In fact, as far as reading goes, pronunciation isn't important. If a child cannot apply skills in any situation but a worksheet with the obje in decoding using context cues, but could only do it if the exercise specified or implied the need to do so. Matt was so worried about vocabulary that he found independent reading less enjoyable. According to his mother, his fourth-grade teacher had emphasized vocabulary to a large degree. It se reasonable to assume that part of his difficulty arose from that emphasis.
Movies advertise by giving clips and trailers, video games have TV ads and great graphics.
There is a lot out there that we as teachers compete with, and books look less exciting. So take a tip from the ad industry, and advertise books in your room. This can be done through literature discussions, where the students share books, as well as by your recommendations of books. Many Basals contain short sections of chapter books, so pick some interesting ones, and read them aloud, or use them in class, then make the full book available. Indicate to children books that they might be interested in by topic.