What I Learned from Reading 100 Books in a Year

Posted on January 15, 2025

Last January, I set what seemed like an impossible goal: read 100 books in a year. As an elementary school teacher, I was constantly recommending books to my students but rarely finding time to read for pleasure myself. The irony wasn't lost on me.

So I committed to this challenge not just for myself, but to model the reading life I wanted my students to embrace. Here's what a year of intentional reading taught me:

Consistency trumps marathon sessions. Reading 20 minutes before bed and 15 minutes during lunch adds up surprisingly fast. I finished more books through these small reading windows than during vacation "reading binges."

Genre-hopping keeps reading fresh. I created a system: one children's book (to recommend to students), one adult fiction, one non-fiction, then repeat. This rotation prevented reading fatigue and broadened my literary horizons.

Audiobooks absolutely count. My commute became a sacred reading space through audiobooks. Hearing professional narrators also gave me ideas for reading aloud expressively to my class.

Reading changes how you see the world. After immersing myself in diverse perspectives, I began noticing connections between ideas from different books. This cross-pollination sparked creativity in my lesson planning and helped me respond more thoughtfully to my students' questions.

You make time for what matters. I didn't "find" time to read—I created it by watching less TV, setting boundaries around social media, and keeping a book with me everywhere. The students noticed this shift, which sparked conversations about priorities.

Children's literature contains profound wisdom. Some of the most moving books I read were middle-grade novels. Their emotional directness and clarity often surpassed adult fiction. This renewed my appreciation for the literature I share with my students.

What we read shapes who we become. Different books affected me differently—some provided escape, others challenge, others comfort. Together, they expanded my capacity for empathy, critical thinking, and joy.

The most meaningful outcome wasn't hitting the 100-book target (though I did—103, actually!), but the transformation in my classroom. My students could sense my genuine excitement about books. Reading became less about completing assignments and more about joining a conversation that has been ongoing for centuries.

For this new year, I'm focusing less on quantity and more on deeper engagement. I'm creating a "slow reading" book club with several students who want to savor and discuss a single book over several weeks. The journey continues, one page at a time.