There is a wealth of research to support the value of independent reading, but the most powerful evidence is anecdotal - students who can say they developed a love of reading because a caring adult helped them to find books they would enjoy and gave them time and space to read. In lieu of traditional reading logs, which do little to actually hold students accountable for reading, Mrs. Quinn assigns a biweekly reading response topic to help students reflect on their independent reading books. Students are encouraged to read for at least 20 minutes each night in addition to the time given in class.
Resources:
Why Can't I Skip My 20 Minutes of Reading?
Kelly Gallagher's instructional materials
Donalyn Miller's website (author of The Book Whisperer)
M. Coward's KBAR resources