This document provides tips for building intrinsic motivation in middle school readers. It discusses how reading identity and independent reading are strongly associated with reading achievement. Tips include setting goals and meeting students where they are, providing accommodations, focusing on relationships, making reading fun and social, finding ways to increase accessibility to books, and celebrating reading successes. The overall message is that reading is important, and teachers should believe in students and help shape positive perceptions of reading.

1. Building Intrinsic Motivation in
Middle Level Readers
Tips to Get ‘Em Hooked and Keep ‘Em Reading

2. The Crazy Reading Ladies
Blog Website
Your (semi) regular
dose of crazy! All sorts of good stuff!

3. Research …
Promise this won’t take long!
“While students acquire the skills of
reading, they must develop a positive
reading identity to remain readers.”
~Frank Serafini, 2013

4. And this…
“The single factor most strongly
associated with reading achievement -
more than socioeconomic status or any
instructional approach – is independent
reading.”
-Krashen, 2004

5. And, of course, this!
“Reading is the only out-of-school
activity for 16-year-olds that is linked to
getting a managerial or professional job
in later life.”
-University of Oxford, 2011

6. So, obviously…
 Reading is more important than ever!
 Right?

7. Know your enemy
Our Top 3 Your Top 3
3. Accessibility
 Anyone else not have a
librarian?
2.Time
 Kids’ lives are FULL
1. Perception
 Their perception is their
reality
3.
2.
1.

8. Believe
Do set goals
 Don’t move the finish line
Do meet them where they are
 Don’t judge their choices
Do provide accommodations
 Don’t give up!

9. Relationships
When students cannot believe in
themselves, we must believe in them
Eliminate “can’t” from your vocabulary.

10. Fighting Perception
 Advertise
◦ Theme song!

11. Create a new perception
 Leverage the power of positive peer
pressure
 Make it social
 Daily book talks
 Our persona
◦ Model love of reading
◦ Love out loud

12. Finding Time
Lord, grant me the serenity to accept
the things I cannot change…

13. That doesn’t mean they won’t
need encouragement…

14. Increasing Accessibility
 Library partnership
 Classroom libraries – open to all
 Book swap
 Reading Club
 Reading Lunches
 Test day care packages
 Bookmobile
 Leverage devices!

15. The CRL effect
 Extrinsic begets intrinsic

16. Our experience…
Solid
relationshi
ps
Opportunity
Make
it fun
Rejoic
e!
Positive
Experience
Again!

17. Make it fun
 Buckle up

18. Know your beast
 Pomp
 Go big or go home
 Make it social
 Love and War

19. Use Social Media
 Movie trailers
 Tweeting to author
 Websites
 Blogs
 Discussion boards

20. Give them an audience
 Reading books on YouTube
◦ Also works for Chapter Books
◦ Recording audio books for fellow students
 Deleted scenes

21. Get ‘em moving
 The Courtroom Scene
 Tea party
 Agree/Disagree/Debate
 Vocab races

22. Celebrate Success
 Carnivals
 Relay races
 “When in doubt, put ‘em in sacks.”

23. Kids love videos!

24. It all comes together
Solid
relationshi
ps
Choic
e
Make
it fun
Rejoic
e!
Positive
Experience
Again!

25. Go forth…and inspire!