Great article, Cindy. Although I'm an elementary school teacher, I see a lot of value in what you've written. The decline by nine would seem to be the case in many students I've worked with in fifth grade. Many do still read for pleasure, but it seems like more don't read at all or they're turning to graphic novels more and reading chapter books less. Not that graphic novels are bad; I just fear that kids are choosing them because they're deemed intellectually easier to handle. My own kids' reading at home began to decline around fifth grade. Now I can't get them to read at home unless it's with a carrot in one hand and a stick in the other (slight exaggeration but not much).

There is just so much vying for our children's attention, so many choices, so many adult-organized activities outside of school--and in!--that when kids do get a breather, they want to shut down and relax (and play on their phones). I can almost understand it. Life was much breezier for us in the eighties. More boredom. Fewer parents looking fretfully over our shoulders.

I love the way you describe reading books in your classroom now. I can also see why many would shirk from your methods because it involves a level of faith and trust in student agency that most teachers, IMHO, do not have. However, you are right when you say that the goal is to raise lifelong readers. That's far more important than everyone yawning through Shakespeare and Steinbeck as though it's some moral imperative that they be read.

I'm sure you have a lot of more interesting insights into teaching so I'm going to start following you. Keep up the good work!