Look for a wide sample of reading material. Strong literature classrooms tailor to all readers, not a select audience. Because students' reading ability and interests vary greatly, a literature classroom should have books for students at all levels and on a variety of topics.
Listen for models of good reading. Students learn best from modeling. Whether it is the teacher or another student, literature classrooms should be filled with the sounds of good reading.
Check for well-rounded reading instruction. Students need the ability to identify words quickly in text to read fluently, but they also need to be able to sound out difficult or unfamiliar terms. As such, a strong literature classroom should include phonics instruction and whole-word instruction. Pairing these skills together will give students the tools to navigate through fluency issues.
Listen and look for discussions about literature. At the heart of literature instruction is students' response to their reading. Students should either be verbally expressing their opinions or sharing insights via written responses.
Observe the teacher. Literature is an acquired taste. Not all students come in loving to read, but depending on the teacher's passion, those who do not could leave converts. Strong readers have been exposed to a person passionate about reading at some point in their life, and teachers have some of the strongest influence on students' perspectives. Strong literature classrooms have teachers who are passionate about reading and who portray their enthusiasm daily.