Stacy Creel writes: "Modeling reading, sharing books with students, and giving students opportunities to share their choices are instrumental components of encouraging reading. In the case of this research, self-selection had a significant effect on whether or not students enjoyed the books they read for school. Since most students have access to classroom and school libraries, it is important that these collections appeal to their reading interests and offer a variety of resources to support self-selection."
Margareta's insight:
Self-selection for reading is so critical in middle school. One of those children in the photo above was in my library yesterday, and was amazed that he could check out Unbroken for a reading project. "We just want you to read," his teacher and I told him. He was certain he could only read chapter books, after having that drummed into him in elementary school. Here's to a newly enthusiastic reader of narrative non-fiction! (And now that he knows what it's called, he'll have a much easier time finding what he likes in my library, a class library, or public library!)
