[00:00:00] Samantha: Welcome back, joyful Readers. Today we’re talking about one of my favorite topics, independent reading, and more specifically, how to make it work alongside your full class novels. I know a lot of teachers want to incorporate independent reading, but it can feel impossible with all the curriculum requirements, pacing guides, and the ever present struggle of time.
[00:01:02] but here’s the thing. Independent reading isn’t something that has to replace full class novels or your entire curriculum. Instead, it can work with it making your students stronger readers and more engaged learners. I’ve talked about using literature circles alongside your regular curriculum a lot on this podcast, but today I’m detailing how exactly you can do that.
[00:01:24] I’m going to give you five ways you can seamlessly incorporate choice reading into your classroom without sacrificing your required curriculum, the classics, or the deep discussions that come with whole class novels. It doesn’t matter if you are new to lit circles or if you’ve been using them for a while, this episode is full of tips and tricks for everyone. Let’s get to it.
[00:01:45] Tip number one, use independent reading time as a daily bell ringer. Let’s talk about those first 10 to 15 minutes of class – the time when you’re taking attendance, checking in on students, trying to get everyone settled. Meanwhile, someone singing in the corner, you can hear gum popping, there’s talking, and it’s just chaotic.
[00:02:05] My first tip is to take that time and use it for independent reading. It’s a simple routine. Students walk in, grab their books and read, while you handle all the logistical things that need to get done. Set a visible timer so they know it’s reading time, and keep a small shelf of books or magazines for students who forgot theirs because they will.
[00:02:26] I always found that keeping high interest nonfiction and magazines on hand was the way to go. It’s low commitment, but still engaging. It might take a little while to establish the habit if you haven’t been doing it, but once it clicks -game changer, your students will get used to starting class with quiet reading time, and you’ll get a few precious minutes to breathe while completing your housekeeping tasks.
[00:02:49] I think you’ll be amazed at how this small but mighty practice changes your classroom culture in a really positive way. Tip number two, try a genre based literature circle. If you’ve been listening to this show for a while, you know that I love a good genre based literature circle. So for tip number two, let’s talk about why they’re so powerful and how you can use them in your classroom.
[00:03:09] There really are two ways to approach genre based literature circles. The first is to have students match their independent reading to your whole class unit. So if you’re teaching a novel in verse, they choose a novel in verse for their independent reading. If your whole class novel is a mystery, they pick a mystery.
[00:03:26] This approach helps students make clear connections between their choice books and the required texts, which make discussions richer and more meaningful. It also makes library browsing a breeze since most school and public libraries organize books by genre. But here’s the best part. This setup naturally leads to compare and contrast opportunities.
[00:03:44] Students can analyze how different authors within the same genre approach things like character development, plot structure, or theme. For example. If you’re reading Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds as a whole class a student might read the Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo for independent reading. Both are novels and verses, but they tackle different topics in different ways.
[00:04:03] That kind of side-by-side analysis strengthens critical thinking and literary analysis skills without feeling like extra work. The second way to use genre based literature circles is to dedicate an entire unit to them where every student in class is reading a book from the same genre, but they all have different titles.
[00:04:20] So instead of everyone reading of Mice and Men, for example, students might all be reading different historical fiction novels. This allows for student choice while still keeping a common thread in discussions. You can have students work in small groups with peers, reading similar books, leading discussions, making predictions, and analyzing literary elements together. No matter which approach you take,
[00:04:41] genre based literature circles are a fantastic way to help students discover what they actually enjoy reading. Many students don’t realize how much they love a particular genre until they get a chance to explore it. And when students connect with books that they truly like, they’re far more likely to keep reading long after they leave your class.
[00:04:58] And isn’t that what it’s all about? Tip number three, connect your novels through literary elements. One of the easiest and most effective ways to make independent reading work alongside full class novels is by tying them together through literary elements. For tip number three, we’re going to look at how this works. Using literary elements as your unit anchor helps students see the connections between what they have read and what they choose to read, making both experiences more engaging and meaningful.
