The one book I can remember specifically reading in high-school was The Canterbury Tales with complicated prose and complex word choice. While those in my class yawned with no urge to read, I surprisingly latched onto the book. What I found interesting to read (especially The Wife of Bath’s Tale) my classmates saw as just another tedious assignment. My classmates could be considered alliterate. Not to be confused with illiterate (unable to read or write), alliterate can best be described as being able to read but unwilling. A person can be alliterate for a plethora of reasons but for the sake of this article, I will focus on how motivation is a big impact.

One big reason why a person might be alliterate can be because the topic of the book is uninteresting. I myself have read a book before where closing my eyes seemed to be the best choice. I did not have a goal for the reading, which in-turn meant I had no motivation to read. The example of having no motivation to read is a relatable experience for most and can be especially seen in children in contemporary times who frown at the idea of reading. While others may think children don’t read because they can’t, the problem isn’t their cognitive ability but rather their motivation: the will to read. Knowing that where there is a will, there is a way, what motivates people to read and how can we best motivate others to read?

There has been research that has narrowed reading motivation down to the two factors of reading attitude or reading interest. Although attitude and interest can play a big part in reading motivation, they do not paint the whole picture of what motivates people to read. The 3 governing factors for the motivation to read include competence & efficacy beliefs, goals for reading, and social purposes of reading. An example of this can be seen in motivated readers. They believe they are good readers because of an understanding of the subject, enjoy being challenged in their reading if its a topic of interest, appreciate being recognized for their reading and they enjoy talking with their friends about what they read.

If you are wondering how to nurture motivated and engaged readers, there are a few pointers you can try. The first recommended pointer is to be an explicit reading model yourself. Others learn from seeing but going even further to discuss reading with students/community members and demonstrating how reading can make a difference in life can help to motivate to read. Another point one can try is to have a book rich environment. Just by having high-quality reading materials to encourage others to read in proximity can help to motivate a person to read. Tying into the previous point, giving multiples choices on what can be read can help to encourage a person to read. Just by being given then option to read one simply starts to enjoy reading more. If the person sees reading as a type of social reward (reading the same book as friends to have a common topic) this can help to give an extrinsic boost to reading motivation

If you would like to read more on the topic of what motivates people to read, please try a search on our database list here, using key words such as “motivation to read”, “Linda Gambrell”, and more.

Edited by- Ash Hermosillo

Reference

Tilley, Carol L. “Reading Motivation and Engagement.” School Library Monthly, vol. 26, no. 4, Dec. 2009, pp. 39-42. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=c88f2493-206a-3113-932f-5eef69720f15.

So many people listen to music but how many of those listening understand the benefits behind music? I would argue that off the top of our heads, not many could list the psychological/mental and physical benefits that come from music. 

 For example, did you know that music helps with anxiety and stress? If a person plays a slower tempo song, they can quiet their mind and even relax their muscles. This comes from the music’s effect of lowering cortisol (stress hormone) levels. Music also helps to improve sleep quality, even aiding those with insomnia. Not only can music help a person sleep, but music can also be versatile, working vice-versa by helping a person wake up with the added placebo effect of setting the tone for their day. 

The benefits don’t just end there. Make sure to not forget your headphones at home when going to the gym because the benefits can also be seen there. By playing fast paced music, a person can exert themselves more during a workout. With a certain tempo, one can also increase serotonin and endorphin levels in the body, providing a type of mood boost for a person, as can be read about in the article referenced below.

Some of the more common benefits of music includes boosting performance with cognitive tasks and helping with tasks involving memory, such as learning a language. There are even studies on how music therapy can help with cognitive impairments in older adults (ex- Alzheimer’s). The use of music in therapy (music therapy) can help with a variety of issues/situations such as: manage stress, alleviate pain, express feelings, boost memory, improve communication, and more.

If you would like to hear more about the benefits of music click here to see some results in out database.

