Supporting Reluctant Readers: Highlights from Our Volunteer Forum
- eperks1
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Recently, Schoolreaders hosted a 'Reluctant Reader Forum', open to all active volunteers, bringing together readers from across our community to share experiences, learn from one another, and deepen their understanding of how best to support children who find reading challenging, or who avoid reading altogether.
The session was led by Schoolreaders recruitment coordinators Michelle and Susan, who drew on their many years of teaching experience to explore the different barriers children can face on their reading journeys. From confidence and self-belief to motivation and past experiences, they highlighted how no two children are the same, and why patience and positivity make such a powerful difference.
A key message from the forum was the importance of confidence before competence. Small successes, gentle encouragement, and celebrating progress, no matter how small, help children build the self-assurance they need to find the motivation to read. Michelle and Susan also encouraged volunteers to offer choice, variety, and relevance where possible, reminding us that when children connect personally to what they’re reading, motivation grows naturally.
Creating a safe and supportive space was another strong theme. Mistakes are not failures but an essential part of learning. As one light-hearted example from the session showed, a child recently misread “trampled” as “trampolined”. Rather than correcting him immediately, the group agreed his version was far better - being “trampolined by a runaway horse” certainly sparked laughter!
Volunteers were also reminded that all reading counts. Comics, magazines, non-fiction facts, jokes, and stories can all open the door to curiosity and encourage children to view literacy as something that can be fun, as well as a subject to be studied.
The forum was well attended, with thoughtful questions and lively discussion throughout, reflecting the commitment and care our volunteers bring to their roles. Thank you to everyone who joined us, and especially to Michelle and Susan for sharing their insights.
Download Forum Presentation Below.
