Keywords

reluctant readers, sports literature, reading engagement

Abstract

Dominic’s Oregon Ducks hat caught my eye as I entered his classroom. Although Autzen Stadium was more than 800 miles away, the Ducks were on the cusp of college football greatness and this kid knew it. He looked like a football player and, as we talked, football topped the list of things he loved—followed by wrestling, long boarding, biking, and the outdoors. When I asked if there was anything he didn’t like, he chuckled and said, “Reading.” Dominic (student names are pseudonyms) proceeded to explain that he never finished books because it felt hard to focus and because he read so slowly. Then he paused and self-corrected; he had finished one book—Gym Candy (Deuker). For the next five minutes he detailed the plot complexities, his reactions to the characters, and his distaste for the ending that “left him hanging.” He even got in trouble for reading instead of paying attention in class one day. Immediately he started talking about another book he liked that he read with his football team—When the Game Stands Tall: The Story of the De La Salle Spartans and Football’s Longest Winning Streak (Hayes).

Original Publication Citation

"Head Fakes, Offensive Schemes and Counter Plays: Why Motivation Matters for Adolescent Reading.” English Journal 109.4 (2020): 46-54.