Reading Level Should NOT Be a Measure of Self-worth!
Does it upset some struggling readers when their book is written on a lower reading level?
I get it, if it does. But those thoughts only hold reluctant readers back. We must directly teach that reading levels are not a measure of self-worth or how smart someone is! Reading levels only inform readers were they are and help them become better readers.
Each individual has a different background on why they struggle to read fluently. These backgrounds are very different from someone who reads well.
You see, I was what I called a “bad reader” most of my life. I still am not as fast as others and sometimes have to read passages more than one time. But when I was growing up, I thought it meant I was dumb. https://www.lbtillit.com/about-l-b-tillit/
Only smart people can read well, right?
Wrong.
We all have our own stories.
I want my readers to understand that reading is a puzzle that some people figure out faster than others. There are many reasons for why this is the case. Some people might grasp the reading process quickly because a parent or guardian frequently read to them when they were young. Or, maybe there were always plenty of books available in their homes. Or, maybe, like me, they had a hard time reading because they learned a different language first. Then, there are those who have dyslexia and flip their letters or words jump all over the pages. We all have our own stories.
But we all have a right to read. So, we must stop thinking that, because we have to work harder at it, it makes us less or bad.
In fact, I want my readers to think about this:
When you look for something to read that doesn’t insult your interest level, doesn’t that make you smart? You care about what you read. Don’t you? Believe me when I say that the more you read, the more you will want to read. AND, guess what? The better a reader you will become.
I hope you will give the new LB Tillit series, The Way I See it a try. Struggling readers will want to keep reading! Based on current feedback, each book in the series engages the reader more than the last one. https://www.lbtillit.com/the-way-i-see-it-series/
The Way I See It series, by LB Tillit, engages readers as they move from one book to the next. This not only builds reading fluency, but also helps prepare struggling readers for more complex literature. https://www.myeasyreadbooks.com/
Blog Photo Credit: Sarah Borhaug