. Be you an adult, or a child.

Let us constantly remind ourself as craig once said, that to read is to fly: it is to soar to a point of vantage which gives a view over wide terrains of history, human variety, ideas, shared experience and the fruits of many inquiries.

 

 

  

 At INSPIRE we do our best to make reading an adventure. We make reading fun because that is exactly what it is meant to be. Fun. It is our mission to kick illiteracy out of our communities but we cannot do it alone. We need the participation of parents and their children, teachers, leaders in our communities from all walks of life. We need you, because as Jim Trelease put it ;

“A nation that does not read much does not know much. And a nation that does not know much is more likely to make poor choices in the home, the marketplace, the jury box, and the voting booth. And those decisions ultimately affect the entire nation...the literate and illiterate.”

Send us an email. Let us know your thoughts on reading and how you think it can be enjoyed in all its forms.

 

THE LIBRARIAN

LOST IN A GOOD BOOK.....BENEFITS OF READING FOR PLEASURE

Reading should always as a rule, be an adventure and more so when it comes to children.At INSPIRE we work to inspire people to read more, because we believe that everything changes when we read. The benefits of reading for pleasure go such a long way, and stretch throughout a person's life.

DID YOU KNOW... that reading for pleasure can result in increased empathy, improved relationships with others, reductions in the symptoms of depression and dementia, and improved wellbeing. In addition to the health benefits, reading for pleasure has social benefits and can improve our sense of connectedness to the wider community. Reading increases our understanding of our own identity, improves empathy and gives us an insight into the world view of others.

DID YOU KNOW..that the benefits of reading are more likely to be felt when reading takes place through free choice? The outcomes of reading will occur more often and more strongly if reading is enjoyable in the first instance. This is why the 'for pleasure' element of reading for pleasure is so important. Reading is not just something that children should do in school; it needs to be an everyday part of our lives, something we choose to do at all ages. Books enable children to discover new worlds, add to their vocabulary, spark growing imaginations, stimulate critical thinking and help to develop empathy.

According to an article by edutopia , (https://www.edutopia.org/article/benefits-reading-pleasure) reading pleasure has many forms, and each form provides distinct benefits:

• Play pleasure/immersive pleasure is when a reader is lost in a book. This is prerequisite to experiencing all the other pleasures; it develops the capacity to engage and immerse oneself, visualize meanings, relate to characters, and participate in making meaning.
• Intellectual pleasure is when a reader engages in figuring out what things mean and how texts have been constructed to convey meanings and effects. Benefits include developing deep understanding, proactivity, resilience, and grit.
• Social pleasure is when the reader relates to authors, characters, other readers, and oneself by exploring and staking one’s identity. This pleasure develops the capacity to experience the world from other perspectives; to learn from and appreciate others distant from us in time, space, and experience; and to relate to, reciprocate with, attend to, and help others different from ourselves.
• Work pleasure is when the reader develops a tool for getting something functional done—this cultivates the transfer of these strategies and insights to life.
• Inner work pleasure is when the reader imaginatively rehearses for her life and considers what kind of person she wants to be and how she can connect to something greater or strive to become something more. When our study participants engaged in this pleasure, they expressed and developed a growth mindset and a sense of personal and social possibility.

Taken together, these pleasures explain why pleasure reading promotes cognitive progress and social possibility, and even a kind of wisdom and wholeness.

INSPIRE Beyond Books reading Camps  are enjoyable, safe places where children come to interact with literacy in entertaining yet educational ways. The activities are designed to support children’s literacy acquisition and kindle their love of reading. Most of all, our Reading Camp activities are fun  and help foster literacy and learning by providing children with the opportunity to interact with literacy outside of school, in an enjoyable way. Our Reading Camps are designed to encourage children to see reading as a fun and engaging activity that is useful in all situations, not just for school.

Need to read for pleasure, our Community library offers you a wide range of reading materials. Talk to us to enquire about our INSPIRE Beyond Books reading camps.

The Librarian

OF BOOKS, and ADVENTUROUS READING SPACES

“It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.” –Robert Louis Stevenson

Nyeri, its environs and the larger Mt.Kenya region, is a fascinating place

to explore especially for readers who would love to connect what they read with the great outdoors. It offers an experience that is steeped in history and lauded with generous natural beauty.

Recently we had the amazing priviledge of visiting this little known about location for one of our beyond books outdoor activities.The Dedan Kimathi University Wildlife Conservancy is not only a lush woodland but it is also among the last tracts of indigenous forest in the region,  steeped in revolutionary history. Did you know, that during the Mau Mau rebellion, the dense forests were a hideout for Kenyan freedom fighters, including national hero and Mau Mau leader Dedan Kimathi? Did you also know that the conservancy is also part of a larger forest system known as Nyeri forest, currently managed by the Kenya Forest Service?

Our walk in the woods with one very informative forestry guide known as Rashid, provided our children with the unique opportunity to incorporate the sights and sounds of the outside world into their reading encounters, move them away from the screen and spark their curiosity and imagination. For the adults it was more of the peaceful outdoors , the air , the thing that simply wants to make you laugh and forget for a while that the world is a difficult place.

It’s no secret that being outside reduces stress, depression, and anxiety especially in this time of covid. At a time when children,teenagers and adults spend so much time online , it has never been more important to emphasize the importance of having unstructured time outside.

There is something beautifuly , mysteriously complex about being in the middle of the a nature trail that just ignites your creative juices all the way from story telling to art. Sitting quietly to pause and read in this peace and tranquility definately takes you to another level. While out there i could hear the discussions from all of us and i know that compositions about adventures in the forest will be much more interesting from this day onwards and for a few hours that day we really did enjoy ourselves and we will surely be going back

INSPIRE BEYOND BOOKS activities and adventure camps provide an array of lifelong benefits

for children, including:

• A much-needed break from technology and digital media
• A chance to “rewrite” one’s narrative or story
• Multiple opportunities to step outside one’s comfort zone and experience personal growth
• Connecting to and developing an appreciation of nature
• Building lifelong friendships
  
• Developing skills to thrive in the 21st century

To have a beyond books adventure, do not hesitate to write us an email. In the comments section, you can let us know if you have had similar beautiful reading adventures and any place you may recommend will be highly welcome.

The Librarian