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Igniting a Passion for Reading: Successful Strategies for Building Lifetime Readers
When teaching reading, American classrooms often focus exclusively on skills instruction. But how can you teach the "how" without the "why?" In his new book, Igniting a Passion for Reading, Steve Layne shows teachers how to develop readers who are not only motivated to read great books, but also love reading in its own right. Packed with practical ways to engage and inspire readers from kindergarten through high school, this book is a "must have" on every teacher's professional book shelf.
Well known for his children's books, young adult novels, and keynote speeches across the nation and around the world, Steve, aka Dr. Read, offers teachers everywhere a plan for engaging even the most reluctant reader. From read-alouds to creating reading lounges to author visits and so much more, this book will help schools create a vibrant reading culture. The book also includes reminiscences from many of today's well-known children's and young adult authors—Mem Fox, Sharon Draper, Steven Kellogg, Candace Fleming, Eric Rohman, Neal Shusterman, and Joan Bauer—about the teacher who ignited their passion for reading.
Written with humor, grace, and poignancy, Igniting a Passion for Reading will have a profound effect on the teaching of reading in our nation's schools.
Well known for his children's books, young adult novels, and keynote speeches across the nation and around the world, Steve, aka Dr. Read, offers teachers everywhere a plan for engaging even the most reluctant reader. From read-alouds to creating reading lounges to author visits and so much more, this book will help schools create a vibrant reading culture. The book also includes reminiscences from many of today's well-known children's and young adult authors—Mem Fox, Sharon Draper, Steven Kellogg, Candace Fleming, Eric Rohman, Neal Shusterman, and Joan Bauer—about the teacher who ignited their passion for reading.
Written with humor, grace, and poignancy, Igniting a Passion for Reading will have a profound effect on the teaching of reading in our nation's schools.
188 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
68 people are currently reading
1472 people want to read
About the author
Steven L. Layne
29 books41 followersAward-winning author and educator Steven L. Layne is the director of the Master of Education in Literacy program at Judson University in Elgin, Illinois, where he is also a professor of literacy education. He is a respected literacy consultant, motivational keynote speaker, and featured author at conferences and literary events worldwide. He lives with his wife and children in Saint Charles, Illinois.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
August 3, 2019
I LOVE THIS BOOK! As a primary school teacher of 30 years, I use this resource with my students to develop a love of reading! This book gives so many useful ideas on how to get kids to WANT to read. I implemented several in my classroom over the years, and my students eagerly participate in them! Explaining and encouraging students to read different genres, both fiction and non-fiction, really opened my eyes on how to organize and expand my classroom library. I have shared this resource with teachers from K-12 and many of those teachers have also embraced this book! If you want your students to love reading, then YOU must read/use this book!
May 24, 2021
A plethora of ideas for promoting reading in your classroom. As a library media specialist, it was a good review/refresher. I loved that it encouraged teachers to collaborate with us on book selections for their students.
Published over 10 years ago, it feels a little dated and like Pam Allyn's Best Books for Boys: How to Engage Boys in Reading in Ways That Will Change Their Lives, it would be interesting to see an update. For example, would Layne continue to promote print magazines/newspapers (which in IMHO are becoming obsolete)? How else would screen reading fit into his program?
Published over 10 years ago, it feels a little dated and like Pam Allyn's Best Books for Boys: How to Engage Boys in Reading in Ways That Will Change Their Lives, it would be interesting to see an update. For example, would Layne continue to promote print magazines/newspapers (which in IMHO are becoming obsolete)? How else would screen reading fit into his program?
December 22, 2016
A non- school librarian who advocates for classroom teacher-school librarian collaboration!
February 6, 2014
I decided that I was going to make a conscious effort to read non-fiction and do more professional reading this winter, so I pulled "Igniting a Passion for Reading: Successful Strategies for Building Lifetime Readers" by Dr. Steven Layne from my bookshelf. I told myself that I would read one chapter a day. I was surprised to find that I actually wanted to keep reading each time I picked the book up. The book brought several important ideas to the forefront for me, as well as providing lots of practical ideas for developing a WILL to read among the students that I work with.
