Reading for pleasure

Students in ELA 11 were assigned 3 self-selected books this year to read on our SSR Fridays as well as on their own time. No real requirements, other than the books be at reading level (young-adult or

higher) and more text than visual (although graphic novels would be acceptable). This semester I also stipulated that the movie couldn't also be a book because I'm pretty sure many juniors "watched" their book more than they read it; this was kind of sad for me because I really think reading a book and watching a movie provides great food for thought and conversation.

Mrs. Steffes, my ELA 11 teaching partner, and I struggle with this assignment at times because it's clear so many students just aren't reading--but we feel reading for pleasure is that important and deserves a place in our curriculum. Reading even 20 minutes a day improves reading skills ... and test scores. But most importantly, reading is a way to step into another person's skin and experience life in a time and place not our own. We don't ask that students become book worms, but we do value reading.

Here's an interesting piece from NPR's Morning Edition* (link)--I especially like the last sentence, which is why I'm sharing it with you!

*You'll find the podcast and transcript on this page, so you can read the story ... or listen to the piece!