{"id":4532,"date":"2023-09-03T15:35:51","date_gmt":"2023-09-03T19:35:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itslitteaching.com\/?p=4532"},"modified":"2023-08-13T15:39:14","modified_gmt":"2023-08-13T19:39:14","slug":"memoirs-for-reluctant-readers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itslitteaching.com\/memoirs-for-reluctant-readers\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Memoirs Even Reluctant Readers Will Love"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It’s getting harder and harder these days for books to compete for our students’ attention. Meanwhile, fewer students are reading at grade level and many struggle to engage with any text longer than an Instagram caption. How, then, is a teacher supposed to get students who avoid reading to pick up a book? In this post, I’ll share 3 memoirs for reluctant readers that are perfect for a whole-class novel study or an independent read. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking for more novels for reluctant readers? Check out this post on 5 Thrilling Books for Students Who Hate Reading.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"3 Memoirs Even Reluctant Readers Will Love\" written over a picture of a teenagers reading<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What Makes a Memoir Suitable for Reluctant Readers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I’m sure every educator has a different set of benchmarks they look for when trying to find novels that appeal to more reluctant readers. I have three characteristics that I look for when trying to choose a novel that nonreaders will finish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, if a book is interesting enough, nothing else matters.<\/strong> If a student truly wants<\/em> to learn more about the story or subject matter, the reading level usually won’t stop him or her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Books that are funny or incredibly interesting are perfect for reluctant readers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondly, books with lower reading levels are ideal for students who dislike reading.<\/strong> If a book is a little easier to read (but the content is engaging), students are more likely to power through finishing it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For students who rarely read, you don’t need to worry about giving them material that will appropriately challenge them. Increasing their reading volume alone will help improve their reading skills.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, finishing a book can be a major accomplishment for a student who self-identifies as a book hater or a nonreader. Realizing that they can, in fact, finish a book may just be the confidence boost they need to pick up another one. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Novels in verse and graphic novels are great formats for reluctant readers for this reason. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, pay attention to the book’s format when choosing a novel for reluctant readers.<\/strong> Chapters that end on cliffhangers, perspectives that switch between characters, and stories told through multiple mediums (journal posts, newspaper clippings, poems, etc.) keep students engaged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n