The most important idea Layne focused on was the difference between ILLITERACY (for which we have developed a support system for students) and ALITERACY (which is a much bigger problem). Why is it that so many teens have the SKILL to read but not the WILL to read? What is our plan for dealing with this issue? A "complete reader" has SKILL (phonetics, fluency, comprehension, semantics, syntax) and WILL (interest, attitude, motivation, engagement). I, personally, see much less focus on this problem than I do on the issue of ILLITERACY.
Dr. Steven Layne, a former public school teacher who is now a university professor, literacy consultant, author, and presenter, focuses here on ALITERACY and how we can "ignite a passion for reading" in our students. He quotes a classroom teacher, who in 1915, stated: "It should be the teacher's aim to give every child a love of reading, a hunger for it that will stay with him through all the years of his life. If a child has that he will acquire the mechanical part without difficulty." Layne's passion for the subject is evident. Though his ideas are more classroom focused, they could easily be used in other settings. I enjoyed all of the anecdotes he uses to support his message. They made for interesting, easy reading. Layne shares several graphics, hand-outs, and resources for teacher use.
I will say that Layne seems full of himself at times, and I didn't always appreciate his humor, but his ideas are ideas that I know work. Overall, an enjoyable, worthwhile read!
The most important idea Layne focused on was the difference between ILLITERACY (for which we have developed a support system for students) and ALITERACY (which is a much bigger problem). Why is it that so many teens have the SKILL to read but not the WILL to read? What is our plan for dealing with this issue? A "complete reader" has SKILL (phonetics, fluency, comprehension, semantics, syntax) and WILL (interest, attitude, motivation, engagement). I, personally, see much less focus on this problem than I do on the issue of ILLITERACY.
Dr. Steven Layne, a former public school teacher who is now a university professor, literacy consultant, author, and presenter, focuses here on ALITERACY and how we can "ignite a passion for reading" in our students. He quotes a classroom teacher, who in 1915, stated: "It should be the teacher's aim to give every child a love of reading, a hunger for it that will stay with him through all the years of his life. If a child has that he will acquire the mechanical part without difficulty." Layne's passion for the subject is evident. Though his ideas are more classroom focused, they could easily be used in other settings. I enjoyed all of the anecdotes he uses to support his message. They made for interesting, easy reading. Layne shares several graphics, hand-outs, and resources for teacher use.
I will say that Layne seems full of himself at times, and I didn't always appreciate his humor, but his ideas are ideas that I know work. Overall, an enjoyable, worthwhile read!
June 4, 2010
Again, not a book that I would suggest to my average friend, but this got me so excited about teaching again (and excitement has not been on my list of adjectives to describe my feelings about teaching this past year!). Layne, who was a teacher, is now a professor of literacy and author of both picture books and chapter books for kids/young adults. He has so many great ideas of ways to get excited about reading. And what is especially great is that so many of them are really do-able and require little or no money to implement...and only a little planning and preparation. There are, of course, some that would require more time, money and administrative support, but even if we can't do everything in the book, adding just a few of these ideas to our repertoire will excite our students and add enthusiasm back into my teaching. (Enthusiasm, passion, excitement seem to be missing in this age of high stakes testing and "teacher accountability" and fail proof/teacher proof math and reading programs...)
Also, loved that with each chapter he included a "In the Trenches" section where he shared a real anecdote from his own experience and a reflection from a children's book author about a teacher that had affected them positively and helped lead them to become an author.
Readacide helped me refine my thinking about how I'm teaching and whether it is better for kids and got me angry enough to start to fight against what I'm being told to do by "higher ups". But this book helped me clarify what I really believe will help my children become more excited about reading. Also, this was written more for elementary...Readacide was definitely geared toward high school.
Also, loved that with each chapter he included a "In the Trenches" section where he shared a real anecdote from his own experience and a reflection from a children's book author about a teacher that had affected them positively and helped lead them to become an author.
Readacide helped me refine my thinking about how I'm teaching and whether it is better for kids and got me angry enough to start to fight against what I'm being told to do by "higher ups". But this book helped me clarify what I really believe will help my children become more excited about reading. Also, this was written more for elementary...Readacide was definitely geared toward high school.
