Wellbeing is more than a catchphrase – it speaks to the heart of each individual. For those working with students of all ages, it can be difficult to accurately assess how each student truly feels – about themselves, their social support networks, and their sense of value within the classroom and wider school community. These feelings have a direct impact on student learning and confidence in their own abilities.

“Student wellbeing is defined as a sustainable state of positive mood and attitude, resilience, and satisfaction with self, relationships and experiences at school.”
– Australian Catholic University 2008, p.66

As educators, we are familiar with the students who appear confident and capable – those who seem to manage most situations with ease. However, there are also those who go unnoticed, or who actively avoid being seen. These students may be struggling with a range of challenges, such as low confidence, motivation, belonging, or performance pressure. The school year is an opportunity not only to help students achieve academically but also to help them realise their value as members of the school community. Teachers dedicate hours to planning lessons that actively engage students in learning. Seeing a student flourish – recognising their abilities and thriving – makes all that effort worthwhile and has a lasting, positive impact.

Understanding whether students feel connected and valued within their school environment is crucial. These perceptions directly affect classroom performance and overall wellbeing. Yet, with limited time during the school day, it can be difficult to determine how students truly feel about school, their work ethic, or the importance of consistent attendance. Trust in their teachers – believing they are supported and understood – is vital. Students with a positive mindset in these areas feel both valued and empowered by their teachers and peers.

When students believe in their own abilities and value themselves, they engage with school more positively – and are better positioned to achieve their potential. A student who approaches schoolwork thinking “I can’t” is unlikely to experience success. A student who believes “I can” builds the mindset necessary for continued achievement. Their confidence, preparedness to learn, and ability to face challenges all contribute to a sense of success and wellbeing.

At times, teachers find it challenging to motivate certain students. Helping students develop self-motivation is key, as this influences their work ethic and response to the demands of the curriculum.

These factors can be difficult to detect and are often missed in traditional academic assessments. This is where PASS (Pupil Attitudes to Self and School) proves invaluable. PASS helps uncover the hidden drivers of student behaviour and performance, providing schools with the evidence to confidently implement proactive support strategies for mental health and engagement – before issues escalate.

Reading reluctance is a big challenge in Australia, not just in classrooms but across the whole country. In fact, according to NAPLAN results in 2023, one in three students read below their grade level.

Unfortunately, beyond school, these habits don’t improve: a major survey by Australian Reads found 55% of teens read only occasionally and 1 in 4 don’t read at all for pleasure.

The good news? The What Kids Are Reading 2024 report shows that students read an average of 17.6 books each this year – up from 13.2 in 2023. It’s a strong sign that reading engagement and enjoyment are growing among those who are actively participating.

But comprehension scores are still only steady at 75%, meaning understanding what they read remains a challenge.

Reading matters: beyond school results, it improves mental health, empathy and life skills.

Strong literacy skills are foundational, influencing performance across various subjects and aspects of personal development.

In Australia, research indicates that students with higher literacy skills often excel in mathematics and problem-solving tasks. For instance, a study by the Australian Government Productivity Commission found that an increase in literacy and numeracy skills by one level is associated with about a 10% increase in wages for both men and women, underscoring the broader benefits of literacy beyond reading itself.

Given these insights, fostering literacy from an early age is important.

6 best tips for engaging reluctant readers

At Renaissance Learning, we understand the reading challenges and are committed to supporting educators with practical tools and resources to engage and inspire even the most reluctant readers.

So, how do we help more reluctant readers get there? Here are six practical tips to engage reluctant readers and free resources to help you make it happen.

1. Set short and achievable reading goals

Building reading habits starts small. Encouraging students to read for just 15 minutes a day or reading a set number of pages can make a huge difference over time. It’s a manageable goal that doesn’t feel overwhelming, especially for reluctant readers who might struggle to settle in for longer sessions.

Short daily reading goals help develop consistency and show that even small chunks of time add up. Students who read just 15-29 minutes a day encounter approximately 5.7 million words annually – nearly four times more than those reading less than 15 minutes. Over time, these habits can expose students to millions of words, boosting vocabulary, comprehension and confidence naturally.

Acknowledging these little successes helps maintain motivation and makes reading feel like a natural routine.

2. Build a reading culture that goes beyond the classroom

If reading only happens in class, students may see it as just a subject, not a lifelong skill. Instead, make reading part of the school’s identity – celebrated and woven into everyday life across all year levels and departments.

This requires a whole-school approach: leadership sets the tone, library teams boost engagement with events and displays and non-literacy staff get involved by modelling reading habits and promoting challenges.

A strong, school-wide reading culture makes reading feel accessible, valued and worth prioritising.

3. Personalise reading to match each student’s style

Reluctant readers thrive when they have a say in what they read. Giving students the freedom to choose books that match their interests helps spark motivation and connection. In addition, some students, especially older ones who are reading below their year level, often want to read without everyone watching.

Use interest surveys and data to create tailored reading lists that reflect diverse preferences. Also, pay close attention to the latest topic and subject matter trends to stock books that are relevant to each cohort.

Digital libraries like myON can support this by giving students access to a wide mix of books, short articles and current events content. Many students enjoy being able to explore topics they’re curious about and choose how they engage with the text, whether that’s reading silently, listening to audio or even recording themselves as they go.

When students pick books themselves about something intriguing to their preferences, they’re more likely to stay engaged and enjoy reading.

