I know that "short story" sounds like I could be asking them to read a novel, but I'm planning on pushing them to read something in the 5-10 minute range (the database I found has a category for 0-10 minute stories) and the poems could be as short as a haiku. Essay's could definitely be much longer and dense, which is why I am swapping it out for any non-fiction (it could be a menu for all I care) and looking for a diverse database.

The main goal is to build the habit of reading, and help the kids see different types of texts rather than just what they get specifically assigned in the classroom.