Over forty percent of Americans didn’t read a single book in 2025, according to YouGov.
Contemporary Literature teacher Mr. Van Leeuwe has seen in real time the effect social media and short-form content have on high school students. Mr. Van Leeuwe is bringing back the love for reading by assigning a choice book assignment, for students to read a book of their choosing.
Students like Senior Brody Helget said, “I don’t like reading in my free time.”
Statements like this echo through the school when students are asked whether they like reading; many students read only when it’s a graded assignment.
“I do other things in my free time, mainly because I’m not the fastest reader,” Helget said.
The “other things” students do in their free time is what is commonly known as “Doomscrolling.” According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, to doomscroll means to spend excessive time scrolling through online content (especially news).
90% of the world’s population spends more than one hour on social media, instead of practicing a skill or exploring a hobby. Studies from Baylor College of Medicine show that in as little as 6 minutes, reading can lower heart rate and release muscle tension. Reading can also improve mental health by lowering the rate of cognitive decline with age by 32%.
Some students don’t enjoy reading books assigned in class, either because they find them boring or because they can’t keep up with the pacing.
“Sometimes I don’t like the books, then it feels harder to read them,” Senior Hiker Chatlain said. “If you get behind, it gets very hard to catch up.”
The Choice Book assignment in Contemporary Literature allowed students to choose their own book for the unit, and the number of pages they would read each day.
Van Leeuwe created this assignment so that students would be more inclined to read and enjoy reading.
