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Sustained Silent Reading
Sustained Silent Reading is an independent reading technique that has been around since 1970. Students are provided with a block of time during the day during which they read high quality literature that has been approved by their teacher. What is novel about this technique is that during this time teachers and staff also read. There are no required assignments or activities related to the reading, and efforts are made to eliminate interruptions.
Advocates of Sustained Silent Reading believe that use of the technique increases students’ ability to sustain reading, improves their fluency, and gets students to value reading.
Sustained Silent Reading is an easy technique to implement and requires no special materials or equipment. Research on the use of the technique has shown mixed results. However, it is a simple enough matter to try it and see for yourself.