Research studies and experience shows that the strongest predictors of academic performance are (in order of importance):
Reading skills are important to literacy in all learning areas, not just English. Students need reading skills to understand texts, but also understand math and problem solving questions. One of the best ways for children develop strong literacy skills is for them to have the opportunity to interact widely with a wide range of books, selected by them, for enjoyment.
It is generally recommended that children read every day for at least 30 minutes.
The most important thing is that children should be engaged and read books for pleasure.
However, there is no magical period of reading that will ensure strong academic performance. The most important factor is that the child is engaged with the books they are reading, so that they are not simply reading the words but understanding the story and information being conveyed.
At our learning centre, we encourage students to read texts of a variety of genres, styles, sources and topics as part of the work we do in our classrooms and as part of homework activities.
However, as much as we do in the classroom as teachers, children who read at home are advantaged in the learning process because they have had exposure to more language and words. Thus it is critical to instill a love of reading in every child.
Start reading habits early with your child. Set aside a time for reading each day. You may start with reading aloud to build word recognition, but don't feel like you need to stop this as the children get older as research shows that reading aloud at older ages also helps encourage literacy levels. You can also try setting an example at home by showing your own love for reading.
Simply sitting together, opening a book, and reading and pointing to words can be incredibly helpful in building the foundations of good literacy. Afterwards, reflect on the reading material together. Some of the questions you can discuss are: Did you enjoy it? Who was your favourite character and why? Do you agree with what the main character did or would you have done it differently? This keeps children engaged in stories and texts.
Some children complain that reading is boring. One way to get them interested is to find books on topics they are interested in. For example, if your child loves playing soccer, find books that involve characters who also love soccer. There are so many books out there, there is bound to be at least a shelf worth that your child is interested in - you just might need to do bit of extra research! The internet and library is perfect for finding books your child will love.
Children tend to re-read books that they love, or stick to a particular series or style.
While there is nothing wrong with this, building strong literacy skills involves well-rounded reading. Children should read about a different variety of topics. Furthermore, they don't need to just stick to fiction. There are many other genres to consider: graphic novels, biographies, non-fiction, magazines and newspapers. The school and local libraries are invaluable and free resource accessible to every child so don't let it go to waste!
To encourage reading, we have a 'Books We Love' board at our learning centre. It is regularly updated with suggestions from fellow students and teachers and contains a variety of books to suit all interests. Visit us for some ideas.
