I have spent this weekend analyzing the overall reading scores from the most recent MAP test. I see many gains from last Spring and a few declines. Now, I know all of the students at our elementary school and I know most of your reading habits. I know who likes to read and who reads only for assignments. From these reading scores, I see one common thread with those getting the highest scores. The students who score the highest ENJOY READING. They don't read because they have to. They read because they WANT to. Stephen Krashen has written several books and articles sharing research that says the same thing.
The idea is quite simply really. You do what you like doing. If you like playing baseball, you play baseball and you probably improve each summer that you play. If you like playing soccer, you play soccer and hopefully improve after each practice. The same is true for reading. However, unlike baseball or soccer or football you need to be able to read to do anything else. And just like these sports, reading takes practice!
You use different strategies when reading to learn or reading stories. Reading stories can open up completely new worlds to you as the reader. Imagine traveling to a new society such as the one in Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix. Or having cerebral palsey like Petey in Petey by Ben Mikaelsen. When you read, you don't need to be a star athlete, great at math and science or the most popular kid. Experience the pleasure of losing yourself in a good story. Once you experience this feeling you will want to experience it more and more often.
Here's a title to get you started -- Dork in Disguise by Carol Gorman. Jerry Flack tries to transform himself from a self-proclaimed "dork" into a popular kid when he goes to a new middle school. The results are surprising to Jerry and humorous to the reader. If you enjoy this title, try the sequel, Dork on the Run. Jerry runs for class president!