07/04/2026
A lot of children don’t hate reading. They’re just saddled with the wrong book.
Three simple ways I increase reading for pleasure at home, in the classroom, and in the school library:
1. Pair fiction and nonfiction on the same theme:
A fiction book about the moon alongside a nonfiction book about the moon.
Same subject. Two different ways in.
Children start to tune in to genre while staying anchored in something that interests them.
2. Use reading pods:
Before returning books, children sit in small groups and share what they liked, what they didn’t like, and whether they’d recommend the book and why or why not.
At home, this can be a simple conversation: what stood out, what confused you, would you choose another book like this?
Confidence grows. Book choice improves.
3. Teach a quick book-fit check:
Open to a random page. Hold up a finger for every word that you don’t know.
If there are four or five unfamiliar words, the book may not be the right fit yet. Three will be challenging but may be doable if there’s a real interest in the book.
This gives children a simple, independent way to choose well.
When children choose for themselves, and get to talk about books with more confidence, they feel less overwhelmed, and read more.
This matters because reading, writing, and research go together.
The child who can move between a story and a factual text on the same subject is already building the habits that strengthen writing and deepen understanding.
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I teach reading, writing, and research as connected skills.
If you’re a parent, teacher, or school looking for practical ways to build reading for pleasure, message me about online classes and workshops.
