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Both my daughter and my son were avid readers. My wife and I read to them at naptime and at night almost every day, from probably the age of one until they were able to read to us or to themselves. We could not fool them early by skipping a page. They picked the books from their shelves and insisted on helping us read sometimes the same book twice in a row.

Throughout their elementary school years, reading was a favorite pastime. The school had reading awards to encourage students to read. They had lists of appropriate books for the age level then the students took a computer test on the books they chose and would gain points based on the grade of the test. The highest readers were awarded assignments in the computer labs to help the teachers or other students. It was a great motivator, at least for my children. The main motivation, I believe, was the students had a choice. They did not have to participate in this reading activity award program and they had plenty of books to pick from.

Once both progressed into the middle school grades, the joy of reading began to decline. Although I believe reading the classics are important, the choices were decided by the teacher. Every student was required to read one book at a time as a group. My daughter was a fast reader and became bored quickly when one chapter took at least two weeks to complete in class. They were instructed not to read ahead. The same situation happened when my son reached middle school. Both lost interest in reading. Granted middle school also offered the first chance to play sports on a team or interact with more friends, but overall I believe the lack of choice altered their joy in reading more than anything else. Both said it was a matter of HAVING to read instead of wanting to read.

By the high school years, most of the English teachers sent lists of summer reading requirements two months before the beginning of the school year along with a type of project to be completed by the first week of the term. Freshman and sophomore years, both children completed their summer requirements and both years the projects were not even graded due to rest of the class never turning in the assignments. By their junior and senior years, they both decided it was not worth the effort. Reading was no longer a joy or a nice pastime. They read only when they had to and complained then. College was similar except at least it was more fast paced and grades or assignments did not center around the apathy of other classmates. Both are out of school now and I am pleased to find them both once again taking pleasure in reading.

From my personal observations, teenagers do not read regularly because they lose the choice and pleasure of reading once the activity becomes a requirement. Teachers have a tough job educating all students as a group. Some students would not read unless it was required, but in some students this takes the joy away. I think parents and teachers should continue to find innovate ways for teenagers to want to read even if it is unconventional materials like comic books or magazines.

Learn more about this author, Madison Briggs.
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