The new year offers a perfect opportunity to reimagine what reading can mean in your classroom. Rather than viewing reading as just another curriculum requirement, consider how strategic reading resolutions can deepen student engagement, build literacy skills, and foster a genuine love of books.
Making Reading Resolutions That Stick
Effective reading resolutions aren’t about quantity—they’re about creating sustainable habits. Encourage your students to set specific, achievable goals: finishing a book series, exploring a new genre, or reading one book by an author from a different background. When students take ownership of their reading journey, they’re more likely to stay motivated throughout the year.
Diverse Selections Drive Engagement
One powerful resolution is committing to reading more diversely. Books that reflect students’ identities and experiences—as well as worlds beyond their own—create meaningful connections and broaden perspectives. This January is an excellent time to stock your classroom library with voices and stories that might not have been represented last year.
Building a Reading Community
Reading resolutions are more powerful when shared. Create opportunities for students to discuss their reading goals, recommend books to classmates, and celebrate milestones together. Whether through book clubs, recommendation walls, or reading challenges, a community approach transforms individual resolutions into collective momentum.
The Role of Access
Perhaps the most important resolution for educators is ensuring every student has access to books that excite them. From classroom libraries to school collections, accessible reading materials are the foundation of any successful reading initiative.
This January, as your students set their reading resolutions, consider how Paper Dragon Books’ curated collections and award-winning titles can support these goals and transform your classroom into a hub of literary enthusiasm.