Our halls are decked,
It’s post-finals jolly,
It’s time to unplug and read, by golly!
As the high school English teaching duo, Mrs. McCauley and I intend to close our Chromebooks, power down our phones, and practice a little escapism during winter break by cracking the spine of a new novel. Unlike screened devices, I have yet to encounter a negative side effect of reading. Unfortunately, this blog’s word count prevents me from listing the ever-growing pitfalls of electronic screens. It doesn’t take a Herculean Google search to uncover the brain rot caused by excessive screen time, constant social media scrolling, and marathon gaming sessions, and yes, adults are just as susceptible.
A recent study (https://news.ufl.edu/2025/08/reading-for-pleasure-study/ ) surveyed more than 230,000 individuals about their reading-for-pleasure habits. The findings were sobering. While children’s leisure reading rates have remained relatively steady over the past 20 years, adult reading rates continue to decline.
Academics aren’t the sole reason we should read. When we engage with a novel, the side effects are overwhelmingly positive: reduced stress and anxiety, better sleep, increased empathy, and the gift of fresh perspective.
This one’s on us, folks. Let’s challenge ourselves to lead by example. Read in front of your kids. Read in front of your neighbors. Read in front of Cousin Eddie.
This holiday season, let’s open the cover of a new novel, tune out the screened world of bubbles and squeaks and tune in our imaginations. And if you’re looking for a great place to start, one of my favorite stories begins with these familiar words:
“’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house…”
--Greg Jourdan
High School ELA