April 18, 2018
Igniting a Passion For Reading is a book aimed at sparking the love for reading amongst children as well as to promote the importance of reading so that they continue their love for reading well after elementary school and middle school. I like how Steven Layne included a lot of useful worksheets and activities for teachers to use for their students in understanding what motivates a child to read and what keeps that motivation high. The usage of incorporating real teacher stories made the book a fun and interesting book, made it hard to want to put down due to the fun and educational insights that other teachers had while working in a school as well as Steven Layne’s own personal experience and tips for igniting that passion for reading. I found this book very useful in creating reading inventories for children to take to inform me on what types of books they like which is something that I used in my daycare classroom.
March 17, 2013
I believe that some of the best writers are/were teachers-Dr. Layne included. Dr. Layne writes with experience and a sense of humor. He goes into detail about his experiences fostering the love of reading in students. He gives examples and suggestions that are of enough detail to incorporate them into your own classroom. I am so eager to start a RELODIT committee at my school! While reading this book, I recommend keeping post-it notes near by to mark pages/ideas that stand out to you. I can't wait to start incorporating these ideas next year :). I wish principals were required to read books like this and that basils would go away!
June 28, 2011
This text along with Kelly Gallagher's "Readicide" and Donalyn Miller's "The Book Whisperer" has become the centerpiece of my 9th grade summer school curriculum. Dr. Layne offers a convincing rationale for incorporating recreational reading into the classroom. His chapters on conducting an interest inventory, reading aloud, reading with students and book discussions were particularly relevant. His appendices which include great magazines and fillable forms were especially welcome.
July 13, 2015
Totally inspirational. Since starting this book I've used so many of the ideas (someday reading list, reading inventory, "I thought of you") and I definitely have spent a lot of time thinking about how to get kids fired up about reading. There are definitely some ideas here that are far more applicable to teachers than librarians, but I would definitely recommend it to anyone who works with kids.
December 11, 2017
I bought this book at the school's book fair. It was on the "cheap table" and it discussed my area of interest: reading. (Other reading teachers also bought this book.)
I loved it, at least partially because it validated my own beliefs about teaching reading. It also gave me some new ideas to work on in the classroom. There's lots of highlighting in my copy.
I'd highly recommend this to reading teachers who feel overwhelmed.
I loved it, at least partially because it validated my own beliefs about teaching reading. It also gave me some new ideas to work on in the classroom. There's lots of highlighting in my copy.
I'd highly recommend this to reading teachers who feel overwhelmed.
April 6, 2012
I now have a "Mrs. Shade's Hot Read" sign hanging over my desk. If you liked the Book Whisperer, you'll love this book about the affective domain of reading. I am so glad Mrs. Barnes recommended I read this, and more importantly, I thank her for ignighting a passion for reading in my life!
June 22, 2015
This book was a splendid, inspirational and yet grounded in reality! I would love to read more from Dr. Layne in the future if I end up feeling as gung-ho afterwards!!! Great book and a must read for teachers, library staff and parents alike!!
June 13, 2018
This book offers plenty of ideas for how to combat aliteracy. It’s the perfect book study book to use with our Lemme Reader Profiles grant funded by the ICCSD Foundation which focuses on targeting students’ interests and motivation to read.
August 10, 2013
This book is chock full of practical ideas of how to develop avid readers. Great for teachers and librarians.
November 15, 2015
This book gave me so many great ideas for teaching reading in the classroom! I have already implemented a few and the kids are very excited about them. GREAT read!
July 29, 2018
I enjoyed the book, but I felt that it was really directed to classroom teachers. As a homeschooler, many of the author's strategies would seem odd. (I only homeschool 1 kid... maybe if I had a bunch, I would feel differently)
Overall, I like the writing style, and I was able to take away some tips to encourage the "will" to read, but the classroom audience of the book made it less helpful to me.
Overall, I like the writing style, and I was able to take away some tips to encourage the "will" to read, but the classroom audience of the book made it less helpful to me.
September 9, 2018
Reading this book nearly made me want to be an elementary school teacher rather then a librarian. Just not quiet. ;) I would love to have been one of the author's students. He shares what worked for him in the classroom to promote reading, a long with copies of all of his handouts. This book is a great resource for elementary school teachers who would like ideas for promoting reading in their classrooms. I took a lot of note in the margins as I read. I also appreciated the research he shared that explained the benefits of reading.
