Of course, a public library director and a former K-12 educator will tell you that it is very important for kids and adults to read. I could share with you some convincing evidence because of all the available research on the importance and benefits of reading. Instead, I will share my observations from my experiences. For starters, all of us are living in the technological age that requires the ability to read and comprehend the vast set of instructions plastered on any website. How often have you tried to call a business or agency for information and have been instantly instructed to make contact through the website? Better yet how often have you experienced the phrase, “it’s on our website” when listening to someone convey information to you? In this day and age, the ability to read and understand the written word is vital for survival and for addressing our daily needs.
Reading is more than just gleaning information from websites. The term “free voluntary reading” is defined as reading because you want to read instead of reading to complete some type of an assignment such as book reports or answering questions at the end of a chapter. You simply read for the desire to learn about a subject or for entertainment. According to Stephen Krashen, author of the book The Power of Reading: Insights from the Research, “free voluntary reading is one of the most powerful tools we have in language education.” Immersing oneself in the plot of a novel or short story allows the mind to experience creativity and imagination. The reader is allowed to see the actual thoughts of characters and come to understand the actions of the characters. Through reading, a person can experience an array of feelings and emotions. Emotions are an important aspect to humans as they influence words and actions developing empathy towards others. Free voluntary reading can also provide a release, an avenue to take the mind off the daily pressures of the day.
If reading is good for you then why isn’t everybody flooding bookstores and libraries for reading material? Well, for starters, reading is an acquired skill that develops over time. That is why it is so important for the adults in a child’s life to take on the crusade of ensuring a rich reading environment during the first four years of that child’s life. According to the research conducted by the Every Child Ready to Read program, a young child must have at least 15,000 words in his/her listening vocabulary to be ready for kindergarten. A child’s listening vocabulary consists of words that a child hears and comprehends their meaning. Drill and kill vocabulary programs are not the answer. The best way to teach young children with short attention spans the meaning of words is through reading storybooks to them and allowing them to talk about the story as it progresses. As with any skill, success builds on success. So, it is important that adults provide numerous opportunities in which children experience reading success. Surrounding children with bountiful amounts of books that they enjoy is the key. The most important factor is the adult reading those books aloud to the child. Another important factor is the child seeing the adults as a positive role model. How many times have our children mimicked our adult habits? What better habit to mimic than that of reading!
As adults, we too should strive to be lifelong learners achieved through a regular reading habit. As with developing any habit, it takes discipline and focus on a goal. By becoming avid readers, we equip ourselves with the command of our language allowing us to communicate our point of view. So, let’s all strive to set personal reading goals and set aside time to read for the personal pleasure of reading or for the desire to acquire new knowledge. Trying anything new can be scary and causes us to question our confidence. Starting a reading habit can be overwhelming for those unaccustomed to the various reading material sources or who can’t afford to purchase reading material. Try visiting your local library where staff members can help you select reading material that suits your interest. Take children to the local library and let them discover the vast array of books and participate in story time.
May is “Get Caught Reading” month. I encourage you to get caught up in the reading habit and transform our community where residents strive to become lifelong learners.
