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Shanna Peeples, the National Teacher of the Year (you can hear her on my next BAM! Radio Show), shared a great article on Twitter this morning, How Changing Your Reading Habits Can Transform Your Health.

The full article is probably too complex most ninth-graders (though not, I think, for eleventh and twelfth graders). But I think a short excerpt is ideal for ninth-graders with this writing prompt (you can download a sheet I’ve created with both the excerpt and the writing prompt here):

According to Sue Wilkinson, what are the benefits of reading books regularly? Do you agree with her and the research she cites? To support your opinion, you may use examples from your own experiences, your observations of others, and anything you have read (including this excerpt).

In addition, the article ends with great guidelines on how people can become more committed readers, and I think that section could be used as its own separate excerpt with a similar writing prompt.

I also think the entire article could easily be summarized in a read aloud accessible to English Language Learners.

I’ve got to say that I continue to think that Fast Company is one of the best, if not the best, sources for accessible and high-interest articles for secondary students. I use their pieces a lot, and you can find many of them in The Best Posts On Writing Instruction.

I’m also adding this post to The Best Posts On Books: Why They’re Important & How To Help Students Select, Read, Write & Discuss Them.