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Why It Matters That Teens Are Reading Less Answers
No matter what the reason, there are many reasons teenagers have stopped reading. Teenagers spend more time glued to video games and their mobile phones, while the average adult spends five hours a day reading. While the decline in reading may seem like a sad reality, it is crucial to understand what motivates teens to read more. This information will help you encourage your teens read more chapters and books.
Why it matters that teens are reading less
It’s not surprising that teens spend more time online than reading books. Jean Twenge examines the reasons for this trend in her article. She argues that teens don’t spend enough time reading books and that they read shorter texts than long-form articles. Neither of these factors is healthy for teens. What can teens do to make reading more enjoyable?
It’s no secret that digital media and smartphones have affected teen reading habits. According to estimates, the average teen spent six hours per day texting in 2016. The SAT reading scores were also the lowest since 1972. This trend isn’t limited to teens. In fact, it applies to all of us. It’s especially true for the iGen generation. Teenagers born after 1995, or “iGen,” are the generation that has spent most of their adolescence with their phones.
Today’s teens are consuming more media than ever before, including eBooks and articles. There is a lot of content on their social media accounts that isn’t worth reading. Teens don’t want to read for pleasure, but they do have to read for class. Mia Spruill, a UNCG student, says that many students are required to read for school. Why is this important?
Understanding why teens read
One of the most popular myths about teens is that they will forget everything they have learned in one semester. This myth is false. If the student learns something well, it will be remembered long after the semester is over. It will save time for the teen to learn facts now. In addition, if the teen has a strong motivation to learn, he will not easily forget them.
Social media is a great tool to encourage reading. Unlike adults, teens value peer opinions more than their own. Students can interact with peers by incorporating social media into the classroom without feeling intimidated. Social book sharing sites can be a great way to encourage teens to read. Students can also create their own book trailers and compete against each other to display them. It will encourage teens to read more books.
The social contexts of reading and writing contribute to children’s conceptions of these subjects. Parents, siblings, and teachers all shape how young children feel about reading and writing. Several researchers have explored these social contexts and their relation to motivation for literacy. Several social contexts have been identified as contributing to the development and motivation for literacy. But this is not an exhaustive list of motivational factors. It would be helpful if more researchers could identify the motivations of young children.
Homework is another area where adolescents lack motivation. Many adolescents fail to see the value in learning something as abstract as algebra. Explaining the practical application of abstract learning is an exercise in futility. A child may be motivated to do work simply because it is required, not because it has any meaning. He might not have the time. It is important to understand why teens are motivated to answer questions.
In order to encourage adolescent students to read, teachers must first instill a sense of power in them. Students who feel discouraged by reading may think that the goal is to find answers or meaning in the text. Louise Rosenblatt describes reading as a “transaction” that is “process-oriented.” This means that every person brings their own characteristics to the text. For example, a student may be more motivated to read if they feel that reading helps them solve problems or gain more self-confidence.
Understanding what motivates teens to read longer books and chapters
Children and adolescents in the United Kingdom spend the most time reading books. However, this activity is behind other forms of text such as social networking sites and song lyrics. Similarly, Scottish adolescents’ views on reading and the time they spend reading fall below the OECD average. Such findings highlight the need for effective support in book reading. Here, the research team explored the motivation of adolescents to read longer books and chapters.
The first step is to ask your students about their own reading experiences. They may be more forthcoming about insecurities related to reading or trouble retaining information. Some students may even have a file detailing their academic background and personal challenges with reading. Others may not have a personal connection to reading. Identifying and addressing these obstacles can help you encourage them read more. But there are several factors that influence a teen’s motivation to read longer books and chapters.
The study extends previous qualitative research by examining the reasons adolescents avoid reading books. While the reasons for avoiding reading are numerous, the study’s sample size is small and therefore limited. Larger scale quantitative studies are necessary to understand the prevalence of these themes. In the future, more research on the motivation of adolescents to read longer books and chapters is needed to uncover whether specific factors contribute to their inability to read.
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