When picking class texts, it's important to remember that not all students are little clones of yourself. As appealing as this thought may be, each student operates with different reading levels and interests. Allowing students to chose from two or three texts maintains a classroom reading theme and discussion while motivating students to follow their interests (CE). Consider some of the following trends in adolescent literature:
- Graphic Novels have emerged as a key tool to encourage struggling and reluctant readers. Offering one of these texts would help motivate these students to read and contribute during classroom discussion.
- Twilight: do I even need to explain how huge this is right now? Silent reading is a great time to encourage reading of this trendy novel.
- Book series have always been popular. While Nancy Drew may be buried at the local library, other series emerge constantly to generate student motivation towards reading.
Allowing students to chose reading material, based upon interest, is an effective motivating tool. There will be plenty of opportunity for teacher-generated reading material; let your students run free for awhile and see what they pick up!
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