Books can be a gateway to information and entertainment. According to the National Literacy Trust AP, however, around one in three students enjoy reading in 2025 and one in five read daily, some of the lowest rates in the last 20 years.
Senior Marley Martinez mentioned that the quick and easy accessibility of information on social media could be a factor of the reading decline. Martinez believes the depth novels have in terms of the plot and characteristics hinder students from reading more.
“With a book, you have to spend a lot more time getting to know another character and getting to know the actual storyline, find out the plot and the different things the author wants to tell you to really be interested in it,” Martinez said. “I think the fact that it takes more time and you really have to get into the book – find interest in it – is a big reason why students are not as interested in reading anymore.”
As a fan of fantasy books, freshman Clara Myers enjoys reading for the excitement of the plots. She encourages reading and finds that books can provide readers with an escape from reality.
“Some books are relatable. I really like the characters, and they’re also kind of (a way of) going somewhere else while just being in my room or classroom or wherever,” Myers said. “It’s just fun.”
To ensure students continue to be introduced to literature, teachers around campus are finding creative ways to incorporate reading into the classroom curriculum. AP Biology teacher Eric Wozadlo motivates students to read by making reading mandatory for the class, their grade.
“If they don’t (read), they’ll lose points. They won’t get credit for the assignment of reading the book,” Wozadlo said. “So the motivation has to be mostly internal, like, ‘Hey, I want to get this assignment done.’ You know, try to convince them that it’s good for their intellect.”
Martinez acknowledged teacher efforts and is able to enjoy reading assignments as they catch her attention and encourage interaction with the text.
“We dive into the depth of what’s going on in the book, and we learn about different perspectives and just kind of the nuances of each novel,” Martinez said. “I think that makes it really interesting. I feel that it really deepens reading comprehension, so it needs to be able to look deeper into books”
Senior Aaron Wilcox noticed that assignments related to novels, when made more interesting and enjoyable for students, are helpful in understanding the text deeper.
“My junior year English teacher Mrs. Hayes gave us a lot of options for our ‘Catcher in the Rye’ final. I chose to do an illustration, but I also made a playlist on the side,” Wilcox said. “I like when teachers are flexible with how students demonstrate their understanding of class texts because it makes projects actually fun and not miserable.”
Wilcox, however, believes that because of the higher workload that comes with more advanced classes, students tend to not have enough time to read during or outside of school.
“A common story from people who are taking multiple AP’s is that they had to drop reading for pleasure because all they have time to read is their AP textbooks,” Wilcox said. “When advanced students are already staying up past midnight doing homework, reading is easily sidelined.”
Wozadlo understands this struggle and has curated his teaching to make reading easier for students. By making it an assignment they can complete on their own time while also making it relaxed, Wozadlo believes students have enough time to finish their assignments.
“I post the chapter section readings through Savvas, the online textbook. I give them like a week to get it done, where to go in and read it, and they can read it at their own pace. It also has an audio feature to play (it) back,” Wozadlo said.
Whether in or outside of class, Wilcox believes reading is an activity all students can find interesting. They believe students should find a way to make reading comfortable and approachable so they can truly enjoy it.
“Some people like audiobooks so they can multitask while they listen, some people like physical paper books because of the sensations, and some people like me enjoy online PDFs because they’re especially portable,” Wilcox said. “Start by reading things that are actually fun to read and appeal to you.”