Limiting Beliefs About Reading
I struggled with math when I was a kid. I remember we would play math facts around the world. Picture this. A classmate stands next to your desk (Catholic school for me, uniforms, rows, and a dictator teacher with the power of God) and you shout out the answer to a math fact the fastest. Oh the terror and dread.
Not only was my answer always wrong, I always panicked. This is when my self limiting belief, “I can’t do math,” was carved into my heart and brain. I still remember these instances as if it were today.
Kids have the same self limiting belief in the form of “I can’t read.” It’s a feeling that is impossible to shake.
It’s born from needing help, it’s implanted from comparing yourself to others, and it is rooted in emotion.
Most of the time this belief is also a negative self fulfilling prophecy as kids shy away from reading.
A lot of the work I do with my older students is ditching these self limiting beliefs.
We start with these truths;
-Just because you need reading support doesn’t mean you can’t read.
-Just because you need reading support doesn’t mean you will always need reading support.-
Just because you haven’t found a book you like doesn’t mean you have to hate reading.
-Reading has many foundational skills so with practice and good instruction it is easy to fix! I always tell my kids that you can’t be bad at every part of reading…
So what can you do as parents?
Listen to how your kid talks about themselves as readers.
Model a growth mind set by pointing how far they have come on the reading journey.
Be up front and honest about strengths and weaknesses.
Find a series of books your kid likes and don’t stop sharing stories.
I know it gets hard with out teens but read what they are reading for school, have them read what you are reading, and read novels that have movie versions!
Above all listen to your kid and pay attention to their emotions surrounding reading. How they feel about themselves and reading can hinder or help reading success.
If you need help empowering your kid as a reader then reach out to me through Beacon Valley Literacy. com, find us on Facebook and subscribe to the YouTube Channel.