10 Reasons to Teach with Novel Studies

Why You Should Start Incorporating Novel Studies in Your Class—Today

Let’s face it—curriculum can be pretty boring. For teachers and students alike, the day-to-day routine of worksheets, test prep, and textbook passages doesn’t always spark joy. If you asked someone what they remember learning in school, chances are they won’t say, “Oh, I loved that short passage from our hardback anthology that one week.” Nope.

Instead, you’ll hear things like:

People remember stories. They remember the novels that captured their imagination, the characters that felt real, and the classroom discussions that got heated, emotional, or downright hilarious. That’s the power of novel studies—and that’s why it’s time to start incorporating them into your classroom.

Why Novel Studies Work

Students love stories. They might not know it yet, but they love reading too. The trick? Finding the right books to ignite that passion. Novel studies aren’t just a fun break from routine—they’re a powerful teaching tool. Here’s why:

1. They Build Classroom Community

Reading a novel together creates shared experiences. Students laugh, gasp, and cry together. They debate characters’ choices and relate plot twists to their own lives. That connection builds a sense of belonging and trust in your classroom.

2. They Engage Students

Novels with compelling plots and relatable characters hook students in a way that short, dry passages can’t. When they care about what happens next, they want to read.

3. They Develop Vocabulary and Decoding Skills

Context-rich reading exposes students to new words and how they’re used naturally. It’s authentic vocabulary instruction that sticks.

4. They Build Stamina

Reading a whole novel helps students build the focus and endurance needed for longer texts. It’s the literary version of strength training.

5. They Improve Fluency

Reading aloud, following along, or listening to audiobooks during novel studies improves pacing, expression, and overall fluency.

6. They Boost Comprehension

With deeper, ongoing engagement, students learn to infer, predict, summarize, and analyze on a more meaningful level.

7. They Foster Empathy and Expand Worldviews

Great books introduce students to new emotions, perspectives, and places. Novels help them understand lives different from their own—building both background knowledge and compassion.

8. They Strengthen Writing Skills

From analyzing themes to writing from a character’s point of view, novels offer countless writing opportunities that reinforce grammar, structure, and creativity.

9. They Hit the Standards—Without Boring Everyone

You can teach every language arts standard—reading, writing, language, speaking, and listening—through a good novel study. And you’ll do it in a way that students actually remember.

10. They Foster a Genuine Love for Reading

This is the big one. More than anything else, novel studies help students enjoy reading. And that’s what leads to lifelong literacy.

So, What Are You Waiting For?

You don’t need to overhaul your entire curriculum overnight. Start with one book. Choose a novel your students will love—or one you love—and dive in. Have fun with it. Let the story guide the learning, and watch your students come alive.

Because when students want to read, everything else falls into place.