by Angel Quinton

Created on: November 20, 2009

Reading, what do you visualise when you think of this word? Hopefully you go to imaginary places full of excitement and adventure. Places maybe first visited in childhood, or you may imagine books to explore with undiscovered facts to devour. If so you have a love of reading, you read because you want to, need to, because it enhances your life.

Sadly this is not always the case. Sometimes reading is seen as a chore, something to be learnt so you can get by in life. It's purpose being to read instructions, directions and maybe the newspaper.

So let us consider, why do people's view of reading differ so much? As reading usually begins in early life we will begin there. A child who has books to enjoy, looks at pictures at a relaxed and enjoyable way from an early age, ideally from birth, will see books as enjoyable. They will anticipate the next page, the pictures and eventually the words. They will have enjoyed stories will mum and dad and their grandparents. It is these pre-reading experiences that form our ideas of reading.

These experiences enhance the reader's love of books for life. They feel attracted to books; they see them as a source of pleasure.

Teachers and schools can encourage this love of books through encouraging parents to become involved with their children's reading if they are not already. Courses are often run at schools to encourage adult education. Information can be offered to encourage a literary rich environment at home. Library books and reading books to share are invaluable to families.

In the classroom an exciting story time will help children to see reading as enjoyable rather than reading individual words. Often children can 'read' the words of a book. However, when it comes to comprehension, understanding the story, they have not taken in the meaning of the words at all. It is love of reading and curiosity about books that encourages and ensures the children actually want to discover the story, not merely getting to the next stage of the reading scheme.

Comfortable relaxing reading areas are also essential, cushions, bright, attractive colours, enticing pictures on the walls attract children there to read and relax. The last thing we need is for children to only read books they are asked to read by the teacher, they should have free choice in library books.

Reading is not a chore and should not be treated as such. Obviously we do have reading schemes and levels and amounts children 'should' be reading, however, if the rest of their

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