Reading Lessons

Student reading habits and skills have (again) become a topic of national discussion, with a number of recent reports and articles pointing to limitations or changes in young people's literacy development. In a recent forum on the topic, members of the Teachers Leaders Network recommended—and debated—various instructional changes to help improve reading skills, including giving students greater choice in reading materials, providing more help with nonfiction reading, and integrating interactive technology into reading assignments.

What's your view? Have students' reading skill and their interest in reading declined? If so, why? How can teachers best address the issue?