Engaging Middle School Students: How Read Alouds and Middle Grade Books Foster a Love of Reading
Attention all teachers and school librarians!
As part of my ongoing commitment to encourage a love of reading (for fun) in our kids, I have a special offer for all school librarians and teachers.
If you send me a receipt of your order of The Ice House you plan to read aloud with your class, I will schedule a free 30 minute virtual Zoom Q + A with your students at the time of your choosing this upcoming school year.
All you have to do is send a proof of your purchase (screenshot of your receipt, order, etc.) here and include your name, school, and age of your class and I will follow up with scheduling info!
As I’ve been working on my latest writing project, I’ve also been doing literacy research as part of my day job as a UX Researcher. I've been delving into studies on how to increase student engagement in reading, especially in the middle school years. In a recent post, I shared my thoughts on the research that kids reading for fun is at an all time low and my determination to do what I can to turn things around. So far, this has looked like organizing author visits and spreading awareness about proven strategies that encourage middle schoolers to read for fun.
To that end, I've been reaching out to ELA teachers and literacy coaches for interviews, and digging into research studies that provide efficacy data. In doing so, I’ve been really excited to come across research on the benefits of Read Alouds for middle schoolers. In this post, I’m synthesizing what I’ve learned both from study data and the teachers I’ve spoken to on the topic.
Disclaimer: I’m continuing to learn more about this topic, and I’m so open to feedback and ideas!
The Benefits of Read Alouds for Middle School Students
My investigations into this whole topic really came from interest in proven strategies that increase student engagement in independent reading. The research I found reminded me of my masters degree work in special education and the importance of exposing students to a variety of texts in as many forms as possible. Many teachers face expectations from their admin that make it difficult to rationalize carving valuable instructional time out to dedicate to read alouds. In fact, my own fear of surprise observation drop-ins sometimes dissuaded me from activities that I felt someone might perceive as “less than rigorous.” But the research shifted my thinking here. Important skills are being modeled and practiced during class read alouds.
When students’ only task is to listen to the story being read, not worrying about pronunciation, taking turns reading, and decoding new vocabulary, comprehension becomes the sole focus. Teachers can take advantage of the fact that many students have a higher listening capacity level than reading level.
The Power of Read Alouds: Empowering Students and Enhancing Learning
When students enter middle school, it's not uncommon for the disparity in classmates’ reading abilities to become more pronounced and challenging. For those students with learning differences or dyslexia, read alouds can serve as a communal experience where everyone in the class is engaged in the same story. Regardless of reading level, every kid in the class can participate as a listener, can contribute to classroom conversations, jot down thoughts, or reflect on what they’ve learned.
One teacher I spoke to shared that read alouds are framed as a reward for good behavior in her middle school ELA classroom. Kids start to associate listening to her read as a treat and look forward to continuing the story. When everyone in the class gets to be an active participant, it becomes a classroom bonding experience that creates positive associations. Numerous studies have found that middle school students prefer teacher read-alouds and that they can foster positive attitudes toward reading (Albright & Ariail, 2005; Ariail & Albright, 2006; Ivey, 2003).
During read-alouds, teachers become models for positive reading behaviors and provide scaffolding for connecting the text to real life (Burgess & Tracey, 2006). This method also allows for supporting student responses and guiding higher-level thinking. Additionally, read-alouds expose students to new language and literature, giving them the chance to enjoy the text without the pressure of reading solo.
How does this create more engagement? When a major part of the work of reading is removed and students are focused on listening to a story unfold, they are given the chance to get caught up in a book and its characters purely for enjoyment.
Choosing the Right Middle Grade Novel for Your Class
With the abundance of fantastic middle grade novels available, it can be overwhelming for teachers to select the best ones for their classrooms. It’s important to make informed choices based on your students and their interests and experiences, as well as the thematic goals you have in mind for classroom discussions.
The first factor to consider when picking a middle grade novel is the relatability of the characters. Can your students see themselves in the story? Can they relate to the protagonist? Is there an element of the book that could create buy-in?
Next, ponder over the theme and message of the novel. The book you choose should be capable of imparting valuable life lessons and promoting empathy and understanding among students.
The maturity level of the class should also be taken into account. Middle grade novels cover a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from light-hearted adventures to serious issues like death, racism, and bullying. It is essential to select a book that matches the class's maturity level and keeps them engaged.
Building Engagement Around Read Alouds
It’s really important that once you’ve selected your read aloud, it’s time to get your students excited about the novel! Introduce the book with enthusiasm and offer fun activities to go along with the reading. You can use the novel as a teaching tool, incorporating various activities to make the learning process more fun. For example, have students create character sketches or draw their favorite scene from the book. By making the reading experience fun, your students will be more invested in the story and will look forward to reading time in class.
References
I’ve linked some of the studies referenced in this post for you to look into further!
Tapping the Potential of Teacher Read Alouds in Middle School
Read Alouds in the School Setting
Just Plain Reading
As part of my ongoing commitment to reinvigorating a love of reading in our kids, I have a special offer for all school librarians and teachers.
If you send me a receipt of your order of The Ice House you plan to read aloud with your class, I will schedule a free 30 minute virtual Zoom Q + A with your students at the time of your choosing this upcoming school year (2023-2024).
All you have to do is send a proof of your purchase (screenshot of your receipt, order, etc.) here and I will follow up with scheduling info!
