Cultivating a Love for Reading : Endorsing Engaging Practices to Encourage and Pressure to Boost a Learners’ Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking

Abstract

Reading is a very important skill in the learning process. However, interest in reading among students is often low. This study aims to apply interesting practices in reading activities with the aim of cultivating a love of reading and improving students' reading comprehension and critical thinking. The method used is a qualitative approach with observation, interview, and documentation techniques. The study sample involved 75 elementary school students in grades 7- 9 at Nida Suksasat School, Thailand. Three interesting reading practices implemented are word card games, batik activities, and chain message games. The results showed a significant improvement in students' reading interest, reading comprehension, and critical thinking after following these practices. However, there are challenges such as lack of letter recognition and lack of motivation to learn in some students. This study concludes that the application of interesting and meaningful reading practices can be an effective approach to foster a love of reading and improve students' literacy and critical thinking skills.