Make Reading Exciting With These 10 Simple Ideas

There are many ways we can make reading exciting for students. It starts with setting up your classroom for reading success.

Students will thrive at reading if the classroom is set up to encourage relevant and purposeful reading materials.

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Below are ten tips for creating a rich reading environment to make reading exciting.

Make Reading Exciting With These 10 Simple Ideas

Have books on display 24/7.

This goes hand in hand with practicing what you preach. Share what you’re reading with your students or have your current read on your desk (so long as it’s school-appropriate) so students can see that you read as well, and make sure books are displayed in the classroom. If no books are on display, students might not want to pick them up – especially if they only go to the library once a week.

I have a display case of high-interest books in my classroom. I consider this my reading advertising spot. This is located at the front and centre of my classroom to keep the students’ eyes on the books. They can browse this shelf at lunchtime or if they finish a task early. I love the Scholastic Top 10 Series – it is great for grades 4-8.

Have a diverse classroom library.

I’ve written many blog posts on creating a diverse and dynamic classroom library, but the ideas are still worth sharing again.

Include a wide range of genres: fiction, graphic novels, poetry, fantasy, realistic fiction, non-fiction, mystery, historical fiction, etc. This way, all students can find something to read that appeals to them.

Offer books that are at various reading levels so that all students, no matter their reading ability, will be able to choose and read something. Include books for struggling readers and advanced readers. Check out these lists to get ideas for books for struggling readers:

• Engaging Books for Struggling and Reluctant Readers
• Books For Middle School Reluctant Readers
• More Books For Middle School Reluctant Readers

Remember that an inclusive classroom includes books reflecting diverse experiences, cultures, and backgrounds.

For a huge list of books to include in your middle school classroom, you can check out this blog post: Best Middle School Book Recommendations. You can also sign up for the 2 Peas and a Dog email list and get 32 Free Middle School Book Lists straight to your email box. These lists are categorized by grade, genre, theme, and more.

Create a comfy spot to read.

Create dedicated spaces in your classroom so that students can read comfortably. You could use bean bags, rugs, pillows, or even include soft lighting to create a relaxed atmosphere.

I bought reading carpets to encourage students to find their reading spot. The carpets are the perfect size for partner and individual reading. This allows students to read anywhere in the classroom in comfort.

It’s also important to let students choose where they want to read, whether on the floor, at their desk, by a window, etc. This will help give them a sense of ownership over their reading experience.

Use interactive reading displays.

In my classroom, I have a high-interest news article wall. This wall gets updated a few times a week. I get one of Canada’s national daily papers to my classroom daily. I found it was just sitting on my whiteboard ledge, not being read. Now, I cut out articles that might interest my students, and they are reading up a storm!

You could also create displays of book covers, author spotlights, or even thematic book collections. If you get your students to review the books they read, you could showcase their reviews as a display.

Have your students create posters of different genres that can be put up in your reading area, or create a genre reminder anchor board to help students remember to read a variety of genres.

One year, I surveyed all three of my rotary classes, and they came up with 11 books they enjoyed reading. I printed off the covers and posted the plot synopsis below. Students are constantly walking over to read what their classmates recommended. This could be a fun, collaborative project at the end of each year before the winter holidays.

You could even use these ‘Read It/Read This’ graphic organizers, which allow students to write their own book reviews using pre-made graphic organizers to help them organize their thoughts. You can get these free when you sign up for the 2 Peas and a Dog email list.

Use high-interest reading assignments. 

Another way to make reading exciting is by using high-interest reading assignments. My students read a different genre monthly and complete different activities based on choice and interest.

These 12 genre-focused book report assignments enable students to showcase their creativity while meeting curriculum standards. This assignment covers both fiction and non-fiction books. 

The assignment structure rotates every three months, helping students achieve proficiency while still providing student choice. You can find the 12 Genre Book Reports on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.

You might even want to try the 14 Book Reports resource. Not only does this resource have the 12 genre-focused book report assignments mentioned above, but it also includes and novel study choice board and a Book Versus Movie Comparison Assignment. 

Your students will enjoy a wide range of independent reading assignments in book report choice board format, allowing them to be creative and letting them get a choice in what they read. You can find the 14 Book Report Project Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD. 

You could also try the ideas listed in this blog post: 10 Creative Reading Response Activity Ideas to Ignite Classroom Engagement.

Provide student choice when it comes to reading material. 

Provide choices for major student readings: literature circles, reading groups, and book reports. A choice between two or three books helps engage students and enables them to control their learning. 

Have you considered creating a student book club in your ELA classroom? This post will explain why they should be implemented: 5 Reasons to Use Student Book Clubs. Or, if you’re considering setting up an online book club, check out this post for tips and my own experience running them: Online Book Clubs for Middle and High School Students. 

You might also want to check out these 10 Thought-Provoking Middle School Book Club Books. If you run literature circles in your ELA classroom, check out this post, Organizing Literature Circle Sets, for more information on organizing your literature circle sets.

