Independent reading is a term used in educational settings, where students are involved in choosing and reading material (fiction books, non-fiction, magazine, other media) for their independent consumption and enjoyment. People choose to read independently. It gives student the right to be creative in what they want to read. Usually Independent Reading is conducted alongside the ongoing curriculum in the classroom. Independent Reading can be tied to assessment and evaluation or remain as an activity in itself. Another term for independent reading is voluntary reading.

Some of the Aims of Independent Reading

Students will

• Read more willingly and more often.
• Become more interested in the printed word in general, including their own writing.
• Become more receptive to enrichment activities related to their reading.
• Discover that they can think and write in a meaningful way about their reading.
• Learn that literature can enrich their lives.
• Expand their vocabulary.

How to include Independent Reading into a Routine

• Teachers can:

*Allot time each to independent, where student will choose a book and read for that amount of time.
*Set a number of pages that students have to read by the end of a specific timeframe.
*Have a book report due and the student have to choose and read a book of their choice and explain it to the class.

• Parents can:

*Set a certain amount of time that their child has to read.
*Have their children read them books of their choice.

See also

• Literature Circles
  Literature Circles
  A literature circle is a students' equivalent of an adult book club, but with greater structure, expectation and rigor. The aim is to encourage thoughtful discussion and a love of reading in young people...
  
  
• Shared Reading
  Shared reading
  Shared reading is an instructional approach in which the teacher explicitly models the strategies and skills of proficient readers.In Brenda Parkes' important text, Read It Again!, which is a guide for teachers to do shared reading in the classroom, the first chapter asks, What is Shared Reading?...
  
  
• Guided Reading
  Guided Reading
  Guided reading is a method of teaching reading to children. It forms part of the National Literacy Strategy for England and Wales and is therefore a preferred approach employed within primary schools. In the United States, Guided Reading is also a key component to the Reading Workshop model of...
  
  
• Silent Reading