Rock on! (Edited by Ash Hermosillo)

Reference

Speranza L, Pulcrano S, Perrone-Capano C, di Porzio U, Volpicelli F. Music affects functional brain connectivity and is effective in the treatment of neurological disorders. Rev Neurosci. 2022 Mar 24;33(7):789-801. doi: 10.1515/revneuro-2021-0135. PMID: 35325516.

“This will help you build character” is a saying I have heard non-stop from childhood. While this may be true for things like failing a test or going through a break up (what doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger) the saying doesn’t apply to everything. Other use it as a joke but really how is your character/personality built and what are some aspects that influence personality.

One aspect that plays a big role in the forming of a personality is the idea of attachment theory. A term coined by John Bowlby that dictates a child’s relationship with their primary caregiver is important & critical for development. The relationship between the child and the Attachment Figure (AF) has a big hand in molding the child’s personality.

There are 4 attachment styles (up to date), each with their own differences. The different attachment styles and simple description are as follows: 

1. Secure- the child is close and has a great/open relationship with their AF 

2. Insecure/Avoidant- children usually avoid interaction with their AF and tend to avoid getting emotionally close. 

3. Insecure/Resistant- children have a hard time getting a sense of security from their AF, which in turn may cause them to have a hard time regulating their emotions. 

4. Insecure/Disorganized-disoriented- children don’t have a uniform/constant response to their AF. 

Attachment styles can affect you well into adulthood. Your style can also predict how you respond in your relationship and other social interactions. For example, if a person has an the avoidant attachment style, they are less likely to accept emotional intimacy. Whereas a person with a secure attachment style is more likely to feel comfortable expressing their emotions and accepting others emotions. There is also a correlation between your attachment style and confidence levels which in turn impacts mental health, learning and more. 

Studies even show that by looking at a child’s attachment style, teachers can predict future academic achievement. For example, a study found that those with a secure attachment style have better reading/pre-reading skills and an overly better outlook on reading, than insecurely attached children. The study also found that secure styled children have higher amounts of self-esteem. 

Attachment styles are not the only thing that impacts a persons personality/character and there can even be some overlapping between the different styles (ex- having traits from avoidant style & disorganized style). While the theory isn’t all encompassing , it can still help to bring awareness of just how important a bond between a child and their AF is.

If you’re interested in reading more about attachment theory/styles, do a quick search in one of our data bases here or check out books on the subject here.

(Edited by Ash Hermosillo)

The pieces have fallen into place, and the 1- Hour Jigsaw Puzzle Competition results are in!

PAIRS COMPETITION

3^rd Place

Annie R. & Anna J.

Time: 00:13:15

2^nd Place

Mal-Gin G. & Nellie M.

Time: 00:11:35

1st Place

Michelle F. & Lauren P.

Time: 00:05:44

SINGLES COMPETITION

3rd Place

Bernadette D.

Time: 00:17:43

2nd Place

Chrissie R.

Time: 00:12:56  

1st Place

Michelle F.

Time: 00:11:12 

A big congratulations to all our winners!

The excitement and support we received during the Puzzle Contest was truly overwhelming, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the amazing response we received from all of you. Whether you entered the contest, shared it with your friends and family, or simply showed your appreciation, your involvement made this event an incredible success.

Congratulations to those lucky individuals whose efforts awarded them trophies. You have now been contacted and your small prizes will be with you very soon! We hope that these prizes bring you delight and serve as a small token of our appreciation for your support.

We firmly believe that the spirit of participation and camaraderie matters just as much as the prizes themselves. Your involvement in this competitions reinforces the sense of community we strive to foster, and for that, we extend our sincerest thanks. Your engagement drives us to continue creating exceptional experiences and events that resonate with you, our valued customers.

Once again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for joining us in celebrating the 1-Hour Jigsaw Puzzle Competition. We are truly humbled and honored to have such a fantastic community surrounding us.

If you have any feedback, suggestions, or ideas for future jigsaw puzzle events, please feel free to reach out to us. We value your input and take every opportunity to improve.

Wishing you all the best of luck in your future jigsaw puzzles.

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