Summer reading for enjoyment: can you do it?

It's that time of year again, flowers are in bloom, the sun is shining (at least a little), our winterized bodies are coming out of hibernation, and all of those summer reading contests are popping up at local libraries.  I'm not a huge advocate of participating in these - you have to read so many books to get a bag - type of contests.  Am I a huge summer reader?  Yes, but I read when I want, what I want, and on my own terms.  I don't necessarily think that this is a bad thing.

I am a religious user of the Goodreads site for sharing books and reviewing, but this summer, I'm going to go one step further.  Inspired by a recent post I read by fellow teacher, blogger, and reader, Donalyn Miller, I am going to challenge my school community (you have to start small) to share their all-year reading through social media by using the #wpswolvesread hashtag.  

Reading and literacy have been the focus for us at WPS for years, but it's time to go beyond classroom reading and encouraging at-home reading.  Let's make it public!

So here are the #wpswolvesread guidelines:

• Read anytime and anywhere you want!
• Every book counts: picture book, fiction, cookbook (sure), graphic novel, professional reading, audiobook, that questionable grocery aisle pickup (why not?), magazines & newspapers too!
• Share your reading publicly using the #wpswolvesread hashtag on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) or join the WPS Wolves Read Goodreads group and add books to our group.

Essentially, what it comes down to is that reading can and should be enjoyable!  Read for yourself, not for points, trinkets, or others. Just read.