Through the years, I have found that it sometimes takes a little manipulation or cajoling, if you will, to move kids into the enjoyment that is reading and learning. As much as we teachers would love to assume that the love of learning is easily inspired, it does not always happen that way. That is one reason teaching can be such a struggle; trying to find the best way to teach each student so that they will gain the love of learning and/or reading. When you are able to tap into a child’s world and pull out that interest, it is totally fulfilling; but the road to get there can often be a difficult one filled with many failed attempts on your part. Sometimes the progress is made with one step forward and two steps back, thus making it a tedious climb.
This week and next, I will share two such stories about students who are on, what seems at this time, a very long path, but who have found success recently. It seems that the pattern for these students, that of one step forward, two steps back, has been broken for the time being.
Last week, I shared about two second grade students that are reading at a kindergarten level. They are brothers (twins) and I thought by working with them together, and playing games, that this would create a competition between them that would spur them on to studying and eventually a love of learning and reading. While this competition idea worked for a few minutes, in intervals during our tutoring sessions (usually when we first started a new activity) it never really lasted, or had the effect I was looking for. Last week, as I mentioned, I added a new component into out sessions, that of stickers and prizes from our treasure box. I also timed them reading a story to see who was faster. They were very excited and really got into it, challenging each other that they would be the fastest, or that they would win the sticker. I was not sure if this excitement would carry over to this week, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it had. Their assignment last week, to be completed this week, was to learn 10-12 “sight words” (words that cannot be easily blended or sound out). If they could read all the words correctly, they would each get something from the treasure box. This week, each was able to read the words and each got something from the treasure box! While their enjoyment and motivation may not yet be that of the love of learning, we have made a breakthrough; this is at least something to build on! Also, they know 10-12 more words that they previously did not recognize! Sometimes the smallest steps are the mot important.
