Engaging reluctant readers since 2012!
Reluctant readers want their books to reflect their lives. Just like other teens, they want to find answers to tough questions. In order to meet this need, I have written Hi-Lo books that address sexual harassment and assault. In my experience, I have seen and experienced the large grey area everyone calls, “But I didn’t…
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It is important for Hi-Lo books to address racism and stereotyping. Although struggling readers may need books written on a lower reading level, they still need a challenge. I want to invite reluctant readers into the discussion. So why address racism and serotyping? Unfortunately, it happens every day. Through working with students with diverse backgrounds,…
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I believe that there is a need for Hi-Lo books to address depression and suicide. Struggling and reluctant readers need to read stories that challenge their perspectives and make them think. Low reading level does not mean the readers can’t tackle tough subjects. When I set out to write Ozzie, the first book in The…
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Teachers who work with struggling or reluctant readers need to teach how to abandon books. This is something I feel strongly about as a former teacher. However, I also draw from my own personal experience as a struggling reader. Growing up as a struggling reader, I thought that if I started a book, it meant…
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If I can impact one reader at a time to build their reading fluency to a point where they seek out other literature, then I have done my job. Why did L.B. Tillit start writing Hi-Lo books? This is a great question! I have a very good reason for why I began writing Hi-Lo books.…
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Not only did the characters come alive, but reluctant readers had access to details they might have missed while reading the text alone. Using read aloud as a teaching tool is NOT limited to only teachers reading aloud. I found, when I used novels with extensive dialogue, I could engage my students by assigning readers…
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I strongly believe that it is never too late to read aloud. When I taught at an alternative school, I had fifteen and sixteen-year-old boys who couldn’t wait for me to read out loud to them. It was fascinating to see them want to know what happens next. This process of reading aloud can be…
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No struggling reader will ever read a classic if they are not interested in reading at all. Struggling readers must connect with the text. This statement may seem simple enough. However, it took me a while to learn. When I taught in an alternative school, I thought I could bring the same great literature with…
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I believe the terms will especially be helpful for English Second Language classrooms. As a teacher, it was always challenging finding books to use in the classroom. And most of the time I had to come up with my own collection of vocabulary terms to teach. So, as an author, I decided it would be…
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Is it possible to find Hi-Lo Books that inspire discussion? Yes, it is possible if the Hi-Lo books focus on plots and characters that reluctant readers buy into. However, finding books that struggling readers “buy into” may seem to some teachers a waste of time. Isn’t it more important to tackle the classics or required…
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