1. CHOICE
Kids need to pick the book that speaks to them. I have a stack of books next to my "napping" chair. These are books I MIGHT read. Some go back into the TBR stack for another try down the road. Some go into the bags of books I am floating on to others. I try some books and find them lacking for me (at the time or in this situation or just not for me at all). I think choice teaches kids a little something about taste and preferences, too.
2. ROUTINE
I have time set aside each morning when I read Twitter and Facebook and then try to grad a short book for my #bookaday selection. At the office, I pull a stack of picture books to the middle of my desk even when I have a stack of other stuff to do. I give myself short breaks to read 1-2 at a time and post them out to Twitter and Facebook. If I have time, I add them to my blog as well (www.ls5385blog.blogspot.com).
3. DISCUSSION
There is nothing like being able to talk about what you are reading with someone else, especially if that person has also read the book. I love talking to someone who has read the same book. I love it when Paul Hankins or Donalyn Miler will tweet about where they are in a book I recommended, making comments, sometimes posing questions.
Bottom line: it is all about FREADOM. Donalyn uses the hashtag #letmypeopleread. I am fond of #freadom. We both know that we have to allow these things to happen. And they should not just happen for outside reading or summer reading, either. These elements need to be in place any time we are inviting kids to join us by reading.
