The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast 254: Dusting Off an Old Practice to Make Reading Fun Again
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Jun 22, 2025 Dan Tricarico, an English teacher and author of 'The Zen Teacher,' discusses how he revitalized a love for reading among his students by reintroducing daily silent reading. He shares insights on the challenges posed by digital distractions and the mental well-being benefits of traditional reading practices. Tricarico emphasizes the importance of creating supportive environments to engage reluctant readers and reflects on his long teaching journey, advocating for mindfulness and simplicity in education.
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Digital Distractions Reduce Reading Stamina
- Modern digital distractions and social media drastically reduce sustained reading stamina and engagement.
- Returning to a simple daily silent reading practice in schools can counteract this decline and foster lifelong reading habits.
Dan's Silent Reading Revival Anecdote
- Dan Tricarico reinstated daily 10-minute silent reading without grading pressure to rekindle students' joy of reading.
- He observed surprising student engagement despite initial skepticism and pushback about instructional time use.
Enforce Focused Silent Reading Rules
- Require physical books or printed materials for silent reading to reduce distractions from digital devices.
- Enforce rules of absolute silence, feet on the floor, and eyes on the page during reading time.