The author focused a lot on being well read ourselves for the age group we work with. He is an avid children's book reader so he can share book titles with the students he works with. I laughed when he said, "I have become a reader hopelessly addicted to books written for children and young adults, and there's no going back. There's no self-help group, either."
I found this book to be a great resource with information on influencing students to read.
The author focused a lot on being well read ourselves for the age group we work with. He is an avid children's book reader so he can share book titles with the students he works with. I laughed when he said, "I have become a reader hopelessly addicted to books written for children and young adults, and there's no going back. There's no self-help group, either."
I found this book to be a great resource with information on influencing students to read.
June 8, 2020
This is a pretty good read for teachers trying to find motivation in their students to read books. I learned the term "aliterate," which means having the ability to read but not the desire to read. This was an exciting find to have some strategies that help find the motivation to help students want to read. There are some shocking statistics that are shared before the strategies. I love the question, "how are we missing the fact that our aliteracy rate has surpassed our illiteracy rate? Our librarian of Congress noted back in 2002 (yes that 18 years ago) that "52% of Americans ages 18-24 reported reading no books for pleasure." That means that there is no reading outside of college classes, if there are college classes being taken. What?! Americans reading for pleasure from the ages of 25-34 reported an 8-11% decline from the 52% number. What?! It's no wonder that, back in 2007, "less than 1/3 of 13 year olds are daily readers."
Why?
Why?
February 3, 2010
This is the book I could have written about reading. If I were funny. And really smart. Layne is warm and funny and persuasive in this passionate argument for reading in schools. I plowed through it on-line at Stenhouse, and now I'm off to order a paper copy to fill with highlighter and notes. Takes on similar material as Readicide, focusing more on elementary and middle school students.
So why the four stars for the most enjoyable professional book I've read in a while? While thoroughly enjoyable, there isn't much hard evidence here. Lots of good ideas, but thin on citations, studies, and such. Since I'm in the choir, Layne's preaching is fine by me. Non-believers will likely not be moved.
So why the four stars for the most enjoyable professional book I've read in a while? While thoroughly enjoyable, there isn't much hard evidence here. Lots of good ideas, but thin on citations, studies, and such. Since I'm in the choir, Layne's preaching is fine by me. Non-believers will likely not be moved.
September 17, 2019
As a high school English Language Arts teacher I often tell people that if it can be done in elementary school it can be adapted for high school, especially if it's about reading or writing. This book is a good example.
Each chapter talks about Steven Layne's strategies for getting his elementary students reading. But I used sticky notes and covered the whole book in ideas for adapting his ideas to a high school classroom.
Now, armed with a dozen new ideas, and a dozen adaptations of old ideas, I'm all set to start the semester with fresh strategies for getting my reluctant high school readers to read. I'm excited!
Each chapter talks about Steven Layne's strategies for getting his elementary students reading. But I used sticky notes and covered the whole book in ideas for adapting his ideas to a high school classroom.
Now, armed with a dozen new ideas, and a dozen adaptations of old ideas, I'm all set to start the semester with fresh strategies for getting my reluctant high school readers to read. I'm excited!
March 3, 2014
It provides some good strategies to help kids develop a love for reading, getting to know what books students enjoy ( self- assessments), doing book chats to kids excited n learn titles of books, read alouds to allow students who don't enjoy reading, some time to enjoy listening to one, and more strategies to help students grow with their interactions with books. It also talk about having a book lounge as a room in a school, love this idea. A room where students can get comfortable and enjoy reading.
May 27, 2020
An excellent book for teachers about teaching students to LOVE reading. I have always felt that teaching my students how to read was a waste of time if I didn't also teach them to love to read! I want then to keep reading beyond my classroom and Dr. Layne gives amazing ideas and resources to make that happen.
January 3, 2022
I’ve had this book forever! I finally made the time to read it…sooo great!!! The book has given me many ideas of how I can get my students interested in books and reading! Can’t wait to implement these strategies in my classroom! This book was easy to read and understand as well.