Learn more about encouraging students to read more here: 10 Ways To Create a Culture of Reading.

Rethink your core novels. 

Stop reading boring books for read-aloud and whole-class novel studies. There are so many interesting novels to choose from. My two go-to core novels for Grades 7 & 8 are The Giver by Lois Lowry and The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. I have read The Outsiders for 6 years now and not one class has disliked it. 

Look at these 6 Fantastic Canadian Authors To Read In Class or think about ditching the canon. Learn more about the latter in this blog post: 10 Ways to Cultivate a Love of Reading. You could also consider using podcasts like Mars Patel in place of a novel study to keep things relevant and interesting in the classroom. Learn more in this post: 11 Creative Ways To Use Podcasts With Students.

If you are planning to teach a new novel in your middle school classroom, check out these tips: How To Prepare To Teach A New Novel.

Use literacy-based activities.

Encourage students to write about what they are reading in their own reading journals. They can reflect on characters, themes, or how a book connects to their lives or beyond (as in this post: Effective Ways to Help Students Make Text Connections When Reading). 

There are many different choices out there for reading logs, but try to go beyond having students solely write down the book and the author; use an independent reading journal that can help your students stay organized, accountable, and on track during their independent reading or reader’s workshop sessions. 

This resource includes easy-to-use assessment forms to ensure student accountability and help teachers effortlessly track student progress. You can find the Reading Journal Assignment on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD. 

You can learn more about independent reading journals here: Using Independent Reading Journals in Middle School, or you might want to check out this post: 8 Fun Reading Log Alternatives.

Students might also be interested in trying out-of-the-box ways to share their reading.

The Book Flatlay Project is an assignment where students create a visually stunning book flatlay/book bento image, demonstrating their creativity and strengthening their analytical skills by justifying their prop choices using evidence from the text. This is a great alternative to traditional book reports and gives students a unique opportunity to display their learning. 

Students will love this assignment as it connects their reading to some of the images they see on social media. You can find the Book Flatlay Project on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.

Or let students channel their inner influencers using this Book Unboxing Oral Presentation. Students love social media and YouTube culture. They can use their knowledge and excitement to promote reading in your classroom by selecting 3 to 5 books they have read and unboxing them for the class. 

Students can present this information in a video format or a live presentation. This can be used with any fiction or non-fiction book. You can find the Book Unboxing Oral Presentation assignment on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD. 

Integrate technology into reading and assignments.

We need to remember that physical books are not accessible for everyone, nor are they the best way to consume material for some students. Offer access to eBooks and audiobooks through platforms such as Epic, Libby, or your school library system (if available). This is helpful for students who prefer reading on devices or might need more accessibility options. 

Audiobooks can be helpful for short readings, novel studies, independent reading and more. They are also a great way to allow students to read as they need or want to in and out of class. To learn more about how audiobooks benefit students, read this post: Benefits of Audiobooks for Middle School Students.

To learn even more about integrating technology and making reading accessible, check out this post: Engaging Alternative Reading Formats.

Students could use a digital bookshelf to record their reading. You can get this free Digital Bookshelf when you sign up for the 2 Peas and a Dog email list. To learn more about a digital bookshelf and find more ways to get students excited about reading, check out this post: How A Digital Bookshelf Can Get Students Excited to Read. 

Celebrate Reading!

Remember that reading shouldn’t be done solely for assignments or to meet curricular expectations. Students should not only be taught to read books to do literary analysis but also for pleasure! Reading can be a great escape for people of all ages.

Arrange for authors to visit your classroom virtually or in person if possible. If it’s an author students know and love, this can build excitement around reading and give students a deeper connection to what they are reading. 

Host events like “Dress Up Like Your Favourite Book Character Day” or a poetry slam. Create reading challenges for students, such as reading three different genres in three weeks or having them fill out a reading bingo card where they can explore different authors or types of books. Organize a school-wide book fair or swap to unite students and generate excitement about finding a new read. 

Use a digital escape room to celebrate reading and make reading fun, such as this Book-Themed Digital Escape Room. 

Author Penny Kittle has her students do “book stacks” of their reading life. Students collect the various titles they have read during a time period (quarter, semester, year etc.,.) and she photographs the students with their stack of books. This would be a fantastic way to celebrate reading with your students. 

Making reading fun isn’t just about making students want to go to ELA class; it’s about creating a culture of reading within students and getting them excited about reading, no matter the setting. 

For even more articles on how to make reading fun, setting up classroom libraries, and more, check out the posts below: 

• How To Make Reading Fun
• The Importance of Reading Engagement
• 5 Ways Independent Reading Boosts ELA Students
• Creating an Engaging Middle School Classroom Library
• 10 Creative Reading Response Activity Ideas to Ignite Classroom Engagement
• Reading Resources For Creating Lifelong Readers, Not Just Students Who Read

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