Girls outscore boys in reading proficiency levels; the gender gap is startling and concerning. The myth that boys won't read or that it's not "cool" for boys to love reading plays a big part in how these low levels come to be. Low expectations from teachers, and an assumption that boys prefer physical activity, mean that boys often don't find classrooms very "boy friendly." The author has created an easy to remember acronym, READ--Ritual, Environment, Access, and Dialogue--to help teachers create the best boy-friendly environment possible. This article shares how to implement the READ strategies in one's own classroom.