Increase reading pleasure and -skills in VET.

<< Background >>Recent PISA results (OECD, 2023) show a decline in students' reading performance, underlining the urgent need to improve reading education. Reading is not just a language skill—it is essential for understanding content across all subjects and plays a key role in preventing school dropout (Snow & Biancarosa, 2003). To address this, schools should adopt a cross-curricular approach to reading. Methods like close reading—a structured way of analyzing complex texts—have proven effective in building comprehension and critical thinking skills (Fisher & Frey, 2014). Our project introduces an online reading game that combines close reading strategies with gamification to enhance students’ reading motivation, a crucial predictor of reading success (Guthrie & Wigfield, 2000). By making reading more engaging, we aim to improve literacy outcomes and support students in all areas of learning.<< Objectives >>The primary objective of this project is to improve students’ reading comprehension and motivation by combining evidence-based reading strategies with the power of digital game-based learning. Specifically, we aim to: - Strengthen students’ ability to understand complex texts across the curriculum, thereby reducing school failure and dropout risk.- Enhance reading motivation through an engaging online reading game, rooted in the close reading method—a structured approach proven to improve comprehension and critical thinking.- Support teachers by offering practical tools and opportunities for professional development focused on effective reading instruction.- Convince school leaders of the importance of investing in reading education as a whole-school priority, beyond language lessons alone.- Promote a school-wide reading culture in which all teachers, regardless of subject, recognize their role in developing students’ reading proficiency.By achieving these objectives, the project contributes to a more inclusive, motivating, and academically successful learning environment for all students.<< Implementation >>During the implementation of the project, we organized several key activities to ensure effective collaboration, dissemination, and engagement.Firstly, we held multiple transnational project meetings with all partners to coordinate progress, exchange exp<< Results >>The project has resulted in several concrete outputs and valuable resources aimed at enhancing reading education and supporting both teachers and school leaders. One of the key outcomes is the development of a dedicated website, where all the project’s ma