Ways to Create a Culture of Reading

Encouraging students to become avid readers and working towards creating a culture of reading in the classroom seems as though it is one of the most obviously important jobs an English teacher has. Unfortunately, I have seen teachers completely discourage students from reading -- not intentionally, of course. But not listening to what they have to say about what they read or by making reading a strictly individual assignment will turn many students away from the entire process of reading.

When I think about encouraging my future students to read for enjoyment and to see the benefits of reading, there are too many ideas that seem to come to mind. And, for me, that's exactly as it should be -- creating a culture of reading within a classroom means doing lots and lots of little (and different) things to get students involved in reading. Although every student may never get as excited as I get to see my favorite author at a book signing (although some might!) there are lots of things that can be done in the classroom to encourage them to read:

• Know what they're reading! (And what they want to read, but just don't know it yet.) In other words, as a teacher it is beyond important to be aware of the world of adolescent literature. Teachers need to be familiar with what the students are already reading and talking about. A knowledge base of adolescent literature will not only give the teacher insight into student interests, but also provide an opportunity to get more students reading. One of the best feelings as a teacher is choosing a book for a student with that "hunch" that he/she will like it and then finding out he/she loved it and is reading the next in the series or another by the same author. 
• The American Library Association has an entire sector devoted to young adult literature: Young Adult Library Services Association. On their site you'll find titles, authors, awards and lots of ideas.
• Keep the classroom stocked. This seems obvious, but English teachers must have books in their classroom! When I have a classroom of my own I plan on keeping not only the classics that we read and the textbook in my room, but a wide range of genres and reading levels. I'll treat my collection like a rudimentary, mini library; students will be able to sign books out if they want to take one home. I may have students who do not have books readily available to them, as I always did when I was young. My students will know that if they are interested in a book I will do what I can to make it available.
• Make reading rewarding. Ideally, my future classroom will have the space for a "reading corner" where students can relax with a book. This space would be used only for students who are reading and as a kind of reward -- which would vary from student to student. Maybe for a student with a behavioral plan who was able to focus all period or for a student who made honor roll for the first time. Hopefully this would help students to see reading as something positive and a valuable way to spend their time.

Although somewhat ridiculous and very elementary, this was the most obvious example. 

You get the point...

•  Make reading social. There are too many teachers who see reading as a quiet and individualized assignment. Students need to be able to discuss what they are reading with one another -- whether that means they're all talking about different books they read on their own or a text for class. In my future classroom I'd like literature circles will be used at least once a week. Each member of a literature circle group will have a different task, such as summarizer, artist or discussion director, and the students will get a chance to discuss what they read on a more intimate level with one another. These literature circles will also encourage students to think about a text more critically and on a deeper level.
• Go beyond the text. Go ahead and scoff, but sometimes the movie really was better. Because I have a background in film, I would love to be able to read a book, watch the film, and then discuss the two with my students. Comparing a text to its film adaptation is one of my favorite things to discuss and hope to share that with students. When students see that so many films are based off novels or short stories, their interest will -- hopefully -- be peaked and they will motivated to read the book that inspired their favorite movie.

There are many, many ways to turn students into readers; their homes may not be cultures of reading and their friends may not see it as "cool," which means the classroom may be the only way they will be exposed to the benefits of reading.

And just for fun...