7 Ways to Keep Middle Schoolers Reading

Reading is a great way to relax and improve your vocabulary, but sometimes it can be a chore, especially when teaching middle school kids who are reluctant readers. Here are some ideas to inspire your students and get them reading more:

1. Start a Reading Challenge

Starting a reading challenge in your middle school classroom  is a great way to engage students and encourage them to read books independently.

The “Super Reader” challenge is perfect if you have students who need extra motivation. You can create this challenge as an individual or group competition. All you need is some kind of bulletin board that students can add their names to after each book they read. The student or group with the most books read will earn a reward or prize at the end of the month, week, or semester.

2. Let Students Choose What They Read

One of the best ways to encourage reading in middle schoolers is to let them choose their own books. This doesn't mean that they can choose any book they want, but it does mean that they should have a say in what kinds of books they want access to.

Allow students to suggest books for the classroom library or provide choices within genres. For example, if you have assigned a genre study on fantasy novels, allow students to choose one of several fantasy novels for their independent reading book.

3. Encourage Independent Reading

Ask your middle schoolers to read independently for 15-20 minutes every day, whether at home or in the classroom. This builds familiarity with reading as well as their ability to focus independently.

4. Set Up Reading Stations in the Classroom

Make reading fun for your middle school students by setting up a few small group reading stations in your classroom. These set-ups can make reading enjoyable for students and help them develop their reading comprehension skills.

Reading stations consist of small groups of three to six students who get together to read the same book or story. Gather several large beanbags or pillows into groups of three or more around your classroom. You can also place four chairs around a low table to create a station.

5. Create a Book of the Month Program

Pick out books you think will interest the students in class and create posters for them. Display them in the classroom and explain why these books are awesome—their popularity will grow from there!

6. Create a Reading Journal or Notebook

If you want to encourage your middle schoolers to read, have them start a reading journal. For each book they read, they can record the date they started and finished it, their star rating, and what they thought of it. If they don't like writing, have them be as artistic as they want to keep it fun. Drawings, magazine cutouts, and sketches are always great additions to any journal.

7. Give Rewards and Prizes

Rewards can include cool prizes or extra credit points! Encourage them along the way so they'll be motivated to keep reading and improving their skills!

Prizes to Keep Reading Fun for Your Middle Schoolers

Reading Rocks! Incentive Bookmarks

Inspire your middle schoolers to read with our Reading Rocks! Bookmark. Six designs: "I Love Reading," "Dig into a Good Book," "Travel the World in a Book," "Reading is Cool," "Get on Board and Read!" and "Blast Off with Books." Give your students these bookmarks as a reward for reading or as a way to encourage them to keep going with their book reading goals!

Glitter Cover Journal

This journal is a cool choice for a reading journal because it has a mirrored hardcover with floating glitter and sparkles. The sparkles will make kids love them, and the fun characters will make them want to keep writing! The designs include Llama, Slothicorn, Unicorn, and Mermaids. Each journal has 80 sheets of lined white paper (160 pages) on each side. About 6" x 8" in size.

Kushy Squishy Grips

Our Kushy Squishy Grips come in a variety of colors. These soft pencil grips make writing easy and help relieve hand cramps and sore fingers. In seconds, they can be stretched over any pencil to make writing more comfortable. In red, orange, pink, lilac, aqua, and limeade.

Order Rewards and Prizes from GEDDES

Visit the GEDDES website to shop our full selection of awesome reading prizes online, request our catalog today, or contact us to learn more about our products and mission.