Reading At Risk, a new survey released by the National Endowment for the Arts, reports that Americans are reading fewer books.  The steepest decline of any demographic group is for young adults.  Newspaper sponsors are providing free newspapers for students on college campuses because of the need to attract these young readers who, without this help, are not reading newspapers as much as students in past years.

      This brings to question the teaching and encouragement of reading in schools, especially in the middle grades.  Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students chart their courses for life in areas such as smoking.  Lifetime reading habits are also formed at this level, so middle grades schools have the opportunity and responsibility to ensure that their students become engaged with books, magazines, and newspapers starting in the middle grades but lasting for a lifetime.

      Sixth, seventh, and/or eighth grade students are present in 800 Indiana schools.  These schools can help ensure that their middle grades students develop the habit of reading by providing the necessary conditions and encouragement to make reading a priority in the lives

      Nurture school librarians.  School librarians should be supported in their work by encouraging them to belong to the Association for Indiana Media Educators and to attend local and state meetings.  They should be involved with any groups working on reading issues and should receive financial support to purchase items to make the school library a place where students want to be. 

      Support reading teachers.  Reading teachers meet daily with their students, and in addition to teaching reading skills, they need to promote the practice of reading.  They can display Young Hoosier Book Award charts with student names in their classrooms and arrange for scheduled class visits to the school library where new books, magazines, and newspapers are featured.  When reading teachers meet for professional development or department meetings, they should include the school librarian as a key member of the group.  Reading teachers should be encouraged to attend the annual Indiana State Reading Association conference and to be members and leaders of their local reading council.

       Connect students with their public library.  When students have a public library card and feel comfortable with their public library, they have access to books, magazines, and newspapers during times when school is not in session: evenings, weekends, holidays, summer.  The more students use their public library, the more they practice their reading and become stronger readers.

      Provide a well-planned Newspaper in Education Program.  Newspapers are available in most homes, but students may not be reading them.  Help students develop the habit of reading the newspaper by providing a systematic Newspaper in Education Program where students are introduced to all sections of the newspaper.  Encourage those students who do not have access to newspapers in their homes to read the newspaper at school.

       Provide appropriate encouragement to support family reading.  Parents of young adolescents have challenges as do their teachers.  Help parents by providing information on the school Web site, by providing lists of books such as the Young Hoosier Book Award books, and by showing them how to read and discuss books with their children.  Emphasize the importance and use of public libraries, bookstores, and newspapers.

       Provide a schoolwide atmosphere and program to promote independent reading.  Provide something unique and special that promotes independent reading, in addition to the Newspaper in Education Program, the Young Hoosier Book Award Program, and so forth.  This might be a challenge by the principal to read a certain number of items, which could lead to an important school recognition event.  Use halls, school newspaper or bulletins, Web site, public address system, and signs to show that the program is important.  Arrange for newspaper coverage of the main event.

      Encourage faculty, parents, and students to be good reading role models.  Support a Teachers Under Cover reading group of faculty members.  Have an older student encourage younger students and parents at a school orientation meeting of incoming students to read widely.  Read aloud to students using the Indiana Library Federation’s read-aloud list of books that is updated annually to fit today’s students.