[00:05:25] Rather than treating independent reading as something separate from your core curriculum, you can use it as a lens to reinforce key literary concepts. Encourage students to analyze their independent reading books using the same literary elements you’re discussing in your whole class novel. Here are some guiding questions to help facilitate these connections. For character development,
[00:05:45] how are the main characters in both books similar or different? Do they face similar internal or external conflicts? How do their character arcs compare? For theme, what themes appear in both books? How do the authors develop these themes differently? Are there any surprising similarities? This strategy not only deepens students’ understanding of literary concepts, but it also makes literary analysis more accessible and personal.
[00:06:09] When students can compare a book they’ve chosen to one they’re reading for class, they naturally engage in higher level thinking. They start to see patterns in storytelling, recognize how different authors approach similar ideas, and develop stronger opinions about what makes a good book. The goal here isn’t just to make independent reading fit into the curriculum, it’s to make it an integral part of literary analysis.
[00:06:31] When students recognize that independent reading isn’t just extra, but actually enhances their understanding of literature as a whole, they’ll engage more deeply and develop the skills they need to think critically about any book they pick up in the future.
[00:06:43] Tip number four, compare and contrast in key assignments. I’m a big fan of assignments that let students put their independent reading books side by side, full class novels. So for my fourth tip, let’s talk about how to help students compare and contrast those two novels and key class assignments.
[00:06:59] Here’s just a few ideas. A character comparison using a character autopsy where students analyze a character’s traits, motivations, and impact. Have students complete one for each of their main characters, and then compare. A comparative one-pager that visually represents the similarities and differences between two books. A comparison essay or discussion circle where students debate which book did something better, whether it’s theme development, pacing, or character arcs.
[00:07:25] Taking assignments you already do and tweaking them to include independent reading makes it easy to blend both types of reading into your curriculum without a ton of extra work on your part. Tip number five, show that independent reading matters. Last, but not certainly least, we need to talk about how to show your students that reading matters.
[00:07:44] Samantha: This is a big one. If students don’t see independent reading as valuable, they won’t take it seriously. That means you need to reinforce its importance by including it in your grading system. Give students creative ways to showcase what they’ve read like one pagers that visually capture themes and characters, character wordles, where they create a word cloud of words that represent a character, or book talks where they pitch their books to the class like a mini book commercial. When students know their independent reading counts, they’re far more likely to engage with it. For tons of other creative project ideas, you can visit my website at www.samanthainsecondary.com and click on the projects icon.
[00:08:22] I truly believe that independent reading is one of the best ways to turn students into lifelong readers. And the best part, you don’t have to give up your full class novels or your required curriculum to make it happen. By finding ways to integrate choice reading into your existing lessons, you’ll create an environment where students feel both challenged and empowered.
[00:08:42] Before we wrap up, I just wanna take a moment to say thank you. This marks the final episode of Season One of Creating Joyful Readers, and what an incredible journey it’s been. This podcast started as a way to share my love of books, literacy strategies, and all the ways we can inspire students to become lifelong readers.
[00:09:00] Along the way, I’ve had the joy of chatting with amazing guests, getting to dig into the best YA books, and connecting with all of you fellow educators who are just as passionate about reading as I am. I’ll be taking a short break from the podcast to focus on some exciting projects, including the Joyful Reader Summit, a three day virtual PD event designed just for secondary literacy educators. It’s going to be an incredible opportunity to learn, connect, and of course talk all about books. You can head to my website at www.samanthainsecondary.com and join my email list so you don’t miss out on any of the info. Even though the podcast is taking a break, you can still find me over on Instagram at Samantha in secondary, or of course, join my email list.
[00:09:42] I will still be active and available in those spaces. Thank you so much for being part of this first season. It’s been such a rewarding experience and I truly appreciate every listen, every message, and every moment you’ve spent here with me. I can’t wait to come back in the future with even more episodes, more book recommendations, and more ways to create joyful readers in our classrooms.
[00:10:04] Until then, and as always, happy reading.