The start of the school year is full of excitement, fresh faces, and endless to-do lists. But after a long summer break, many students return with reading habits that need rebuilding.
Instead of jumping straight into heavy reading tasks, what if we eased students back into a consistent, joyful reading routine—without overwhelm?
Here’s the truth:
📊 Students who read just 6 books over the summer can maintain or even improve their reading levels. – Scholastic Summer Reading Report
But what about the ones who didn’t?
That’s where you come in.
Reading isn’t just about test scores—it’s about discovery, confidence, and connection. When students see reading as part of everyday life again, we help them rebuild stamina and engagement one step at a time.
✨ Here Are 5 Things You Can Do in the First 3 Weeks of School to Rebuild Reading Routines
1. Start with Book Tastings and Read-Alouds
Ease students into reading by offering choice and modeling joy. Host a “book tasting” to help students explore different genres and formats (graphic novels, biographies, poetry, etc.). Pair it with daily read-alouds that model fluency, expression, and thinking aloud.
✅ This creates positive associations with reading and helps rebuild reading stamina gently.
2. Set Daily Independent Reading Expectations Early
From Day 1, let students know that reading is a part of your classroom culture. Start with 10–15 minutes of independent reading and gradually build up stamina. Use soft starts or end-of-day reading to make it feel routine and low-pressure.
✅ Consistency helps students rebuild their reading muscles without burnout.
3. Model and Practice “What Readers Do”
Instead of assuming students remember how to engage with a text, explicitly model how to find a comfy spot, stay focused, select “just right” books, and respond to reading. Use anchor charts and student-friendly checklists to make these routines clear.
✅ Clarity leads to confidence—especially for your reluctant readers.
4. Conference Lightly but Intentionally
Don’t wait to start conferring—but keep it simple. Meet students where they are with brief, relationship-building conversations. Ask questions like:
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What do you love to read about?
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What’s the last book you finished?
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What’s been tricky about reading lately?
✅ These early conferences build trust and give you insight for future instruction.
5. Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection
Track how many minutes students read, not just what they read. Celebrate class-wide milestones: “We read 500 minutes together this week!” Create a visible chart for progress to motivate and unify your readers without focusing only on levels or test scores.
✅ Reading becomes a collective celebration—not a pressure point.
Final Thought:
Rebuilding reading routines doesn’t require a perfect plan or high-stakes assessments. It requires intentionality, patience, and heart.
When we help students reconnect with reading—at their own pace—we create the conditions for real growth.
✨ "Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary." – Jim Rohn
📥 RHere are more ways to Jumpstart Reading?
Here are some ways to model, monitor and hold kids accountable:
Book tastings
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Reading stamina charts
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Independent Reading Bingo Boards
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Reading prompts
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Read alouds
Partner talks
Thinking Stems
Recommendation Forms and Boards
Teacher Favorits Dsplay
Strategic Library Set up
Genre displays
Create a room environment that screams reading
Let’s make this the year students not only read more—but love it more. 💪📖
Stay tune to part II, where I elaborate on each of these.
#reading #teachersofreading #readingworkshop #classroomlibraries #readalouds #elementaryteachers #middleschool teachers
With purpose,
Rhonda
Founder, Educating Readers Literacy Academy
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