Readicide: How Schools Are Killing Reading

Full podcast episode available here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BusyProfessionall // Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/busyprofessional // Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/busy-middle-high-school-teacher-the-best-books-reviews/id1799985519 — Follow us for more insights & updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/busy_proffesional/ — TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@busyprofessionalKelly Gallagher's Readicide argues that current educational practices, particularly the overemphasis on standardized testing and test preparation, are systematically killing students' love for reading. The author contends that this "readicide" occurs through shallow teaching, the removal of engaging literature, and the prioritization of test scores over genuine comprehension and the development of lifelong reading habits. Gallagher examines how test-driven curricula lead to a lack of deep thinking and a decline in reading engagement across all achievement levels. Ultimately, the book calls for a shift towards a balanced literacy approach that values both academic rigor and the cultivation of a genuine passion for reading.