Such an important topic! In a world where attention spans are shrinking due to constant screen time, reading remains a powerful tool for nurturing imagination, critical thinking, and emotional depth. Books invite students to slow down, reflect, and immerse themselves in different worlds, something scrolling can’t offer.
In my own teaching experience, I noticed that reading helps students express themselves better, think more clearly, and even speak with more confidence. It’s not just about decoding text, it’s about building identity and empathy.
Last year, I introduced reading aloud as part of a national oral reading competition. At first, many students were hesitant and shy. But as we practiced, their love for books, and their confidence, blossomed. The group grew, and so did their curiosity and joy in discovering stories beyond the screen.
To take this further, I’m planning to create a book club in partnership with an association called SAFAHAT. The goal is to give students access to a variety of books, allow them to meet writers, and develop creative projects around books—like making cartoons, short films, or other artistic interpretations. I believe this kind of engagement can reignite a passion for reading in a fun and collaborative way.
To encourage reading in this digital age, we need to reconnect students with the emotional and creative joy of books. Teachers can organize read-aloud sessions, storytelling clubs, or even mix print and digital with audiobooks and interactive e-books. Most importantly, we must model the habit ourselves. When students see us excited about reading, they start to see it differently too.