This story is part of Reading Beyond the Classroom, our partner spotlight series highlighting the incredible organizations using Epic School Plus to make reading more accessible and engaging for students everywhere.
For Jeffrey Riley, helping children become lifelong readers has never been about assigning more homework. It’s about helping every child discover the joy of reading and the confidence that comes with it.
After 32 years in education, Jeffrey retired from the classroom but not from his passion for literacy. He founded Reading for Life, a literacy movement dedicated to helping young learners fall in love with reading, build lifelong reading habits and grow into confident, joyful readers. Today, he works primarily with students in grades 2-6, supporting families as they strengthen reading skills and helping children discover books they’ll love. Reading for Life uses Epic School Plus to extend that mission, giving students access to engaging books wherever learning happens.
Helping Every Child Find the Joy of Reading
Reading for Life creates learning experiences that extend far beyond the classroom. Through small-group sessions, book clubs, reading celebrations, author spotlights and personalized reading support, students engage with books in ways that feel fun, relevant and inspiring instead of feeling like another assignment.
The program is built on a simple philosophy: relationships come first.
“I’ve always believed that when students trust you, they open themselves to grow as learners. I’m not just their reading teacher – I’m their coach, cheerleader and someone who truly gets to know them.”
That relationship-first approach helps students from a wide range of backgrounds and reading levels feel seen, encouraged and excited about reading. Instead of focusing only on skill development, Reading for Life creates meaningful connections that help students see reading as something they enjoy, not something they have to do.
Extending Learning Beyond the Classroom
For Reading for Life, some of the most meaningful learning happens after the school day ends.
Epic School Plus makes that possible by giving students access to thousands of fiction and nonfiction books, graphic novels and audiobooks whenever inspiration strikes. Whether students want to get lost in an exciting story or explore topics like science, history, animals or technology, there’s always something to spark their curiosity.
“Epic fits naturally into the heart of Reading for Life because it gives students 24/7 access to fun books that support both skill-building and enjoyment. It also gives families flexibility, allowing students to continue their reading journey at home, on weekends and during school breaks.”
By giving students consistent access to engaging books, Epic School Plus helps bridge the gap between guided instruction and independent reading, making it easier for families to build lasting reading routines.
Personalized Reading for Every Student
No two readers are the same and Reading for Life embraces that.
Jeffrey uses Epic School Plus to recommend books based on each student’s reading level, interests and learning goals. Whether a child loves animals, sports, mysteries, graphic novels, nonfiction or audiobooks, students have the freedom to explore books that match their curiosity while continuing to strengthen important literacy skills.
“Epic allows us to be much more intentional in supporting each student’s individual reading path.”
Students enjoy having choices, discovering new books through Epic Books for Kids’ recommendations and quickly moving from one great title to the next. Paired with Beanstack and Reading for Life’s reading celebrations, Epic Books for Kids helps students celebrate their progress and stay motivated to keep reading.
Helping Children See Themselves as Readers
For Jeffrey, success goes far beyond test scores.
He measures progress through confidence, curiosity and the moments when students begin choosing to read on their own or proudly share a finished book with their families.
“One of the biggest changes I’ve noticed is confidence. When children have access to books they genuinely enjoy, they begin to see themselves differently. They start to believe, ‘I am a reader.'”
That confidence often extends well beyond reading. As students build consistent reading habits, they become more engaged, take pride in their accomplishments and develop an identity that can stay with them for life.
From Reading Skills to Reading Identity
One student reminded Jeffrey that the biggest breakthroughs often begin with connection.
Rather than focusing first on skill gaps, he learned about what made the child laugh, what sparked their curiosity and what they loved outside of school. Once they found books that felt personal and exciting, everything began to change.
“It wasn’t only about improving comprehension. It was about changing identity. When a child begins to see themselves as a reader, it impacts confidence far beyond books. Those are the moments that stay with me.”
Experiences like this are why Reading for Life uses Epic School Plus alongside personalized mentorship. When students can discover books that reflect their interests and continue reading beyond each session, they stay engaged and build reading habits that last.
Expanding Access to Literacy
Many families want to support reading at home but aren’t always sure where to begin.
Reading for Life helps remove those barriers by connecting students with books that match their interests and reading level while providing families with practical guidance and trusted literacy tools like Epic School Plus. Jeffrey also encourages families to make regular visits to their local library, creating even more opportunities to discover books and keep reading beyond the classroom.
A Shared Mission
Epic Books for Kids believes every child deserves access to books that inspire curiosity, confidence and a lifelong love of reading. By using Epic School Plus, Reading for Life gives students meaningful literacy experiences that continue long after the school day ends, helping more children build lasting reading habits beyond the classroom.
A Message for Fellow Literacy Organizations Mission
Jeffrey believes some of the greatest opportunities for learning happen outside the classroom, where curiosity can take the lead.
“Children do not just need instruction, homework or worksheets. They need connection. They need adults who see them, believe in them and help them discover that learning can feel exciting instead of intimidating. They need not only a teacher and coach, but also a cheerleader.”
He hopes more organizations continue creating learning experiences that replace pressure with curiosity, confidence and meaningful relationships. When children feel supported and encouraged, they’re more willing to explore, share their ideas and discover a lifelong love of reading.
“Lead, guide and cheer with heart. Continue making reading and learning personal. Continue helping students find a sense of achievement in ways that truly matter to them.”
About Reading for Life
Founded by veteran educator Jeffrey Riley, Reading for Life helps students in grades 2-6 develop strong reading habits through personalized coaching, family engagement, book clubs and joyful literacy experiences. Using Epic School Plus alongside personalized coaching, Reading for Life helps more children discover the joy of reading and the opportunities it creates.
Frequently Asked Questions
▶ What is Reading for Life?
Reading for Life is a literacy program founded by veteran educator Jeffrey Riley that helps students in grades 2–6 build reading confidence and lifelong reading habits. Through personalized coaching, family engagement and joyful literacy experiences, the program encourages children to discover books they genuinely enjoy.
▶ How does Reading for Life help students become confident readers?
Reading for Life focuses on building relationships first. By matching students with books that reflect their interests and providing personalized encouragement, the program helps children develop confidence, enjoy reading and see themselves as lifelong readers.
▶ What is Epic School Plus?
Epic School Plus is a premium digital reading platform for schools and districts that gives educators and students unlimited, 24/7 access to more than 40,000 high-quality books, audiobooks, graphic novels and educational videos. The platform also includes decodables aligned to 23 literacy curricula, including UFLI and CKLA, as well as thousands of titles in Spanish, French and Mandarin.
Educators can assign books, track reading progress and support personalized literacy instruction, while students can enjoy offline reading for uninterrupted access even when Wi-Fi is not available.
▶ How does Reading for Life use Epic School Plus?
Reading for Life uses Epic School Plus to extend learning beyond the classroom. Students have access to thousands of books, graphic novels and audiobooks, allowing them to continue reading at home, on weekends and during school breaks.
▶ Why is learning beyond the classroom important?
Learning beyond the classroom helps students build consistent reading habits and continue developing literacy skills outside the school day. Access to engaging books at home and during school breaks helps make reading a regular part of everyday life.
