As the reading intervention teacher at our school, it is my responsibility to inspire reluctant readers to read. This can be a challenge. I have found success by creating a comfortable environment for reading in my classroom and matching students with appropriate level books that are also engaging to middle school readers. Therefore I am asking for a grant to create an even better reading nook in my classroom as well as up-to-date book sets that students can connect to.
Students value having a room that feels homey and that they look forward to being in. They feel more calm and relaxed and, as a result, more open and positive towards the challenging task of reading. In addition to my reading intervention curriculum, I also incorporate book clubs using real literature that we read and discuss together. When students are carefully matched with books, I have found that the most reluctant readers can get excited about reading.