How to Increase Student Reading Engagement: 7 Proven Strategies

Introduction

Let's be honest—the numbers aren't great. Only 14% of 13‑year‑olds read for fun almost every day in 2023, down from 27% in 2012 (U.S. Department of Education, 2023). That's nearly a 50% drop in just over a decade. Among nine‑year‑olds, the pattern is similar: 39% read for pleasure almost daily in 2022, compared to 53% in 2012, and 16% hardly ever read at all (National Literacy Trust, 2022).

You can feel this shift in schools. Libraries that used to buzz with activity are quieter. Many students see reading as something they have to do, not something they want to do.

And yes—this affects test scores. As daily reading among 13‑year‑olds declined between 2012 and 2023, average NAEP reading scores fell from 263 to 256 (National Assessment of Educational Progress, 2023). Students who read for pleasure consistently score higher, build stronger vocabularies, think more critically, and develop empathy. In fact, daily readers score about 38 points higher on literacy assessments than weekly readers (Scholastic Research, 2023).

So if you're a teacher, librarian, or school leader thinking, "My students would rather scroll than read—what am I supposed to do about that?"—you're not alone.

Here's the good news: this problem is very solvable. Schools around the world are using practical, research‑backed strategies to make reading feel relevant, motivating, and genuinely enjoyable again. And they work. For example, a 2023 meta‑analysis found that 12 out of 15 peer‑reviewed studies showed medium‑to‑large positive effects on engagement when gamification elements like points, badges, and leaderboards were used (Meta‑analysis of Gamification Research, 2023).

In this guide, I'll walk you through seven strategies that are boosting reading engagement right now. These aren't theories—they're approaches you can actually use in real schools, with real students.

Strategy #1: Personalization – Meet Students Where They Are

One of the fastest ways to lose students is to pretend that reading is one‑size‑fits‑all. Same book. Same pace. Same expectations. We all know how that goes: confident readers get bored, struggling readers feel overwhelmed, and everyone else switches off.

Personalization flips that script.

When students read books that match their interests and their reading level, everything changes. A reluctant reader might suddenly come alive with graphic novels. Another student might devour realistic fiction about friendships. Some want fantasy worlds; others want true stories. When students see themselves in books, they actually want to keep reading.

The research backs this up. Personalized, interest‑based texts increased motivation by 56%, self‑esteem by 70%, and comprehension by 54% in at‑risk students aged 9–15 (Caliari, 2025; Frontiers in Psychology). Those aren't small gains—they're game‑changers.

How to make personalization work:

• Use simple interest surveys to find out what students care about
• Use reading levels as guidance, not labels
• Build a library with range—genres, formats, themes, and difficulty levels
• Recommend books intentionally: "You liked this? Try this next."

If Maria loves mysteries and reads at a 6th‑grade level, give her mysteries she can actually access. If Marcus loves basketball but struggles with reading, sports books at the right level can be the doorway.

Technology can help here too. AI‑powered platforms can track interests and reading patterns, then refine recommendations over time. Teachers consistently report that when students get book suggestions that feel meant for them, engagement jumps.

Bottom line: students read more when they care about the book—and when the book feels doable.

Strategy #2: Gamification – Make Reading Feel Rewarding

Why do students spend hours on games but avoid books? Games make progress visible. You know where you're going, how you're doing, and what you've achieved.

Gamification doesn't turn books into games—it adds motivation around reading. Points. Badges. Challenges. Progress bars. All of these tap into how humans naturally stay engaged.

Research is clear here. Most studies show that gamification increases motivation, persistence, and positive attitudes toward learning, especially when elements like points and leaderboards are used well (Meta‑analysis of Gamification Research, 2023).

How to use gamification without overdoing it:

• Award points for books finished, pages read, or challenges completed
• Create visible progress displays (digital dashboards or classroom boards)
• Use multiple leaderboards so different students can succeed
• Offer badges for achievements like "Genre Explorer" or "Fantasy Master"

Be thoughtful with competition. Not every student wants to be #1. Recognise different achievements—most pages read, most genres tried, best book review—so success isn't limited to speed or volume.

When done well, gamification keeps students reading because they can see themselves moving forward.

Strategy #3: Student Choice – Autonomy Drives Motivation

Ask yourself this: would you enjoy reading if someone else chose every book for you?

Choice matters. When students have a say in what they read, motivation rises. This is about structured choice—not chaos.

Research shows that giving students options (rather than total freedom or no choice) increases motivation, comprehension, and time spent reading (Jons, 2018, Boise State University).

What structured choice looks like:

• Choose one book from a curated list instead of a single assigned text
• Let students choose how they respond—writing, drawing, speaking, creating
• Offer optional reading challenges students opt into

Students still meet learning goals, but they feel ownership. And ownership changes everything.

Strategy #4: Teacher and Librarian Recommendations – Relationships Matter

Few things are as powerful as a trusted adult saying, "I think you'd love this book."

Students are far more likely to read a book that was personally recommended to them. It signals care, attention, and belief. Research shows that interest‑matched teacher recommendations increase emotional, behavioural, and cognitive engagement with reading.

Simple ways to build this in:

• Talk to students about their interests—casually and often
• Track recommendations and follow up
• Display staff picks with short, personal reviews

When students know you care about their reading journey, they show up differently.

Strategy #5: Peer Community – Reading Is Social

Reading doesn't have to be lonely.

When students read together—through challenges, clubs, or shared goals—engagement rises. Book clubs, for example, have been shown to significantly increase reading enjoyment and frequency, with 72% of students reporting they read more often (FAU Lab Schools study).

Ways to build reading community:

• Set class or grade‑level reading goals
• Run friendly inter‑class challenges
• Create informal or structured book clubs
• Celebrate milestones publicly

When reading becomes something we do together, motivation grows.

Strategy #6: Visible Progress – Let Students See Growth

Progress motivates. When students can see how much they've read—or how far they've improved—they keep going.

A 2019 study showed that visual progress tracking more than doubled gains in reading fluency compared to classrooms without it (Spalding, Viterbo University).

Make progress visible:

• Reading logs (digital or paper)
• Visual displays showing books or pages read
• Growth tracking over time—not just final scores
• Share progress with families

Seeing growth turns reading into something students feel proud of.

Strategy #7: Rewards – Celebrate Effort and Achievement

Rewards aren't the goal—but they can be a powerful spark.

Used thoughtfully, rewards acknowledge effort and help students stick with reading long enough to discover intrinsic motivation.

Effective reward ideas:

• Digital badges and avatars
• Small physical rewards like bookmarks
• Privileges and recognition
• Tiered rewards that value effort at every level

The key is balance. Celebrate achievement without making rewards the only reason to read.

Bringing It All Together

These strategies work best together. Personalization plus choice. Gamification plus community. Progress tracking plus encouragement.

I've seen students who never read finish multiple books in a term—not because they were forced, but because reading finally felt accessible, social, and meaningful.

Start small. Pick one strategy. Try it for a few weeks. Build from there.

Reading engagement doesn't happen by accident. It's designed.

And when it's done well, it changes everything.