Every Day We're Shufflin': Empowering Students During In-School Independent Reading

Abstract

Research in the field of literacy has identified choice as a key component affecting students' reading habits and their resulting literacy growth. This article discusses an in-school independent reading project in which students are provided the freedom to choose books, use ambient music, and engage in book talks. The children showed increased involvement in reading. For many students, school is the only place with access to high-quality, appropriate, and interesting books to read without interruption. The project exemplifies how maximizing opportunities for students to make decisions about the kind of books they read in an environment they prefer gives students ownership about what they learn and how—thereby empowering them as learners.