Why do we read so much in this class?
(The following explanation is taken from my friend-- and fellow teacher-- Jenna Iden's website, and it's so beautifully put, I'm not changing a word!)
When we read books, we learn English in its best setting. We see vocabulary in context, internalize countless grammatical conventions, and build a knowledge base of idioms and references. We pay attention to details and nuance in form. We build stamina and practice sustained attention. We rehearse empathy and expand cultural literacy. And, best of all, when we read books we like and choose ourselves, we hardly notice how much our minds grow.
Research has proven three truisms:
Middle school is when students stop reading for pleasure.
Students are far more likely to build a longstanding reading habit if they are given time to read books of their own choosing and discuss their reading during the school day.
Free independent reading is tied to substantive gains in literacy skills.
In a world that competes for young adults’ attention, space must be created within the English classroom to nurture a love of reading. Therefore, in my classroom, we read every day. We gush about favorite books, toss aside the books that don’t capture our attention, and keep looking for new and engaging topics in young adult and middle grade texts. If you truly get drawn into a story during the school day, you’ll keep turning pages at night.
Young adult literature has exploded in popularity since its beginnings in S. E. Hinton’s The Outsiders (1967), and readers of Hinton’s classic should understand the magic of the genre. These stories grapple with questions of identity and belonging, love and trust, struggle and acceptance. Modern young adult authors offer impressive quality of writing on these themes, even luring plenty of adult readers to devour "teenage" books. We're all bound to see ourselves reflected somewhere in this wide and growing genre.
When you choose books you like, whether a graphic novel or a bleary-eyed love story, you are more motivated to read and reap the full benefits of sustained reading. I am constantly reading young adult literature and adding to my classroom library so I can help my students discover their next great read. As J.K. Rowling has said, “If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book.” One book can create a reader, and reading can do magic.
When left to our own devices,
proficient readers read five times more than struggling readers.
Those who read more...
read better and faster.
have better vocabularies, grammar, and spelling.
write better and suffer less from writer’s block.
know more about literature, science, and social studies, with more cultural literacy and practical knowledge.
When in-school independent reading is added,
struggling readers gain even more than stronger reading peers.
Students make gains in...
reading comprehension, speed, and stamina.
writing and writing fluency.
vocabulary, grammar, and spelling.