Teachers as readers: Listening to, reading, and talking about stories – for pleasure

Teachers who read for pleasure can enable their students to become readers as they consciously and unconsciously model the knowledge, practices, values, beliefs, and language (that is, the discourses) associated with being a reader. Such teachers are in the unique position of being able to talk with students about what they are currently reading, why they like it—or do not, what is puzzling them, and why. Such conversations open the space for students to do the same in relation to stories shared in class and stories they choose to read in their own time. In other words, teachers who are readers can engage with their students as fellow readers, not just as teachers of reading. In doing so, these teachers can teach their students not just how to read, but how to be a reader.