HOW TO LOVE READING

Method 1 Finding the Right Reading Material

1. Consider why you want to read. Before you pick up a book, consider what you
want to get out of reading. Some people like reading books that teach them new
skills, from computer programming languages to skills for hunting or camping.

2. Consider the genre you think you’ll most enjoy. You can narrow down reading
choices even more once you’ve picked a general type of writing by considering the
genre you want. If you’ve decided on popular fiction, for instance, you can choose
between horror, science fiction, historical, fantasy, romance, mystery, or more
realist books that take a less whimsical approach to their characters and settings.

3. Make connections between reading and other interests. You may feel very
passionately about social issues or something else. Seek out books that connect to
the issues about which you are passionate or that frame the issue in a wider context.

Method 2 Developing a Reading Routine You Love

1. Create or find a good reading environment. Find a place that is quiet, well-lit, and
comfortable.

2. Set times to read. Try to set aside time to read every day. Even if it just starts as
ten minutes on a lunch break, twenty minutes on the bus, and fifteen minutes
before bed at night, that’s suddenly forty-five minutes that day you’ve spent reading.

3. Always carry a book with you. You never know when you might find a few extra
minutes to read. By having a book in your bag, you can help develop your love of
reading.

4. Track authors or series you enjoy. When you find an author whose style you love,
try tracking down his or her other books. Even if the plot or subject of the author’s
other books doesn't necessarily grab you, loving a particular writing style can lead to
enjoyment of books you might not expect.
Method 3 Helping Children Learn to Love Reading
1. Offer a choice. One reason many students and young people don’t enjoy reading
is that they feel it is always “required,” and never a choice. If you can offer them a
choice of reading that takes their interests into account, they’re more likely to learn
to love reading.

2. Encourage creativity. There’s no reason that the story has to end when the back
cover shuts. For example, you could encourage students or your own children to
draw scenes from what they read, Performing reading in funny character voices can
provide extra drama to reading, Ask questions about how children feel about the
reading, Encourage them to think about what might happen next in the story, or
write their own continuation.

3. Be supportive and encouraging. One reason children may feel uncomfortable

reading is that they worry they don’t understand what they read or will get the
“wrong” answer.