Reading Practice
Reading Practice
By Chelsea Howard
READ!
Reading Practice
Reading Practice
Reading Practice builds selfhood in young people through stories and information.
We are a social-purpose literacy and information literacy initiative in Newcastle in the Hunter Region of NSW.
Reading Practice works with children, young people, families, and institutions to build confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking through reading and media. We reinvest all income into program delivery, educational resources, and improving access to literacy support.
What We See
Most kids start school loving books. They borrow, they read, they light up.
But by Year 4, things shift. Life speeds up. Reading slows down.
By high school, screens take over.
At the same time, young people are constantly reading. Social feeds, group chats, short-form videos, headlines, memes, comments, and algorithms deciding what comes next.
They are taking in huge amounts of information, but often without purpose or the skills to question what they see, research effectively, or understand how information shapes who they are.
That leaves two challenges. A steep drop in reading, and a flood of information without guidance.
Reading Practice exists to meet both.
We help young people rediscover stories that build empathy and self-understanding. And we teach them how to make sense of the media and messages that shape their thinking, identity, and place in the world.
Who We Work With
Reading Practice works with young people and the adults around them to build confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking through reading and information literacy.
Primary Aged Students
For kids just finding their identity as readers or those who have stalled along the way.
Teens and Young Adults
For those who feel books are not for them anymore, or never were.
Parents & Families
For those who want guidance on encouraging a love of reading at home.
Organisations
Helping schools, libraries, and community groups connect young people with reading and information literacy.
Who is Reading Practice
Reading Practice is led by Chelsea Howard, a children’s librarian in training, library technician, reading and information literacy consultant, and committee member of the Children’s Book Council of Australia (Hunter Region).
With more than a decade in school libraries and bookstores, along with a background in film and storytelling, she helps young people connect with stories while learning to navigate the overwhelming flow of information in their lives.
What sets Chelsea apart is the way kids connect with her.
Young people open up, feel seen, and trust her enough to be real about their lives.
Reading Practice grew out of this work.
After years of watching capable, thoughtful kids drift away from reading and struggle to make sense of the information surrounding them, Chelsea created Reading Practice to give young people space to reconnect with stories, reflect on who they are, and build the skills they need to understand the world around them.
Through that connection, Chelsea helps young people rediscover stories, build empathy, and develop a strong sense of selfhood as well as the critical skills to understand the world around them.
The Next Step
Wondering what Reading Practice could do for your child or your institution? Fill in your details and we’ll arrange a pressure-free conversation to explore the possibilities.