Reading is the key to learning

March is National Reading Month, a great time to celebrate the joys and benefits of reading. As an educator who has seen students of all skill levels thrive, I cannot over-emphasize the importance of reading. It is the key that unlocks so much learning. 

Before children set foot in any school, parents can expose their youngsters to letters, sounds, words, and sentence structure by reading to them. Decades of early literacy research show that the interactions young children enjoy at home with their caregivers, especially conversations and hearing stories read aloud, play a significant role in academic success. (scholastic.com)  

I thought it was interesting that an analysis of data from nearly 100,000 U.S. school children found that access to printed materials—and not poverty—was determined to be the “critical variable affecting reading acquisition.” (McQuillan, 1996) 

Many people are familiar with the fact that most of our fundamental brain development happens in the first five years of life. Reading aloud to young kids and talking with them helps their brains develop in a particular way. Parents have a huge opportunity in those early years to shape their children’s brains, and therefore, their futures. 

So let’s read! Here are some ways to incorporate reading into your children’s lives, pulled from a wonderful article by Reading Rockets (25 Activities for Reading and Writing Fun | Reading Rockets). 

Tips for children who are too young for school

Ask questions that require more than a “yes” or “no” answer. When walking along with your toddler or preschooler, and they stop to collect leaves, for example, ask: “What can you tell me about these leaves?” “What else grows on trees?” 

Ask “what if” questions, such as: “What happens if we don’t mow the grass?” “What if that butterfly lands on your nose?”

After your child tells you a story, ask questions so you can understand better. This helps children learn how to tell complete stories and it lets them know you’re interested in what they have to say.

Tips for early elementary students

With books at your child’s reading level, take turns reading. You read a paragraph and then they do, or you read a page and then they do. Because your child may be focusing more on how to read the words than what they mean, your reading helps to keep the story alive.

Tips for late elementary students

Even after children have begun reading themselves, they still enjoy a story being read aloud. Hearing a good story read well, especially if it is just a little beyond their ability to read, is an excellent way to encourage independent reading.

You can also incorporate literacy into everyday activities, such as making a shopping list before you go to the grocery store or reading a recipe while you make dinner together.

Middle school & high school

Journaling is a great tool to build literacy. Writing down daily events and recording thoughts can also help adolescents figure out their feelings and work through challenging situations. 

If you have fostered a love of reading through the elementary years, adolescents will often keep it going as long as they have access to books that interest them. Libraries provide free material and used bookstores offer inexpensive access to books. 

Be a literacy model

Children are most influenced by watching others’ behaviors. If our words and actions don’t align, children will use our actions to determine what we really think. So, if you say you enjoy reading but your child never sees you read, they may not believe it. Let your child see you reading and writing at home often.

There are some connections children will struggle to make without your help. Talk to your child about the purposes of your reading and writing. Let them know you’re reading the newspaper to find out what’s happening in the world and why that matters to you. Let them know you’re looking up a recipe so you can make a dinner that’s safe for grandma who is allergic to nuts. Point out how often you’re reading and how it allows you to do all the things you want to do: drive, shop, pay bills, and find information online.

Talk about the books you are reading with your child. Share what you learn and what it makes you curious about or interested in. This sends a message that reading is a continuous process and there’s always more to read.

Partner with your child’s teacher

Talk to your child’s teacher for more ideas on how to support your child’s evolving reading skills. The teacher may be able to recommend books your child is ready for or other activities to support their learning.

A love of reading is one of the best gifts you can give any child.