154. From Reluctant to Reader: What Actually Gets Kids to Love Reading Again with Dr. Gene Kerns

Jul 07, 2026

We talk a lot about surviving the school year on this podcast — but today we're talking about something that impacts every single one of your students: reading. I caught up with today's guest live at ISTELive 26 in Orlando, Florida, and I'm so glad I did — because he's been fighting this fight for two decades.

Dr. Gene Kerns is a third-generation educator and a 20-year veteran of Renaissance, the company behind Accelerated Reader. We got into why kids are reading less than ever, what the latest NAEP data is really telling us, and the simple, research-backed habits that can turn even your most reluctant reader around.

If you've ever felt like you're losing the battle to get your kids — students or your own — to actually want to pick up a book, this episode is your permission slip to stop overcomplicating it.

In this episode, we cover:

Why kids today are reading less than they were even a decade ago, and what the data really shows
The "15 minutes a day" research that changes everything about independent reading
Digital vs. print: what actually matters (hint — it's not the format)
How to use audiobooks and read-alouds without feeling like you're "cheating"
The difference between independent and instructional reading, and why mixing them up creates more work for you
Why letting a kid reread the same book (or binge one author) isn't a problem to fix
Three simple, doable things you can start today to build a positive reading culture at home or in your classroom

About our guest: Gene Kerns, Ed.D., is the chief academic officer at Renaissance and a nationally acclaimed speaker on assessment, learning progressions, and educational standards. He is a third-generation educator and a former director of curriculum and instruction. He is also co-author of three books: "inFormative Assessment," "Unlocking Student Talent," and "Literacy Reframed."

This episode is sponsored by Renaissance, which offers Accelerated Reader and myON, along with the new Renaissance Literacy solution — bringing together reading assessment, instructional resources, skills practice, and authentic reading experiences to support literacy in every classroom, every day. Learn more at renaissance.com/literacy.

RELATED RESOURCES:

Check out blogs on: motivating students to read, misunderstanding student reading levels, and hi-lo books for striving readers

Download the 2026 "What Kids Are Reading" report — the world's largest annual study of K-12 student reading habits
Use the "What Kids Are Reading" custom report tool to further explore student reading data — see popular books by state, grade level, fiction/nonfiction, English/Spanish, and more

CONNECT WITH RENAISSANCE:

Website: renaissance.com
LinkedIn: Renaissance Learning | Gene Kerns, Ed.D.
Instagram: @renlearnus

CONNECT WITH BRITTANY:

MORE ABOUT THE RESILIENT TEACHER PODCAST:

The Resilient Teacher Podcast is the show that will give overwhelmed educators the support, tools, and mindset to reduce teacher burnout and keep teaching sustainable. Each week, Brittany Blackwell, M.Ed. & her guests will share inspiration and actionable steps to avoid or recover from the dreaded teacher burnout. You'll be inspired to individualize self-care and learn to prioritize your well-being and mental health, all while making a bigger impact on your classrooms and community.

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