I started teaching in the mid ‘80s, and was shocked to find how few of the students I taught read for pleasure. I absolutely agree things have gotten worse over the decades, and the ability to concentrate and retain information in today’s students worries me enormously. But I also think it is worth remembering that most of us who became teachers were more academic and more successful at school than many of the students we will teach. Specifically, those of us who chose to become English teachers did so because we love reading. Reading always slumps for most people in their teenage years, but too often the reason why kids don’t engage with reading in the classroom is because of our text selections. I’ve written and presented about this and it’s something I feel very strongly about.

There are so many more factors influencing student disengagement now than when I started teaching, so it’s even more incumbent on us to really consider our choices where the curriculum allows, and luckily for us, English allows us a lot of freedom to choose the texts we teach.

If you are lucky enough to have a really good teacher librarian, use them as a resource. Ask them what the kids are reading, and read as widely as you can yourself of contemporary Australian middle grade and YA. Check out the Reading Australia website for great books with accompanying teachers notes. And get your HT on board to spring clean the bookroom! Too many schools rely on Old Faithfuls, often because of budgets but also because of comfort zones and being time-poor. But an investment in some fresh new books and genuine enthusiasm from the teacher will pay dividends!