Top Tips from Timi Alabi’s Session at the Festival of Education ‘25
It is important to remind yourself regularly of why you want your pupils to develop a love of reading. Consider the lifelong impact this can have on their personal growth, academic success, and future opportunities. This ‘why’ should drive every action and decision you make towards developing a love of reading in your setting.
Igniting the love of reading is not about ticking off a list of activities by doing lots of reading activities with pupils. It is about doing them with purpose and understanding, ensuring every action moves pupils closer to finding genuine enjoyment and meaning in reading.
What NOT to do to when promoting the love of reading.
- Reading for pleasure can’t be an expectation. It has to be volitional; pupils should read because they want to.
- It shouldn’t be on the list of homework. Including reading for pleasure as a homework task risks sending the wrong message: that it’s a chore rather than an enjoyable activity.
- We shouldn’t give pupils consequences for not reading. Giving sanctions for not reading turns the focus to avoiding consequence rather than enjoying a text. This can create negative associations with reading.
- Be careful with giving rewards for reading for pleasure. While incentives can be motivating short-term, consider gradually taking this away as it may lead pupils to read for the reward rather than for the pleasure of the experience itself.
What TO DO when promoting the love of reading.
- It is important to establish that building a reading for pleasure culture is the ultimate goal but it is not a quick fix. It takes time and that’s okay. Be patient and persistent.
- Expose pupils and give them access to a variety of texts to choose from. This should include graphic novels or comics, cook books, gaming books and books that reflect a wide range of backgrounds, identities and interests.
- Take the time to know your pupils’ interests. Use this insight to inform your book recommendations and classroom library selections.
- Let them choose. We can recommend or make suggestions but ultimately, it should be the pupils’ choice the book they want to read.
- Read aloud to pupils daily by modelling expressive reading in a way that brings the text alive. Make it the most magical time of the day.
- Take your time to introduce new texts to pupils. Use short video clips to establish meaning and understanding; use trailers and props to ignite curiosity.
- Create regular opportunities for pupils to talk about books casually and share their opinions and thoughts.
- Give pupils time to read. No formal structure, no tasks, no expectation, just the space to enjoy a good book.
