What is High Interest Reading?
High interest reading is any book, text, graphic novel or audiobook your kid can not wait to read.
High interest reading can be at your kid’s independent reading level or you can do shared reading. For more information about shared reading watch the Types of Reading Course Preview-https://youtu.be/gezGAqKODJkThe books can be a stretch, the books can be difficult but above all the books have to be fun.
There are High Interest Readers
(not really what I’m talking about but…)
As a Reading Consultant, I do look for “high interest low readability books.” They are books that have interesting material but are written on all different reading levels.
These books are great for younger kids and usually come in packs or a series.
Older kids with reading difficulties don’t buy into these titles as much. They would rather struggle through something interesting and difficult then be saddled with these books.
These types of readers can sap motivation and don’t often have complex vocabulary or topics. They are great for independent reading but most kids won’t beg to reread them.
Motivation is the Key.
High interest reading is my secret weapon. I use it to motivate kids to buy in to the practice part of reading. I ask my kids to use sound cards, read word list, spell, write sentences and practice all these steps over and over and over again. 95% of my kids do it with out a complaint because the high interest story I pick will knock their socks off.
I insist-Let your kid pick a book about the galaxy even though it’s difficult to read. Look at the pictures, paraphrase the difficult text, and spark their interest.
Look at what kind of movies, what kind of activities and what kind of books your kid is drawn to. Start there. Then build up the anticipation of reading, amp it up, talk about the book and really take the time to read it with your kid.