Does Reading Less Have an Effect on Children's Scores in School?

It̵7;s general knowledge in the field of education that children̵7;s reading skills impact all other subject areas in school, so the answer is, yes, reading less than peers does have a significant negative effect on children̵7;s scores in school. In fact, research from the American Association of School Librarians shows that ̶0;students who read independently become better readers, score higher on achievement tests in all subject areas, and have greater content knowledge than those who do not.̶1; Literacy is a part of all school content, from the reading in a science textbook to the word problems in math, and therefore parents and teachers should encourage reading for all children.

  1. Independent Reading and Early Development

    • How early children are introduced to print materials has a direct effect on their literacy later on, according to AASL research. The association found that children who entered school already having been exposed to books by family members who read to them had a significant advantage over students who entered school with less exposure to books, with students who had started learning to read before school entrance having the largest advantage. AASL concluded that exposure to print in childhood correlates highly with vocabulary, spelling ability and ̶0;general world knowledge.̶1;

    Reading and Academic Achievement

    • Reading less has the potential to negatively impact a child̵7;s achievement even in subjects that may not seem to require a lot of reading skills, such as math. A 2011 study published in the ̶0;Journal of Educational Psychology̶1; found that math achievement correlated significantly with reading practice. Students who read more did better in solving math problems because of their increased language processing and memory skills. Studies like this one show that it̵7;s not just the knowledge gained from reading that matters, but the specific skills that transfer to other academic areas.

    Literacy Across the Curriculum

    • Many elementary and secondary schools in the U.S. are developing programs that utilize literacy across the curriculum. From science to social studies, students are being asked to read and comprehend passages, write essays and learn vocabulary related to the subject. If a child doesn̵7;t read as much as her peers, that child̵7;s low-level literacy will be reflected in the reading and writing she is asked to do in other subjects. Since the concepts and vocabulary in science classes are often challenging, and build on each other, that child may fall behind if her literacy skills aren't up to grade level. Therefore, reading less can impact students at all levels of curriculum.

    Developing Your Child̵7;s Love of Reading

    • There is an extremely high correlation between literacy in the home and student achievement in school. Promoting literacy for your child can take the form of reading to him regularly, going to the library to borrow books together and building a library of print books at home. Consider bringing your child to story hour at a local library or bookstore. Regardless of your child̵7;s age, it̵7;s also important to let him choose the books he wants to read. All reading promotes your child̵7;s literacy, so even if the books your child enjoys seem easy, he is more likely to keep reading and choose more challenging books when reading is fun.

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