The amount of independent reading required in schools today is much higher than when I was in school. Often grades are tied to turning in slips that record how much a child has read at home. In my day we were required to have AR points and that was enough of a standard. Now we’ve moved beyond that to having both AR goals and reading minutes. These kids are feeling overwhelmed!
Why are we doing this? I know many students who struggle with reading and getting their minutes in. It may be because they have a chaotic home life. It may be because they don’t have anyone to remind them to read. It may even be that the parents have fought the kids on so many things that day, this just isn’t the fight they want to have.
But I get where teachers are coming from! They are trying to encourage more reading. They don’t want kids to lose these vital skills. Studies show that reading to your child before they go to school can help them be leaps and bounds ahead when it comes to comprehension. This push to get kids to read in this way may be motivator for some, but not for many.
And yet, I’m not surprised. Looking at our society- who still chooses to read for recreation? There are less and less people who value reading as a past time. I know very few adults that tell me that they spend their leisure time reading. Covid has affected that some for my friends, but not many have picked up a book to read.
Now me, I love to read (obviously)! I will stay up late to read a book- to watch a movie… not as likely. But to finish a book- I will stay up for HOURS! I have stopped letting myself read thrillers past 7pm or else I will never sleep because I will HAVE to finish the book! And I encourage you all to pick up this habit of mine. You should all become obsessed readers. Ready-set-go!
So let’s all make a decision. Right here. Right now. Let’s all commit to reading again. Maybe it’s just reading for 5 minutes a day! Maybe you’re choosing to sit and actually read the newspaper today. Maybe you’re choosing to sit and read to your child. Maybe you’re remembering how much you loved that book as a child and it’s time to revisit those happy feelings. Let’s all strive to read more. Every little bit will stimulate your brain.
Go find more happy moments via reading!
Keep Sparkling,
B
The Sparkling Librarian 