Tips for Motivating the Most Challenging Struggling Readers

READ 180 Community Newsletter - Spring 2009

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"It is such a motivator to be able to see students, with a pattern of failure, grow into successful readers!" —Kim Martin

Kim Martin, Hickman Mills School District, Kansas City, MO

As a ninth-grade READ 180 teacher in the Hickman Mills School District in Kansas City, Missouri, I had the opportunity to teach several students who had overcome their struggles with reading to achieve success. In 2007, I was proud to see one of my students recognized for their accomplishments as a READ 180 All-Star winner. It is such a motivator to be able to see students, with a pattern of failure, grow into successful students who become active in school and make good grades because of their new found confidence in their abilities.

As a READ 180 educator, I realize that not all students achieve the success of becoming an All-Star and primarily it is because these students are unmotivated about learning. Therefore, I would like to share a couple of ways I have motivated students to achieve their goals for reading.

From the very first day of school, I have students telling me that they don't need my class.  They dislike school, dislike my class, and even dislike me.  So how do I motivate these students who are experts at failing? 

1.  If I am bored, my students will be bored too
READ 180 allows for great flexibility in activities and projects.  Therefore, I try to find out what students think is fun and then create an activity or project around it.  For instance, my students hate book reports, but love music.  Therefore, for students who want to present aloud, I encourage them to use music in their presentations.  For the other group of students, they become authors on the computer adding color, graphics, and finally sound.

Kim Martin's READ 180 Classroom

Additionally, each month I have students work on a special project or activity that will tie in the things that they enjoy.  Having something fun to look forward to motivates even the most reluctant reader.  Here are fun examples I have used in my classroom.

To help celebrate Halloween, I have students participate in a "Readers' Theater."  Here students have the opportunity to be creative with reading by acting out each character using Halloween props. Even a shy reader becomes an actor with a wig!  As another example, for our poetry unit, I opened "The Beatnick Café," complete with coffee, sunglasses, and finger snapping to applaud their favorite poet-presenters. You can be creative with special projects or activities—don't be afraid to have fun with it, your students will love this!

2.  Keep students informed on their progress
Most students have no idea what their reading level is until I schedule a conference to meet with them and discuss their progress.  At the first conference, I teach students how to read the reports I see as their teacher.  Using the Student Reading Report, I show the student where they should be, compared to where they are.  I say, "This score tells me that I either have the program set too difficult for you or you are not focusing."  They then tell the truth about their scores.   

I also use the Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) for motivation.  In order for students to do their best and have a positive experience, I bring in "brain food" (candy) to stimulate their brains.

3. Cheer when students succeed!
I may skip across the room, do the "Happy Dance," or tell them to get their mom on the phone (to tell her how well her child did).  Trust me, these parents have not received many positive phone calls, so this is really motivating to students.  It is important to reward students when they succeed, it shows them you are proud of them and that motivates them to keep working hard. 

These are the ways I use READ 180 to motivate my students. Every year, I learn the program a little better and add even more extension activities to keep the class engaged. I am so grateful to have READ 180 and its resources!

READ 180 Community Newsletter - Summer 2009
Nothing Else to Say But Thank You! With summer rapidly approaching, we at Scholastic and READ 180 want to thank you for what you do every day to raise reading achievement and turn around the lives of students. What you accomplish is incredible. Thank you!

A Conversation with Dr. Marilyn Jager Adams and Dr. Ted Hasselbring, Principal Scientists for System 44
A Conversation with Dr. Marilyn Jager Adams and Dr. Ted Hasselbring, Principal Scientists for System 44, appearing in the READ 180 Community Newsletter, Fall 2008.

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