March 10, 2011
I totally agree with the main message of the book . . . when teaching kids to read, schools need to teach "the will" in addition to "the skill". I can tell by the tone of the book I would like to be in his classroom, either as a child or as a college student in a literature class. My favorite ideas were to establish a reading lounge or create a once-a-month cafe. On a smaller scale, I liked being reminded that as a teacher I should constantly be promoting literacy and generating excitement about books. I liked the "picture book of the month" idea and the "golden shelf". I also loved that he advocated partnering closely with the school librarian and enlisting all of the school staff, not just the teachers, to help promote reading.
But I thought the tone really changed when he started giving advice on hosting an author. It sounded too much like "complaining" - not getting paid on time, not being treated as a royal guest, not being provided the best accommodations, not having functioning equipment/technology. This part of the book changed my whole opinion of Layne. I think this part should have been stated in a more positive manner or just left out. Where was the editor?
But I thought the tone really changed when he started giving advice on hosting an author. It sounded too much like "complaining" - not getting paid on time, not being treated as a royal guest, not being provided the best accommodations, not having functioning equipment/technology. This part of the book changed my whole opinion of Layne. I think this part should have been stated in a more positive manner or just left out. Where was the editor?
February 8, 2012
Practical ideas to read about today and implement tomorrow . Teacher friendly with good ideas for motivating readers.
June 10, 2015
Attended a conference of his and it was wonderful and inspiring. This book has lots of ideas for language arts/library media professionals.
December 31, 2018
This was a fun read to inspire our reading culture at home. It is not a homeschooling book and is aimed mainly at teachers but I was inspired with some fresh ideas for our next homeschool semester.
I love the idea of newspaper day and am looking for kid publications to go along with it.
Plus, he reaffirmed my belief that reading helps us have a deeper understanding of a subject and should not be neglected in other "non-lit" subjects such as history or math.
I love his algorithm for book chats and plan to use that to inspire my book chats with my kids. Us homeschoolers may find it similar to oral narration... Although, I'm not using it here because time is of the essence and I want to go implement it with my own children.
Thank you Steven Layne for sharing your wisdom!
I love the idea of newspaper day and am looking for kid publications to go along with it.
Plus, he reaffirmed my belief that reading helps us have a deeper understanding of a subject and should not be neglected in other "non-lit" subjects such as history or math.
I love his algorithm for book chats and plan to use that to inspire my book chats with my kids. Us homeschoolers may find it similar to oral narration... Although, I'm not using it here because time is of the essence and I want to go implement it with my own children.
Thank you Steven Layne for sharing your wisdom!
November 17, 2017
Some practical strategies for employing the philosophy of Donna Miller's Book Whisperer. Really, this book's greatest asset are the appendices of reader interest surveys and such. I took a bit of umbrage with Layne's tone (especially as he seemed to chide working parents & single parents or ELA teachers who read outside of children's/youth literature). I also didn't always think his ideas and methods were entirely the best or only way to "ignite passion." Overall, there were many variables, but the conglomerate effect was stronger, more engaged readers. A great book to pick and choose strategies from to enhance a reading program at your personal school.
November 18, 2019
I really enjoyed this book; it was great and interesting to read. The author gives you many ideas and strategies you can use in your classroom on how you can ignite passion in readers. We all know how it can be hard to read, especially if you don’t like to. This book gives you tips on how to help readers who feel this way. For instance, you can give a lesson on what themes mean and the different themes there are. You can then have students choose a book of their choice based on the themes talked about. This allows students to have choice in what they are reading. This is one of the strategies the book talked about another one was book clubs. You can have book clubs in your classroom to allow for discussions and growth of reading. This is more fun for students, than saying writing a book report.
April 21, 2020
Steven Layne does a wonderful job at convincing you to spark joy in students about reading. Layne has a way with words that makes you want to follow along his every step. I was intrigued by the amount of methods he provides in detail through this book. Layne provides insight on what it is like in the minds of students and how you, as a teacher, can encourage students to read. Although I am not a teacher as of yet, I definitely would recommend having this book on you teaching shelf. It provides worksheets for you to use as well as tons of ideas on how to set up a reading classroom. It makes me excited to be able to share my reading journey with my future students.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews