suggestions for school-haters

[Katherine D'Souza]

What books do you suggest for students who say things like "I hate school" "There's no point in school?" "I don't like to read" "I don't have a favorite book" "School is a waste of time" "Who likes to read" Okay you get the point. I am sure everyone has heard this at least once in their life. How do you motivate/engage these students in school? How do you encourage them to open a book? What books do you suggest?

[Torrie Smith]

My students were all like this in my senior English class. I had mostly boys who would rather open up a magazine than read a novel for pleasure. However, my mentor teacher and I gave the students time in class to read silently every Friday after finishing their weekly vocabulary quiz. There was an entire cart of books they could choose from, and more often than not, students found books they thoroughly enjoyed and some even entertained the idea of reading them outside of class. Choice is definitely the best way to go; my students also enjoyed the books that were considered "racy" or banned books that were still allowed on the book cart for my senior class. The idea of going against school, the very thing they "hate," makes them dislike it a little less...and they even find themselves enjoying school a bit more when they're given free time to read books they enjoy rather than the text that is given to them in class.

[Sheri Lee Bordas]

Banned books are not allowed to be taught in public schools, but banned books are allowed to be read by students. Students do have that right and freedom to read material of their choice unless they are in a private school system. I run literature circles where the students choose their own books and discuss their book of choice as a group. We are not allowed to teach books unless they are on our "permitted" reading list, but we are allowed to let students read books in literature circles as long as we are not teaching it to the group as a whole. Students love controversy, choice, and the ability to group on their own; if this is what gets them to read, think critically, and learn about literature, then the process is fostering the kind of thinkers that we want the students to be. Our end goal is to have well rounded, critically thinking, knowledgeable students.

[Maggie Dorsey]

I like what everyone has posted, and don't want to repeat--but here are two strategies that works for me, and one book suggestion.

When my students say things like "I hate books" or "reading is dumb" or any variation, I ask them if they like movies. Invariably, they answer "yeah." I reply, "Imagine the only movies you had ever seen were National Geographic documentaries. What would you think of movies then? Would you be excited about watching a new movie?" Someone always says, "I love the Discovery channel!" And I reply, "So that's the only thing you ever watch?" Bingo--a window has opened. Suddenly they understand genre, and the idea that maybe they just haven't read the RIGHT book. The trick, now, is to quickly get a "good" book into their hands!

I teach grades 8-12, and I use read-alouds at every level. I choose high-interest books, and they don't do anything but listen as I read 5-10 minutes each day. I choose a book that I love and I read it dramatically--not over the top, but think Jim Dale reading the Harry Potter series. Yes, I use voices. It's completely humiliating as the students snicker the first few days, but as time goes on, they love it. When I do course evaluations at the end of every class, it is always one of the things listed under "don't ever change..."

Finally, a book suggestion: I have not ever seen students respond to any book like I have seen them fall in love with The Hunger Games. I read it aloud in summer school last summer--I borrowed Jim Burke's idea of reading a book for the first time with a class, and I read it aloud to them so that we shared the experience of reading a "new" book together. I had a room full of 11th and 12th grade students, many of whom just had to pass my class to earn a high school diploma, most of whom were very open in their disdain for reading and writing, and we spent two hours together every hot summer weekday for five weeks. About halfway through the summer, one of the boys said, "Ms. Dorsey, can you just read the whole time? I want to know what happens." I told them I would read for as long as all eyes were open, heads were up, and they were paying attention. I read the whole. two. hours. It is no less popular with my 8th grade students; I have purchased 6 copies for my classroom library, all currently borrowed, and our Media Center has another 17 copies out on loan!

[Sheri Lee Bordas]

Sharon Draper books - Tears of a Tiger and Forged by Fire
Bluford Series is also a big hit in my high school classroom

[Constance Kaylor]

I am currently student teaching and face the same issues, however my students have taught thus far that choice is the best way to go. Some students are so against reading because they feel like so much work must go into it. I found my students wanted to read if I gave them a choice of book to read instead of forcing one upon them that I find interesting and they do not. You can either have the students choose for their selves or create a pre-selected list of books. Try to appeal to things that would interests them and they can relate too. Books about kids their age, or something controversial, every high school student loves controversy and if they feel like their getting away with something by reading a banned book or one that covers controversy the book will be so much more interesting to them.

[Daylen Moore]

Giving students a choice in what they read might also help spark some interest. Again it would have to be appropriate for school. It could be a good time to introduce non-fiction. Having students select a biography of a celebrity or famous figure could inspire them to read. The class could be polled for a favorite if you want to read something as a class or students could even select their own. This could also be linked to some kind of webquest or a final presentation.

[Amy Cody]

Tears of a Tiger by Sharon Draper-
Always read by at risk students/haters of reading- #1 missing book every year (among multiple copies)
Also- A lot of my at-risk students liked Tupoc's poetry - The Rose that Grew from Concrete- I think it's called- sadly it too was stolen....
Amy Cody- KY

[Jimmy Mayers]

I haven't had a ton of experience in the classroom, but I have worked with several kids who don't like doing work. Usually, the problem isn't solely due to them hating reading as it is them hating being in school. The easiest way I have gotten students who don't like being in the classroom is by building a rapport with them. If you're able to joke around with them and make them feel more comfortable, then they will be more accepting towards your lessons. Try making a challenge to them as well. With some kids I would race them to see who could finish reading first. The best way to get through to them is to make them feel comfortable in your classroom.