We’re kicking off a brand-new series on reading strategies for back to school—and this first episode is all about helping students see themselves as readers. I’m sharing my own story (spoiler: I didn’t always love reading), and how that experience shapes the way I build reading culture in my classroom. You’ll hear how I start the year with intentional conversations, low-stress activities like reader one-pagers, and time for students to explore books without pressure. Whether your students are confident readers or come in saying they hate books, this episode will give you practical ideas to help them feel like they belong in a community of readers—because reading isn’t just something we do, it’s who we are.

Reading Resources you may find helpful:

• Reader One-Pager, Surveys and Get to Know You Assignments
• Literary Genre Review Scavenger Hunt

Related episodes and blog posts:

• How to Support Struggling Readers and Reduce Anxiety
• Get to Know Your Students As Readers
• Building Strong Teacher-Student Relationships
• How to Get Students to Connect with Books
• The Power of Independent Reading

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