Supporting Student Success

Nurturing a Lifelong Love for Reading

Every year, on September 8th, we come together to commemorate International Literacy Day, which was initiated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). UNESCO, as part of the United Nations (UN) focuses on promoting education, culture, and science around the world, including raising awareness of how important literacy is and highlighting the need for efforts to promote literacy around the world. They believe that literacy is a basic human right and the doorway to education. Literacy can also lead to economic empowerment, social inclusion, gender equality, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding. 

Reading is a very powerful habit that is often synonymous with school. Students can expand their understanding of diversity, inclusivity, and culture by reading. By reading, students also increase their vocabulary, which leads them to be better able to think logically and comprehend information. Reading is not only about gaining knowledge and information but also can be an effective strategy to reduce stress levels. Reading can be really fun and promotes mental health for the students.A little known fact is that reading regularly can also improve the concentration span.

As a school community, we have the responsibility to build an encouraging environment that facilitates students as both lifelong readers and learners. Here are strategies that parents can also use in order to support their child to build a love of learning.

1. Start early, start now: When introducing books and reading habits to students it would be better to start earlier. However, if you did not already get started with this, it isn’t too late to start now. Whether you are a teacher or a parent, you can start your child’s reading habit now. Don’t under-estimate the power of your modelling regular reading habits for your child.

2. Create a Reading Environment: By providing easy access to books, we can encourage students to start their reading from a point of any genre or type of book. Reading books with pictures can be a starting point for building a lifelong love of reading. 

3. Read Aloud Together: For younger children, reading out loud together can encourage them to enjoy reading rather than have to power through by themselves. Reading out loud together also benefits younger children to build rich vocabulary and comprehension skills. 

4. Have regular visits to any place with books: We can visit bookstores and school or city libraries to provide positive experiences to kids with books and reading. Spending weekends or school breaks outside of the house can be really fun and recharging. Visiting bookstores and esthetic libraries around Jakarta can be an interesting idea to try (https://www.idntimes.com/travel/destination/angga-kurnia-saputra/perpustakaan-estetik-di-jakarta-c1c2?page=all).

5. Use digital resources: Our students, who are also Generation Alpha, are technology savvy and prefer to use technology in every aspect of their lives. We can use e-book or audiobooks, which may be more accessible to them. 

6. Discuss what you read: For anybody who already started reading but hasn't built the habit yet of reading regularly, discussing the book and connecting with personal life can be really helpful to love reading. 

Promoting reading habits for all is a timeless investment for the future, especially for our students. Reading equips students with tools to navigate the modern world and fosters them to be lifelong learners. By implementing practical strategies and creating a reading-friendly environment, together, we can empower our students to become lifelong readers and, in turn, contribute to a more literate and enlightened world.