Field trips are fun. Nothing gets the kids excited about going to school like getting to take the bus somewhere cool. Everywhere is cool when you get to leave school, so reading teachers! Take a literary field trip to a book store. These wonderful castles for wasting serious time while learning are soon to be a thing of the past, so make sure your students get their hands on a real book before it’s too late. There is nothing like the tactile feel of a book. There is nothing like the smell of paper and ink to make someone want to read, and there’s nothing more fun than wandering around a well stocked Borders or Barnes and Nobles to find just the perfect book to explore while lounging in a big over stuffed chair.
If you get the right tour guide, the literary experience will be fun and exciting. Find an employee who gets really excited about exploring the books. Let that person tour the kids through the different sections of the store. As each kid finds himself surrounded by books about his favorite hobby or subject, he won’t be able to help himself. He’ll pick up a book and read a little bit. This is just a great way to make reading fun. Most big stores also have a coffee and snack bar. The kids will have a blast looking at books and magazines while having a treat.
If at all possible, have someone read a story to the kids, too. Book stores often hold public readings and author meet and greets, so the kids should also experience the human interaction that a book store can offer. If kids understand that reading doesn’t have to be boring because there are many things to read about, then you will have done your job as a teacher.