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How to be a reading role model to your pupils
Guest blog – How to be a reading role model to your pupils
Role models have a huge influence on young people’s lives, and although YouTubers and parents top the latest list of reading role models compiled by the National Literacy Trust [Role models and their influence on children and young people’s reading 2022], teachers are placed above footballers and TV stars, showing the privileged position they hold and the pivotal role they have in influencing students not just to learn to read but to LOVE to read.
Role model: a person whose behaviour or example serves as a model to be emulated by others.
As it stands, the most recent statistics show that the number of children aged 8-18 who reported to enjoy reading in their spare time is at its lowest level since 2005, [NLT 2023 Research Report].
In a world of social media and screens and of declining mental health in our young people, we as teachers need to use our influence as reading role models more than ever.
Here’s 8 quick and simple ways to be a reading role model to your students:
1. Be a visible reader
Research shows that teachers who are readers and seen to be readers have a hugely positive impact on their students enjoyment of reading. [Cremin, T. 2014]
Try placing a poster on your door of your current read or your reading wish list to create a great talking point.
Have you ever read in front of your pupils? It is another great way to position yourself as a visible role model and can lead to valuable conversations around reading preferences.
2. Let them see you prioritise storytime
In a packed curriculum, something always slips. Make sure it isn’t story time.
The power of saying to a class, ‘let’s stop this lesson here because there’s no way we are missing our story,’ is a huge statement that shows your passion and the priority you place on reading. Role models always stand by their values.
3. Read aloud to the class every day
I vividly remember my Year 2 teacher reading us The Owl Who was Afraid of the Dark and Gobbolino the Witch’s Cat, and for me, the class novel is the best part of the day – everyone calm and together, invested in the characters and their stories.
Having ‘books in common’ helps create classroom community and a sense of positive wellbeing [T.Cremin 2014] and for less confident readers, having a text read to them can take away one element of the reading process and avoid cognitive overload, thus making reading an enjoyable experience.
4. Keep up to date with children’s literature
Teachers who can engage with their students in conversation around children’s books and have a broad knowledge of literature – picture books, fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels – are able to better engage and inspire their pupils to read [T.Cremin 2014].
You can easily top up your bookish knowledge whilst scrolling on social media; simply follow a few publishers or children’s book bloggers online, or sign up to a bookshop newsletter to find new top titles.
5. Make recommendations
A personalised reading recommendation from a role model is an incredibly powerful way to put your knowledge of children’s literature into action. Take time to find out what your student’s interests are, then recommend a read to them.
A book on the desk with a sticky note attached, or a wrapped book with a blurb can go a long way to increase engagement and generate excitement; especially when given by a role model.
6. Encourage and lead frequent book talk
When teachers reflect on and share their own experiences as readers, they support their students to do the same. Tell them how the book makes you feel, muse on what do you think is going to happen, or tell them what are you wondering about.
Match enthusiasm with authenticity too – tell them if you didn’t enjoy a book or share that you actually prefer listening to audio books or reading the newspaper!
7. Promote books at every opportunity
An inviting book corner in the classroom, with some front facing titles to entice or a ‘Teacher recommended’ shelf can really inspire pupils to pick up a book.
Have a reading assembly, share a story in Science, or recommend a biography that links to your Art learning.
Grab every chance to showcase brilliant books and to celebrate the library spaces we use to access them.
8. Engage parents
With parents as a child’s biggest role model [NLT 2022], involve and engage them in your school reading community as much as possible.
Provide access to key research snippets, invite them to access the school library and provide relaxed opportunities for them to read in school with their child/ren (a reading café at the end of the day or ‘breakfast with a book’ both work well to catch parents at drop off and pick up times.)
Ultimately, a role model shows passion and we are inspired to share in that. Big gestures do have an impact, but it’s those small and consistent daily acts – conversations around reading, sharing your enthusiasm and taking a keen interest in the children’s views – that have a lasting impact.
About Esther
Esther Brown has taught across the primary age range and in different primary school settings for almost 20 years and has spent much of that time leading English.
She has always had a passion for books and believes in the power of reading for pleasure for investing in children’s futures.
Alongside her teaching role, she creates educational resources for publishers and shares her love for books on her Instagram blog @mrsbrownsbookbox.
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