“I've Found the Reader Inside Me Again”: Creating a Culture of Reading for Teachers

Abstract

This discussion piece explores how K-12 teachers enrolled in a graduate-level literacy engagement course engaged in a culture of reading. Through assignments like a literacy autobiography and a “book stack” project with discussion groups, teachers were encouraged to examine their literate identities, read for pleasure, and develop daily reading habits. The teachers' increased reading habits and informal conversations about books fostered a community of readers and inspired teachers to make changes to their teaching of reading. We explain that when teachers experience their own literate development, they become more authentic models for their students and prioritize choice and enjoyment in reading.