Guide to Supporting Struggling and Reluctant Readers
Supporting reluctant and struggling readers is essential for fostering a lifelong love of reading and ensuring academic success. By understanding the challenges these readers face and implementing effective strategies, educators and parents can make a significant impact on their literacy development.
Find books to support Struggling and Reluctant Readers in Primary / Secondary
What Are Struggling or Reluctant Readers?
Struggling readers face difficulties with key reading skills, such as decoding words, comprehension, or fluency. These challenges can arise from various factors, including learning disabilities, limited exposure to language-rich environments, or mismatches between instructional approaches and student needs.
Reluctant readers, on the other hand, are those who choose not to read. Their aversion to reading may stem from a lack of interest in the books available, previous negative experiences with reading, or competing distractions, such as digital media.
What Can Cause Readers to be Reluctant or to Struggle?
Several factors can contribute to reading difficulties:
· Learning Disabilities: Conditions such as dyslexia can impede a reader’s ability to process written language.
· Limited Early Exposure: Children who aren’t exposed to books or storytelling at a young age may lack foundational literacy skills.
· Negative Experiences: Past struggles or frustrations with reading can diminish a child’s confidence and interest.
· Lack of Relevant Materials: If reading materials don't match a child's interests or reading level, engagement may suffer.
What Are the Best Strategies to Support Reluctant and Struggling Readers?
1. Find Books They’ll Love
Providing children with books that spark their interest is key to engaging reluctant and struggling readers. When students connect with the topics or themes of a book, they are more likely to become invested in reading. By offering a variety of genres and topics, you ensure that there’s something for everyone. No matter their age, when readers feel a personal connection to a book or are hooked in by the illustrations or theme, they are more motivated to read.
Encourage children to choose books that match their hobbies or interests. For example, if a child enjoys adventure stories, offering books in that genre can ignite excitement. Allowing students to pick their own books and to try another if they don’t like it, not only increases their enthusiasm for reading but also gives them a sense of ownership and investment in their reading journey.
At School Bargain Bookshop, we offer a wide selection of affordable collections that cater to various interests and reading levels. Our collections include genres that are known for hooking in reluctant and struggling readers like Graphic Novels, Non-Fiction and Short Reads, as well as packs for fans of beloved authors and series like Diary of a Wimpy Kid. These packs offer alternative yet similar reads, helping students broaden their reading horizons.
Filter products for Primary or Secondary by key stage or age to find books at the exact age and reading level you’re looking for.
2. Provide Age-Appropriate Materials
Providing appropriate reading materials for struggling and reluctant readers is essential for fostering a love of reading and building confidence. Books should be both engaging and at the right reading level for them. Selecting books that match their age and interests, without feeling "too young", helps maintain enthusiasm and motivation. When children find content relevant and engaging, they are more likely to stay committed to reading. Books should be challenging yet accessible, allowing readers to decode words successfully and comprehend the material. Striking this balance fosters a sense of achievement and progress, ultimately encouraging continued reading and skill development.
Finding books designed specifically for struggling and reluctant readers that are high-interest and low-reading-level (hi-lo) can be challenging. These books use accessible language but tackle compelling topics. At School Bargain Bookshop, we stock a wide selection of hi-lo books from leading publishers such as Barrington Stoke and Badger Learning, designed specifically to engage reluctant readers with dyslexia-friendly features, engaging illustrations, and relatable themes.
Some key features of our hi-lo collections:
· Dyslexia-friendly font and line spacing
· Engaging illustrations that support pupils’ understanding of the text
· Age-appropriate stories and subjects, with the look and feel of a ‘real’ book
· Realistic amounts of text
· A variety of themes and genres to engage every reader
· Gripping, accessible stories
· Fascinating non-fiction subjects to engage young minds
· Many books include a vocabulary page and questions at the end of the book to aid comprehension
These highly discounted high-quality books also provide excellent value for money and help schools stretch budgets further. Browse our carefully curated collections for both primary and secondary students, to ensure that materials are age-appropriate and engaging.
Collections for Reluctant or Struggling Readers: Primary
Collections for Reluctant or Struggling Readers: Secondary
3. Make Time to Read Aloud
Reading aloud to struggling and reluctant readers is a powerful strategy for fostering engagement and supporting their growth. The Reading Framework (DfE 2023) highlights the significant benefits of reading aloud, including giving children access to texts that are above their current reading level. This exposure to more complex vocabulary and ideas enhances their comprehension skills and broadens their understanding of language. Reading aloud models fluency, expression, and intonation, offering an example of how to approach texts with confidence and enjoyment.
Regardless of age, reading aloud strengthens the emotional bond to stories and encourages a lasting love for books. It fosters a shared reading experience, deepens engagement, and motivates pupils to keep exploring new reading materials on their own.
Our Primary and Secondary Library Collections include books that are perfect for reading aloud and encouraging a love of reading.
4. Incorporate Audiobooks
Audiobooks can serve as a bridge to traditional reading, especially for those who struggle with decoding or fluency. They allow readers to access content without the barrier of text, building comprehension, concentration, imagination, empathy and interest. For children who struggle with reading, audiobooks offer the opportunity to enjoy a wider range of material that might be too difficult for them to read independently, such as more complex vocabulary or intricate plots. Listening to audiobooks also helps build comprehension by allowing them to focus on understanding the story, rather than getting stuck on reading individual words. Audiobooks model fluent reading, exposing listeners to correct pronunciation, pacing, and expression, which can support the development of these skills in their own reading.
Additionally, incorporating audiobooks can help engage reluctant readers who might be hesitant to pick up a printed book. By allowing them to hear stories they might enjoy but find challenging to read on their own, audiobooks can spark an interest in books and storytelling. This can lead to a deeper connection with printed books, as children often develop a desire to read the text themselves after experiencing the story through audio.
Recent research by the National Literacy Trust indicates a significant shift in children's reading habits, with increased popularity in audiobooks and podcasts. This highlights the growing importance of audiobooks as a tool for engagement and literacy development. When paired with physical books, audiobooks can also promote print awareness, as children can follow along with the text while listening, bridging the gap between auditory and visual reading skills. Ultimately, audiobooks not only support struggling readers but also foster a love for stories, encouraging them to explore new genres, authors, and topics in a way that feels enjoyable and accessible.
5. Make Reading Interactive and Fun
Transforming reading into an interactive and enjoyable activity is key to supporting struggling and reluctant readers. When reading is seen as a fun and engaging experience, it can motivate children to engage with books they might otherwise avoid. Incorporating games, discussions, and creative projects into reading routines helps make the process feel less like a task and more like a shared, enjoyable experience. For example, acting out scenes from a book or creating art based on a story can make the content come alive, offering a multisensory way to connect with the material. These hands-on activities allow children to engage with the text in a deeper, more personal way, reinforcing their understanding and retention of the story.
In addition to creative activities, encouraging group discussions or even role-playing can help struggling readers build their comprehension skills while also improving their confidence in talking about what they’ve read. Asking open-ended questions about characters, themes, and plots sparks critical thinking and invites readers to form their own interpretations of the material. This dialogue-based approach also fosters a sense of community, where readers feel more supported and willing to share their thoughts without fear of judgment.
By adding variety to reading, such as through interactive challenges or collaborative projects, struggling and reluctant readers are more likely to see reading as a rewarding and enjoyable experience rather than a difficult or frustrating one. These strategies not only increase engagement but also help children build a lasting connection with books, encouraging them to read more often and with greater enthusiasm.
6. Model Reading Behaviour
Children are more likely to value reading when they see adults making it a regular part of their lives. By modelling reading behaviour, adults set a powerful example, showing that reading is both enjoyable and important. Discussing books, sharing thoughts on characters, and exploring different genres together makes reading a shared, positive experience. When children see adults engaging with books regularly, they are more likely to develop their own reading habits.
Creating a home and school environment where reading is celebrated encourages children to adopt reading as a regular part of their daily life. This reinforces the idea that reading is not only fun but also valuable for learning and personal growth.
7. Implement Structured Reading Programmes
Structured reading programmes, such as Accelerated Reader™ (AR), can provide an excellent framework for motivating and supporting struggling and reluctant readers. The Accelerated Reading programme offers a personalised, goal-oriented reading experience allowing students to select books at their appropriate reading level, promoting confidence as they engage with material suited to their abilities.
By incorporating quizzes after each reading, AR helps reinforce comprehension skills and provides immediate feedback, allowing students to track their progress. The system also rewards achievement with points, motivating reluctant readers through a sense of accomplishment and encouraging continued reading growth. This approach helps build a positive reading routine and boosts overall literacy.
AR is not about quickly scanning text, but rather a system that:
· Matches students with books: It helps students find Primary AR books or Secondary AR books suited to their reading level and interests.
· Encourages reading: Students are supported to choose books they enjoy, fostering a positive association with reading.
· Measures comprehension: Quizzes after reading ensure students understand the material.
· Tracks progress: Teachers monitor student progress, and the software offers reporting tools to assist with this.
This personalised approach aims to make students stronger, more engaged readers and given the availability of a wide choice of enticing books at each level, encourages reading for pleasure.
At School Bargain Bookshop, we provide discounted books for students and that have been compiled into themed and levelled AR book collections by our experienced team. We offer these at reduced prices — helping schools and parents stretch their budget. Every book in our AR collections has been levelled and quizzed by Renaissance Learning, ready to use with the Accelerated Reader™ programme. All AR packs will be supplied with free stickers which display the book title, book level, points level and quiz number for your convenience.
Learn more about AR with our Guide to Accelerated Reader™. Discover the easiest ways to update your AR library or set up this incredibly popular programme from scratch.
8. Offer Positive Reinforcement
Celebrating reading achievements, no matter how small, can significantly boost the confidence of struggling and reluctant readers. Positive reinforcement encourages children to continue working on their reading skills and reinforces the idea that their efforts are valued. Whether it’s praising them for finishing a chapter or applauding their progress with a challenging text, recognition of their hard work creates a supportive and motivating environment. Encouragement should always be genuine, focusing on effort and improvement rather than perfection, to foster a positive relationship with reading. When children feel recognised and supported, they are more likely to keep persevering and develop a strong, lasting connection with reading. Positive praise reinforces the notion that reading is a rewarding activity, making them more likely to return to books time and time again.
In Conclusion
Supporting struggling and reluctant readers requires a holistic approach that combines understanding, the right resources, and engaging strategies. By following these tips and guiding children towards choosing books that match their reading level and interests, educators and parents can help all children and young adults make progress and develop a lifelong love of reading. School Bargain Bookshop offers a wide range of high-quality, affordable collections for primary and secondary schools, helping you create a supportive and stimulating reading environment where every child can develop the skills and passion necessary for lifelong literacy.
Read Next: Discover how to foster a love of reading beyond the classroom with our Guide to Encouraging Reading for Pleasure at Home.
