As a Literature Facilitator, one of the questions I often get asked is, “Were you always a reader?” The honest answer is no. My reading journey didn’t begin in childhood the way many might expect. It actually started only in my undergraduate years. (Wonder why I chose Literature then, without any idea about books or reading? It’s because I was obsessed with Grammar — a Grammar Nazi, basically!)
Murder mysteries still hype me up like nothing else. The thrill, the suspense, the puzzle of who did it — they keep me absolutely alive as a reader. And that’s when I realized something important: it doesn’t matter when or where you start reading. What matters is that you start. And it’s never too late.
Today, I can’t imagine my life without books. In fact, one of the things I genuinely look forward to every day is my morning travel in the school van — because that’s my uninterrupted reading time. Those quiet moments with a book set the tone for my entire day.
Lately, I’ve been swept away by the magical charm of The Story Collector by Evie Woods, deeply moved by A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza, and completely immersed in Me Before You by Jojo Moyes — a story that reminded me how powerful simple emotions can be. I’ve also enjoyed the wit and warmth of Emily Henry’s Book Lovers and the depth of நூலக மனிதர்கள் by எஸ். ராமகிருஷ்ணன். My most recent read, The Owl, The River and the Valley — an Assamese translation exploring the struggles and resilience of Assamese women — opened a whole new window into regional narratives and women’s voices that often go unheard.
That personal journey eventually shaped the way I approached reading with my students.
Perhaps that’s why I felt so strongly about creating reading spaces for my students. A couple of years ago, I introduced a 5-minute Independent Reading Time in my Lower Secondary classes. At first, it was just five minutes of silent reading with a book of their choice — no tasks, no tests. Of course, I read, too! But gradually, those five minutes stretched to ten. Students began swapping books, sharing recommendations, and even pulling their reading into our class conversations.
One student once told me, ‘Ma’am, I never liked reading until I found one book I actually liked.’ That’s when I knew these five minutes were working.”
In fact, some of the middle-grade books that my students recommended found their way into my reading list too and, strangely, filled the little void left by the years I’d missed out on reading as a child. It felt like rediscovering innocence.
To make the habit richer, we added a vocabulary notebook. Whenever students came across unfamiliar words, they would ask, clarify, and jot them down. Over time, these notebooks turned into their personal treasure chests of words — and many of those words started finding their way into their writing and speech.
Through all this, I’ve learned a few simple truths:
Reading doesn’t have an age limit — we can start whenever the spark strikes.
Even a few minutes a day can grow into a lifelong habit.
A classroom that celebrates reading creates ripple effects far beyond academics.
And sometimes, the simplest tools — like a vocabulary notebook — make the biggest difference.
As teachers, we juggle so much every day. Yet, carving out just five minutes for reading can transform not only our learners, but us too. If we remind ourselves (and them) that it’s never too late to fall in love with books, we pass on something that goes far beyond language skills — curiosity, empathy, and imagination.
So, here’s my little nudge: why not try a 5-minute reading ritual in your own class?
You may be surprised at how those minutes can grow into a culture of readers.
After all, the best time to start reading was years ago — the next best time is now.
Blog By-
Ms. Raghavi. N,
Secondary English Facilitator,
The Indian Public School ,Cambridge International
Erode.
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