Encouraging independent reading with ambience: The Book Bistro in middle and secondary school classes Encouraging independent reading with ambience: The Book Bistro in middle and secondary school classes

This article makes a case for devoting time to independent reading and then describes the “Book Bistro,” a strategy for promoting independent reading. Research concerning adolescents and reading is reviewed, followed by detailed instructions for implementing Book Bistro and advice from teachers. In Book Bistro, adolescent students are invited once per month to bring an independent reading choice to a cafe setting created in the classroom or school lunchroom. Students evaluate classmates to their right and to their left, creating material for each student's reading file. Book Bistro implements the best of what is known about encouraging independent reading using self-selected reading, book discussion, and peer interaction about books. One action research study and one field-testing initiative are described, along with suggestions for further study with different age groups.

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