Why independent reading

Students who live in a residential school like EF Academy can also borrow books from teachers, residential advisors and friends.

Reading can be a fun way for students to build camaraderie and community among the peers and adults surrounding them. And in an international community, sharing ideas, perspectives and stories is an awesome way to get to know new friends and broaden horizons. Home Welcome to EF. Programs See everything we do. Offices Find an office near you. About EF Who we are. Careers Join the team. Stories from our international boarding schools.

Back Topics. The many benefits of independent reading By Arielle Wegbreit 3 min read. Abundant language acquisition There is strong evidence that links reading for pleasure with educational or academic success. Stronger analytical and critical thinking Reading new books is a way to encounter new worlds and new perspectives. Better writing skills Writing and reading go hand in hand.

Improved focus and concentration Sustained silent reading is a really fantastic practice. Stress and anxiety reduction Most students in this day and age experience a wide variety of mental or emotional health issues, one of the most common being anxiety. Increased empathy towards others Getting into the mind of a character is a great way for students to feel new emotions and have new experiences.

This information is useful for motivating students and allows the teacher to build on, modify or revise the learning intention in future lessons. If the text is too difficult the student knows less than 95 per cent of the vocabulary and grammar then they will not be able to read the text independently. Older students will spend too much time looking up the meaning of words in the dictionary which will detract from the reading and enjoyment of the text. The benefits of independent reading apply whether students are reading in English or in their home language Scwhinge, Practising independent reading at home, whether in their home language or English, helps students learn language and literacy skills.

To encourage parent engagement, see: Speak to your child in the language you know best. For assistance, see: Recommended independent reading texts for student book boxes-Foundation to Year 6 docx - Independent texts are usually housed in student book boxes or book bags. Each student is responsible for their own book box, however, it is up to the teacher to ensure that texts are changed regularly to promote interest and engagement.

For more details, see: Rationale and Theory to Practice. Fluency is another important element supported through independent reading. When readers reread familiar texts or texts where the decoding requirement is minimalised, greater attention can be placed on building meaning Konza, Student book boxes or book bags should reflect this requirement.

Fluency continues to develop as a reader engages with texts of expanding vocabulary and sophisticated concepts. Therefore, independent reading is a practice that continues to support readers throughout their learning. For more details, see: Fluency.

Moreover, independent reading provides time for students to practise their reading goals. Students actually practise their reading goals by reading, not by activity-based tasks. Goals are determined as a result of explicit feedback from the teacher to each of their students.

Independent reading is a practice which supports students to develop and practise those goals while reading texts that are easy to decode, are familiar, or provide high levels of engagement. Cummins, J. Orbit, 36 1 , 22— De Courcy, M. Lipovski Eds. Newcastle upon Tine: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Independent reading practices emphasize the process of making meaning through reading, not an end product.

The school culture teachers, administration, etc. As much as possible, teachers should support independent reading in a way that is most appropriate for their classroom of readers e. As Rudine Sims Bishop has written, books provide opportunities for students to see their own experiences, the experiences of others, and the correlation between the two. Having choice and time for independent reading allows students to connect with characters and develop a new awareness of how others experience the world.

Independent reading provides students an opportunity to explore topics they might not otherwise have a chance to and equips them with a multitude of lenses through which to see the world.

Protecting this instructional time is imperative to supporting students in building strong reading habits that will carry outside of the classroom and create lifelong readers.

Allington, R. How reading volume affects both reading fluency and reading achievement. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 7 1 , 13— Bishop, R. Mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors. Perspectives , 1 3 , ix—xi. Brooks, M. Authentic choice: A plan for independent reading in a restrictive instructional setting. Share on facebook. Share on twitter. Share on pinterest. Benefits of independent reading programs Engagement increases Children who connect with meaningful reading materials experience greater reading achievement.

Stronger reading skills are developed Fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary increase when students have a greater desire to read more regularly. Students are more actively involved in learning As reading skills improve, students are better prepared to comprehend other classroom reading materials and subjects.