Blogging A to Z: Magazines

Let’s cut right to the chase, have you tried magazines? I think that magazines are a really accessible way for kids to get into reading for a few reasons. One, with short stories and small blocks of text, kids won’t feel quite as intimidated when they open a magazine. A novel can be very overwhelming to a kid who already doesn’t like to read, but magazines have such short stories that they can be more inviting to read.

Two, magazines have a lot of great supporting illustrations, photographs, graphs, and more. These supporting pieces still require reading to an extent, but again, are very accessible to nonreaders. Plus, this type of reading when it comes to graphs and charts is beneficial for kids to learn early.

Finally, there is such a wide breadth of magazines, there is sure to be one that fits almost any interest. Check out a previous blog post for some great suggestions on titles. If you’re not comfortable ordering a subscription right away, check out your public library for magazines that can be checked out as well as online resources like OverDrive that also offer digital copies of magazines as well.

For the month of April, I’ll be sharing tips for reaching reluctant readers as part of the Blogging A to Z Challenge. There are dozens of reasons why a child might be considered a “reluctant reader.” As summer nears, continued reading practice helps students to keep the reading skills they learned while reading for fun. But, that’s not easy when a child doesn’t want to sit down and read. I’ll be sharing 26 tips to meet reluctant readers where they are. And hopefully find a way to make reading bearable, if not even something they want to do!