How to Make Reading More Exciting for Reluctant 3rd–5th Graders
- Daniela Lochan
- Jun 4
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 4
The reading journey can be one with many twists and turns. After countless hours of going over letters and their sounds, blending, learning the different syllable types, and listening to stories, children will begin reading and we will celebrate and say “Yes! My child is a reader!”
However, the journey does not stop there. As children move into third and fourth grade, The vocabulary gets more complex, the texts grow longer, and the amount of reading expected increases significantly.
Some students have a harder time than others adjusting to that switch. So, if you are in that journey at the moment, and you have a reluctant reader in your hands, rest assured because you are not alone and the good news is that you can help your child by using the right strategies. I will give you six wonderful tips you can begin implementing today!
#1 Find the “Right” Books, Not Just Grade- Level Ones
Yes, we all want our kids to read books that will inspire them academically and stimulate their thinking. I personally want my daughters to read the classics such as Anne of Green Gables, The Diary of Anne Frank, and others. However, the reality is that they are not interested in those books at the present time. One way to guide our reluctant readers is to allow them to pick the books they really want to read. ( Yes, I am talking about graphic novels, mystery books, and yes those silly joke books!) Allowing kids to choose what they read will help them to build fluency as well as confidence in your kids.You will see that your child will not want to stop reading once they get started with those books they chose.
# 2: Let Them Move While They Read
Some reluctant readers are kinesthetic learners—sitting still can make reading feel harder. Fortunately, research shows that movement while learning is not bad at all. In fact, the article “Exercising Intelligence: How Physical Activity Nurtures Brain Development in Children” discusses that when children are moving and “When children participate in activities that challenge their motor skills, such as balancing or coordination exercises, they activate brain regions that are responsible for cognitive processes like planning, decision-making, and problem-solving” That makes sense when I think about the times I have been woking with a students and they are standing and swaying while we read or even during my homeschooling session, my daughters enjoy building with legos/blocks while they listen to our read aloud. If you walked into our room, you might think they are not listening to the reading However, when I ask them to summarize what I read or if I ask specific questions about the reading, they answer correctly.
Even though we might have this idea that a child should be sitting comfortably in a reading nook getting lost in their reading, the reality might be that your child needs to move. The following are some suggested activities that will help your reluctant reader to become interested and engaged in the story/book they are reading:
Listening to audiobooks while drawing
I have seen this one work wonders in our Homeschooling journey. My daughters and I listen to the American History curriculum, and my girls love the draw while they listen. At first, I used to think they were not listening. However, I was shocked when they were able to give me a descriptive summary of the chapter we listened to, or when they were able to answer specific questions about the topic.
Reading aloud while bouncing a ball
Yes, it may feel a little strange for you if you are reading with your child and he/she is bouncing away. But they are listening to you.
Acting out scenes from the book
I love this one! If your child loves drama/movies this one will help greatly. Reluctant readers might not want to read a book like Crispin, set in medieval times, with vocabulary they are not familiar with. However, choosing a chapter and dedicating time to acting it out will make a huge difference. You can review the vocabulary in advance and go over it with your child. Then allow him/her to bring the character to life by acting out the scene. You can make a big deal by recording your child and sharing it with the rest of your family. This will make reading and reading that specific book much more appealing to your child.
Using post-it notes for interactive response
If your child needs to read a book because it was assigned to them by their teacher, you can help your child by asking them to use post-it notes to write notes about their reading. It can be a question they have about what they read, or it can be a word they didn’t understand. It can also be a reaction to something they read. This will give them a way to interact with their book and remember better what they are reading, which in turn will build their confidence and stamina as they monitor what they read.
# 3: Gamify Reading
This one can be especially helpful in the summer. Reading should not just be limited to books, newspapers and magazines. Let’s make it more engaging! Introduce your kids to reading challenges, bingo cards, or reward systems. You can find so many bingo cards teachers have created. They usually ask children to complete different reading related tasks but the added element when they get to check it off and yell out BINGO! Will add more excitement to their day. Your kids will not even realize they are working hard. If your child enjoys competition, they will be focused on completing their tasks and you can celebrate every wing with them.
# 4: Build Reading into Real Life
Your 3rd-5th graders will benefit by seeing how reading can make a difference in our daily lives because it really does. Take the opportunity to do the following activities intentionally with your child.
Reading recipes
Ask your child to choose a recipe from your cookbook or from the internet and ask him to read it to you as he gets the ingredients ready and you both cook together.
Solving a mystery as a “reading detective”
Find a good mystery book for your child and engage with him in solving the mystery. Have him read a chapter or two and then tell you the new developments in the story. Make it exciting and go crazy when you discover who did it. Your child will get super excited too!
Looking up fun facts about animals or countries
If your child loves animals or is learning about other countries, they may not feel excited about reading a whole book about pandas. However, he may be more inclined to do research about them online. Let them do a little research and share with you what she discovers as she reads the fun facts and other information.
Reading doesn’t have to mean finishing a novel. "Sneaky" reading counts too—and it’s just as effective.
#5: Get Extra Support with a Tutor or Group
Another important thing to consider is that maybe your child is reluctant because reading is hard for him, not just boring, but professional support can help. Having a tutor who can work with your child can make a huge difference. A tutor will provide your child with personalized instruction which means that they will consider your child’s interests and will surely implement many of the suggested activities mentioned in this blog. As a result, your child’s confidence level will grow significantly.
These are the 5 tips that will help reading to be more exciting for your 3rd-5th learner. Remember, reluctancy might just be a symptom of the wrong book, environment or missing skills. Encourage them to try one or two strategies and watch for small shifts.
If you need help figuring out what’s holding your child back, our team at Accelerate Tutoring offers personalized reading assessment. Fill out the form for a FREE assessment and let’s figure out a plan to help your learner to become the reader he was meant to be.
Accelerate Tutoring offers flexible summer sessions that fit your schedule and your child’s needs.
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