Learning to Love Reading:
PhD Research for Improving Teen Engagement with Reading for Pleasure
Jessica Pawley Copping | Massey University | 2022-2026
5 years of teaching + 18 months of background research + 2 years of testing in an Auckland high school = 1 classroom-ready, evidence-based programme for English teachers
What teachers & researchers already knew about literacy, reading, and teenagers; why it's super important for teens to be reading for pleasure, and the evidence that guided the development of the Learning to Love Reading programme.
An overview of the resources, activities, and schedule that helped over 100 teenage boys realise that reading wasn't actually so bad - yes, even the super sporty / "I hate reading" ones! - without an enormous investment of time, money, or a large specialist team.
What worked, what didn't, and why; what that suggests about teenagers, their brain development in the digital era. See also: Tips for parents to (re)engage your own teens with books!
As reported in conference workshops for:
The International Boys' Schools Coalition (2023)
The NZ Literacy Association (2023)
The School Library Association of NZ Aotearoa (2024)
NZ Association for the Teaching of English (2025)
Auckland Association for Teachers of the English Language (2025)
UPCOMING EVENTS
Upcoming Keynote: SLANZA Wellington Engaging Readers, 30 July 2026, Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Wellington Central Library
Upcoming Virtual Hui Panel: Coalition for Books, 14 August 2026 - sign up to their newsletter for info
Upcoming Author & Research Talk: Time Out Bookstore, Mt Eden, Auckland, 16 August 2026, 3-4pm
What happened
2022-2023
Background research
In consultation with other English teachers, evidence and potential solutions were gathered in a literature review and research proposal was approved
2024-2025
Learning to Love Reading: The Programme
2024: The pilot programme ran in 2 x Year 9 English classes in an Auckland boys' high school
2025: The refined programme ran in 3 x Year 9 English classes in the same high school
2026
Evidence analysed & thesis written
The evidence and adjustments that were made over the 2 years are being analysed & the report has been written in the form of a doctoral thesis.
Submission for examination scheduled September 2026.
The project was reviewed and approved by the Massey University Human Ethics Ohu Matatika 2, Application OM2 23/46.