Children vary greatly in their level of engagement when listening to books. Each child has an individual capacity for attention, and even that changes depending on his circumstances. Groups of children also have different listening abilities that can vary from day to day. How can a reader encourage attention to the stories?
As we have discussed before, know your audience.
As much as possible, match your book choices to the level and interest of your listener while continuing to introduce more advanced material over time. The goal is an upward trend of increasing ability to focus on listening.
When reading to one or a very small group, there are a few things you can do to increase their focus. Try a few and see how your listener responds. Some will help, some will not. As with any tool, use the ones that work on your job.
Ask questions.
As you read, stop and ask a quick question about what the reader thinks will happen next. Use simple yes or no questions to avoid a lengthy detour from the story. “Do you think the Cat in the Hat will drop the fish?!?”
Point it Out
Touch the pictures as you read about them. Point to the character who is speaking. If someone is jumping, bounce your fingers along the page. The combination of the spoken (listening) and visual (seeing) engages two senses and helps concentration.
Drawing Some children can more easily focus on listening when their hands are occupied. Doodling on paper while listening can help. This seems to work best for older listeners with longer stories that have fewer pictures. Just keep the materials simple – for example pencil and paper not markers and colored notepads – so as not to compete with the story.
Groups of children present completely different dynamics for paying attention. Again, know your audience as much as possible.
Timing
Read to a group when they are most able to be calm and focused. We usually read after lunch and right before nap. After recess is often a good time too. If you have a group that is a challenge to read to, try reading during snack time. Their little mouths and fingers are occupied and attention to the story may increase. Once they have developed a habit of quietly enjoying stories, they will be more likely transfer that attention to other settings and times as well.
Of course there are multiple individual and group dynamics that a reader deals with and these are not cures for all issues. Use what works and develop your own strategies. Keep Reading!!
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