Sustained Silent Reading - the Return

August 3, 2025

I tested it last semester and got good anecdotal results, so I will continue adapting the middle school practice of Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) into my university courses this fall.

In adapting it, I did not give a choice of reading but had them read either the text for the day's lesson or for the next lesson.

Otherwise, the ground rules remained mostly the same: no devices, no talking, I read with them, 20-25 minutes.

I did this for a few reasons:

• As an antidote to AI-driven summaries. Even with the ever-presence of AI, they still need to be doing their own reading.
• As an antidote to reliance on devices. Students know that they probably spend too much time on devices. This forces a break.
• As an antidote to the general noise of daily life. Many of our students live at home, which is often not an atmosphere for learning. They appreciate the silence of others reading.

As I prepare for this fall with AI usage front on the brain, my plan is to more explicitly mix it up. Assignments that clearly allow for AI support and usage and classroom time that reverts back to no device.