We use Free Voluntary Reading (also called Sustained Silent Reading) in all of our English classes — both mainstream and ESL — at school, and I highlight it in my upcoming book, English Language Learners: Teaching Strategies That Work.

Alan Maley has just written a nice, short, and heavily footnoted article on its importance, Extensive reading: why it is good for our students… and for us.

It’s published by the British Council, and is geared towards English Language Learners, but useful for all teachers.