How much should high school English teachers require their students to read independently, in your opinion?

To clarify, I am not asking how much your teachers made you read independently, but how much you think teachers should make high schoolers read independently.

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KingofPizza2 · 41-45, M

I mean, if it's required it's not independent. Ideally the things they read for class should be varied enough that the students will find genres that they enjoy reading on their own.

VioletRayne · 36-40, F

I teach and I require my students to read at least one self-chosen library book a week. In addition to required class materials.

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VioletRayne · 36-40, F

@33person Im not sure the exact amount but I’m sure she read at least 15-20 required novels, plus 10 over the summer from the required reading list.

33person · 26-30, M

@VioletRayne That seems pretty good to me. I'm impressed!

VioletRayne · 36-40, F

@33person Yeah, she’s at a pretty decent school. Especially to be a public school.

4meAndyou · F

I think four books over the summer are a good assignment when bridging Junior English into Senior English. That's one book a month, and most kids can do that in their spare time.

During the school year, I think teachers should provide a reading list, and ask their students to read ONE book from the list and do a report on it. The reason I am going so light is because high schools crush students with homework, and they have very little free time during the school year.

BlueRain · 51-55, F

It really depends on the level of the class.

33person · 26-30, M

@BlueRain Let's say it's 10th grade honors, or college prep. I feel like no kid in the regular class has ever done any homework in all of human history.

Jackaloftheazuresand · 26-30, M

none, I hated reading and rarely took the tests for the books but I had one of the highest reading comprehension levels. The really poor readers were reading all the time and completing their assignments. This is a difference between hard work and laziness, not teaching kids to read

hunkalove · 70-79, M

They should make it interesting so kids want to read.

SW-User

4-5 books/month

TheCoolestCat · 36-40, M

my teachers didnt suggest we read anything

SW-User

Assigned lame books? None. Their own books that they pick out? They should read until they die

33person · 26-30, M

@SW-User Can you be more specific about how much they should be required to read their own books they pick out? Like how much should be required per quarter, or something.

SW-User

@33person give them a window for one book a month.

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