Reading in the Wild

1. Dedicate Time to Read: Build a Daily Reading Habit

"If you have never said, "Excuse me" to a parking meter or bashed your shins on a fireplug, you are probably wasting too much valuable reading time."

Make reading a priority. Wild readers find time to read every day, despite busy schedules. They read during "edge times" - those small pockets of time between activities or while waiting. To cultivate this habit:

• Set aside dedicated reading time each day
• Carry a book everywhere to read during unexpected free moments
• Read before bed or first thing in the morning
• Use audiobooks during commutes or while doing chores

Encourage students to track their reading time and set goals to increase it gradually. Demonstrate that reading is a valuable use of time by modeling your own daily reading habits.

2. Self-Select Reading Material: Develop Confidence in Book Choices

"Readers are more likely to experience intense engagement with a text, known as "optimal experience" or "flow," when reading texts they enjoy and find personally interesting."

Empower readers to choose. Allow students to select their own books based on their interests and reading levels. This fosters engagement and builds confidence in their ability to make good reading choices. To support self-selection:

• Teach students how to preview books and read blurbs
• Introduce them to various genres and authors
• Help them identify their reading preferences
• Provide access to a diverse classroom library
• Allow abandonment of books that don't engage them

Guide students in creating "to-read" lists and using resources like book review websites to discover new titles. Celebrate their choices and help them reflect on what works for them as readers.

3. Share Books and Reading with Other Readers: Create a Reading Community

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."

Build reading relationships. Foster a classroom culture where students regularly discuss books and recommend titles to each other. This creates a supportive community of readers and exposes students to a wider variety of books. To encourage sharing:

• Implement regular book talks or commercials
• Create a "reading graffiti" wall for favorite quotes
• Use social media or blogs for book reviews
• Pair students as reading buddies
• Host book clubs or literature circles

Extend the reading community beyond the classroom by involving families and organizing school-wide reading events. Emphasize that reading is a social activity that connects us to others.

4. Have Reading Plans: Set Goals and Anticipate Future Reads

"The difference between readers and nonreaders is that readers have plans."

Cultivate anticipation for reading. Encourage students to set both short-term and long-term reading goals. This maintains motivation and helps them view reading as an ongoing part of their lives. To develop reading plans:

• Create "to-read" lists
• Set page or book number goals
• Plan reading for school breaks
• Join reading challenges
• Anticipate new releases from favorite authors

Teach students to reflect on their reading experiences and use that information to inform future choices. Help them see reading as a lifelong journey with always something new to discover.

5. Show Preferences: Discover Personal Reading Tastes

"Wild readers develop authentic preferences through wide reading and heightened awareness of the variety of texts available."

Explore and refine tastes. Help students identify the types of books they enjoy most while also encouraging them to try new genres and styles. Understanding preferences aids in book selection and builds a reading identity. To develop preferences:

• Track genres read using a graph
• Reflect on favorite and least favorite books
• Analyze common themes in enjoyed books
• Experiment with different formats (e.g., graphic novels, audiobooks)
• Discuss how preferences might change over time

Guide students in articulating why they like certain books and use that information to recommend similar titles. Emphasize that preferences are personal and can evolve.

6. Create a Supportive Classroom Environment for Reading

"I want my students to see themselves as readers and writers."

Design a reading-centric classroom. Create a physical and emotional space that values and encourages reading. This environment should make reading feel natural and expected. Key elements include:

• A well-stocked, organized classroom library
• Comfortable reading areas
• Displayed student book recommendations
• Time set aside daily for independent reading
• Teacher modeling of reading habits
• Celebration of reading accomplishments

Foster a classroom culture where reading is seen as enjoyable and valuable, not just an academic task. Make it clear that everyone in the class, including the teacher, is part of a community of readers.

7. Encourage Wide Reading Across Genres

"If we value all readers, we must value all reading."

Broaden reading horizons. While respecting students' preferences, encourage them to explore a variety of genres and formats. This expands their reading experiences and may uncover new interests. Strategies include:

• Setting genre requirements (e.g., read 40 books across various genres)
• Introducing unfamiliar genres through read-alouds
• Pairing fiction with related nonfiction
• Exploring graphic novels and poetry
• Challenging students to try books outside their comfort zone

Help students see connections between different types of texts and how diverse reading can enrich their understanding of the world.

8. Foster Independence in Reading Habits

"Our students must see reading as something that they do—not something remarkable or rare."

Gradually release responsibility. The ultimate goal is for students to become independent, lifelong readers. Move from teacher-directed reading activities to student-driven choices. To build independence:

• Teach strategies for selecting books
• Guide students in setting personal reading goals
• Encourage self-reflection on reading habits
• Provide opportunities for students to lead book discussions
• Decrease reliance on teacher recommendations over time

Help students develop the skills and confidence to maintain their reading lives beyond the classroom and into adulthood.

9. Use Reading Conferences to Guide and Assess Progress

"Conferring with every student helps me forge relationships with each one."

Individualize reading support. Regular one-on-one conferences allow teachers to understand each student's reading life and provide targeted guidance. During conferences:

• Discuss current and past books
• Review reading logs and goals
• Address challenges or roadblocks
• Offer personalized book recommendations
• Celebrate progress and growth

Use conference notes to track student progress over time and inform instruction. These personal interactions build trust and reinforce the importance of reading.

10. Integrate Reading into All Subject Areas

"No matter what standards we implement or reading tests we administer, children who read the most will always outperform children who don't read much."

Make reading cross-curricular. Emphasize that reading is essential in all academic areas, not just language arts. Collaborate with other teachers to incorporate reading across subjects:

• Use trade books to supplement textbooks in science and social studies
• Explore math-related fiction and biographies of mathematicians
• Incorporate current events articles in various classes
• Discuss different types of reading required for each subject
• Highlight how reading skills transfer across disciplines

Show students how reading is relevant to all aspects of their education and future careers.

11. Promote Reading Beyond the Classroom

"We cannot tell children they need to read more and refuse to offer any time for them to read during the school day."

Extend reading lives. Encourage students to see reading as a lifelong habit that extends beyond school requirements. Strategies to promote outside reading include:

• Partnering with public libraries for programs
• Organizing book swaps or fairs
• Suggesting summer reading plans
• Involving families in reading initiatives
• Connecting students with online reading communities

Emphasize that reading is not just for school, but a valuable part of life that brings enjoyment, knowledge, and personal growth. Help students see themselves as readers in all contexts, not just as students completing assignments.

Last updated: August 7, 2024