By Sophia Ray, Eagle Journalism

So far this year, Mrs. Rowe and her students in her English III classes have read fifty books. Mrs. Rowe completed 6 books, and her students read the other 44. The students read a wide variety of books, ranging from sports books to romance and graphic novels. When a book is completed, Mrs. Rowe adds the cover to a bulletin board in the hallway, adds the title to a bookshelf poster in her room, and writes the total number of books read on the board. Out of the books they've read this year, some of the students' favorites were 127 Hours by Aron Ralston, The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer, We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, and multiple Stephen King books. 

When students complete a book, they receive a bookmark, a sticker, and a piece of candy, motivating them to continue reading. The books aren’t formally discussed in class, but they help students build reading stamina and show them that reading doesn’t have to be just for a school assignment or project. Overall, this impacts Mrs. Rowe’s English III by making reading less intimidating and giving them both a skill and a hobby that they can use throughout their whole lives.