Most Extensive Reading Practitioners are familiar with the ten “principles” of extensive reading listed in Day & Bamford (2002) and elsewhere. This paper, however, will suggest that we can have our students read more by ignoring some of the principles.

The only principle that cannot be violated is their #4, “Learners read as much as possible” since this is the very definition of Extensive Reading, but breaking some of the other nine may allow the students more practice.

For example, one rule states that “The reading material is easy,” yet a vocabulary list provided along the text would allow students to understand more difficult material. This will expand what is available for them to read but adds more work for the teacher..

In the above manner, we will discuss the various “characteristics” and suggest reasons for not following them in order to provide more reading material for your students.