Getting Students to Read

First, do not force students to read Everyone knows that kids will not do/like what is forced upon them. In addition, do not over whelm students with a list of books to read. Even students who like to read would become frustrated with all that reading and stop. In addition, having student read something above or below their reading level can be frustrating and or boring.

Allowing student time for independent reading every Friday - reading things related to your content area, such as biology. Something they are interested in reading. Possibly, for extra credit, a student can read and work on a research paper on a topic area

Have books available at different reading levels.

Examples of some biology books include titled Brain surgery for beginners and other major operations for miners: A scalpel free guide to your insides by Steven Parker and David West (1988) contains fun illustrations to explain technical words used on how the body it is controlled by the brain. Another possible book to have is titled It's Disgusting and We Ate It! True Food Facts from Around the World and Throughout History, by James Solheim (2002), is a book that the middle school students would like, especially the boys, describing the different types of foods other cultures eat around the world