Sharing a Class Reader

Performance in International Student Assessment (PISA) data suggests reading for pleasure declines amongst secondary pupils. One explanation could be that pupils are not sharing stories in the same way as in their earlier schooling. When the dialogic practice of reading – talking about books and sharing them orally – is limited or absent, can pupils experience the same levels of engagement? Or, could a ‘classroom community’ fostered on shared reading prevent ‘readicide’ (the ‘killing’ of reading by schools)? These big questions cannot be answered within the parameters of this chapter; however, the popularity of adult book groups appears to demonstrate a desire to return to a shared reading experience as members of a reading community, one that is a ‘fully social activity’ involving friends, family and pupils.