Benefits of Silent Reading

The Advantages of Sustained Silent Reading

"Sustained silent reading, also known as SSR, is independent, quiet reading. A block of time -- typically 10 to 30 minutes -- is regularly devoted to recreational reading. Many teachers incorporate this approach in classrooms, and some administrators have instituted schoolwide SSR programs. Since reading is an individual act for the most part, it is natural to read silently. When teachers or parents offer sustained silent reading time, children reap the benefits."

AdolescentLiteracy- Sustained Silent Reading

"For some students, SSR may be the only time of day that they engage in reading for pleasure. A recent report by the National Endowment for the Arts collated the best national data available to provide a reliable overview of American reading today, To Read or Not to Read. The report finds that American youths are reading less in their free time than a generation ago. Fewer than one-fourth of 17-year-olds read almost every day for fun, and young people 15 to 24 read 10 minutes or less a day, on average. The report also finds that reading has a significant correlation with success in school and the workplace. For all these reason, a SSR program is way to create a rich literacy environment that promotes reading on a regular basis."

Read Slowly to Benefit Your Brain and Cut Stress

"Slow readers list numerous benefits to a regular reading habit, saying it improves their ability to concentrate, reduces stress levels and deepens their ability to think, listen and empathize. The movement echoes a resurgence in other old-fashioned, time-consuming pursuits that offset the ever-faster pace of life, such as cooking the "slow-food" way or knitting by hand.

A study published last year in Science showed that reading literary fiction helps people understand others' mental states and beliefs, a crucial skill in building relationships. A piece of research published in Developmental Psychology in 1997 showed first-grade reading ability was closely linked to 11th grade academic achievements."