Only 28% of Australians are frequent readers, highlighting how important it is to nurture personal choice to develop lasting reading habits. By providing students with the freedom to select books that resonate with them, educators can encourage a deeper connection to reading.

This tailored literacy learning approach supports reluctant readers in developing a lasting and meaningful reading habit.

4. Use insight to inspire growth

To truly support reluctant readers, we need more than good intentions – we need clear statistical insights. Benchmarking tools like Star Reading help teachers understand where each student is starting from by assessing their reading age, reading level and comprehension ability.

This data enables teachers to personalise support, set realistic goals and recommend books at just the right level – without the guesswork. Star Reading even generates parent-friendly reports, helping to strengthen the partnership between home and school so reading growth continues beyond the classroom.

Instead of relying on assumptions, data allows educators to:

• track growth in real time,
• identify comprehension gaps and
• adjust reading programs accordingly.

Even small reading wins matter! Celebrate early improvements to build confidence and keep students motivated. When progress is visible to both teacher and student, it’s easier to maintain momentum.

Reluctant readers are more likely to keep going when they feel seen, supported and successful right from the start.

5. Make it fun: create excitement around reading

Reading should be personally enjoyable. If it feels cumbersome or intrusive, it can turn many people away from picking up a book.

Accelerated Reader creates space for that. Students can read books in any format –whether physical books from the school library or digital libraries from platforms like myON, and then take short, low-pressure quizzes in Accelerated Reader to check their understanding.

It’s a powerful way to track progress and build reading confidence without putting students on the spot.

For those already glued to their devices, reading on a screen might just be the gentlest way back into the world of books.

These tools support micro-achievements too – celebrating quiz-based milestones that nudge students forward in ways that feel personal, not performative. It’s about letting students quietly build skills at their own pace, in a format that suits them.

6. Track progress visually and celebrate growth

When students see their reading grow, motivation grows. So, visual progress tools help build daily habits and show that every 15 minutes counts.

Try this: Download our Reading Growth Chart – a printable, garden-themed tracker where students colour in a leaf, flower or raindrop for every 15 minutes they read. Designed for A4 printing, it’s teacher-friendly and perfect for individual or classroom displays.

This chart supports “15 minutes a day” reading encouragement initiative. Our data shows that students who read for 15+ minutes daily are exposed to up to 6.8 million words by graduation compared to just 1.5 million for less frequent readers.

Use reading milestones to trigger mini-celebrations (like stickers, shout-outs or group rewards). This helps maintain reading motivation.

Practical solutions to help you go further

If you’re looking to bring these student reading improvement strategies to life in your school, Renaissance Learning offers a suite of powerful tools designed to engage students, support teachers and build lasting reading habits.

These include:

• Star Reading: Accurately assesses student reading levels, providing local and global benchmarks. This gives educators clear data to tailor personalised instructions and track reading growth effectively.
• Accelerated Reader: Offers 8,000+ book quizzes to boost comprehension. Students set goals, track progress and enjoy gamified challenges like peer competitions and House points with books matched to their level.
• myON Digital Library: An interactive platform for reading, listening, note-taking, journaling and voice recording. Thousands of levelled books and articles engage students on any device, turning screen time into meaningful reading.

These reading improvement tools work together to support a personalised, data-informed approach to literacy learning that grows with your students.

• 1 in 3 students in Australian classrooms struggle with reading, impacting their ability to keep up with lessons. 
• Teachers estimate that 2.5 hours of curriculum time each week is lost due to the need for additional reading support. 
• 87% of teachers feel personally responsible for helping struggling readers improve, but 84% have felt at a loss about how to provide effective support. 
• 80% of parents find it challenging to encourage their children to read at home. 

The Reality of Reading Difficulties in Australian Classrooms 

In Australian classrooms, reading difficulties are more than just a minor inconvenience—they’re a major obstacle to learning. A recent survey conducted by GL Education and Renaissance found that teachers believed a third of their students weren’t reading proficiently, significantly impacting their ability to keep up with the curriculum. This belief from teachers has been confirmed with the 2024 NAPLAN results from the ABC News. Teachers estimate that around 2.5 hours of teaching time each week is devoted to helping these students, which amounts to approximately 16 days of instruction lost each year. 

The Teacher’s Challenge 

For many teachers, the struggle to support weak readers is both a personal and professional challenge. An overwhelming 87% of teachers feel a strong sense of responsibility to help these students improve. However, the same survey reveals that 84% of educators have felt unsure about how to effectively assist struggling readers. This uncertainty can hinder progress and exacerbate the difficulties faced by students. 

The Impact on Students and Parents 

The loss of instructional time affects not only students but also their families. Teachers report that 80% of parents have difficulties encouraging their children to read at home. This challenge is compounded by the fact that struggling readers often require more than just additional practice—they need targeted support that addresses their specific reading challenges. 

Why Effective Support is Crucial 

Addressing reading difficulties effectively goes beyond merely allocating more time. Teachers need access to the right tools and strategies to provide meaningful support. This includes reliable assessment tools, evidence-based intervention strategies, and ongoing professional development. Only with these resources can teachers maximise the impact of the time spent helping struggling readers. 

Looking Ahead 

To better support struggling readers, it is essential to equip teachers with the necessary resources and training. This includes access to effective assessment tools and professional development opportunities that focus on evidence-based strategies. By breaking down myths and focusing on practical solutions, we can help ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed. 

Want to Learn More? 

For a deeper understanding of the impact of reading difficulties and practical strategies to address them, download our full report from GL Education and Renaissance here.