• Actively build positive attitudes towards reading
• surround learners with a variety of books
• allow learners to take books home to read in their leisure time
• create attractive book displays in the classroom
• read enthusiastically to your learners … you are their role model, discuss what has been
read with learners to help them make connections between what they have just read and their prior experiences
• ask learners to express their reading preferences
• let learners take turns to read a daily story of their choice to the class
• demonstrate the value you place on reading by having regular free reading time in class
• always emphasise that reading is fun
• read books that stimulate the learners’ curiosity and imagination
• share your enjoyment of your current book with your learners
• ask learners for their input when choosing books for them
• personalise reading by recommending certain books to certain learners
• introduce new books to stimulate learners’ interest
• use issues raised by stories as a starting point for class discussions or use class discussions to encourage learners to read particular books
• talk to learners about aspects of the books – for eg. the illustrations, the authors’ attitudes, the use of description, the type of characters in the book
• when reading aloud stop before the end and ask learners to complete the story/predict what is going to happen, then finish reading the story allowing learners to test their predictions
• use a tape recorder to tape learners reading aloud – facilitators can also assign different characters to different learners (learners can even use sound effects like music if they so wish)
• have storytelling sessions in which both teacher and students participate where learners can be made aware of the development of plot, character etc
• let small groups do choral reading activities – for example, learners select a favourite short story or poem – rehearse and present it to the rest of the class
• use drama – for example, have learners pretend to be characters in a story they have just read
• develop vocabulary through reading activities – for example, identify new words or find certain types of words (like all the descriptive words or all the action words)
