My friend posted a piece online recently sharing that when quarantine started in March she bought a Kindle and has read 64 books since then. Yes, 64! I did the math and that is roughly an average of 6 books completed per month (to my 1 or 2 reads). Although I’m happy for her, I have to say that I found this a bit intimidating. Did she not sleep? Did she ignore her family? I know she has a big job, so it’s not that she has the luxury to read all day…
And then my curiosity led to the possibility of audiobooks - did she go that route as well? Having said all of this, it made me ask myself ‘what is reading anyway?’ Does reading have to include the physical act of turning pages filled with print? Do audiobooks count - or is this cheating? And what about graphic novels? Do they promote or derail reading? Purists may have some strong opinions on all of this.
So, let’s consider why we read…
…Or more specifically, why we want our children to lead literate lives. It’s a given that reading is a crucial part of human development and a necessity for intellectual development. While reading to young children is a right of passage, it’s also a developmental necessity. We want them raised on stories so we can share with them the gift of language.
Babies actually start language development by babbling in a rhythm and mutter in complete sentences. If you listen closely, you’ll notice inflection, pauses, natural periods, and commas. The stories we first share with children are often nursery rhymes and rhythmical verse with beautiful illustrations. This is how we invite our children into literature and language. But then, as they grow, we transition away from them once they graduate to chapter books and beyond.
The Middle School Slump
As an educator, I see the middle school years as the period when the most dramatic decline in reading occurs. I’ve concluded that the root cause is attributable to external influences such as:
Middle schoolers are pressured to read the “right books” (aka the “literary canon”) versus being able to find an individualized reading “fit”.
Reading takes a back seat to so many other activities competing for their time, such as technology, sports, clubs, etc.
It can honestly feel weird to just sit and read sometimes, so creating the daily habit of sitting down and reading can be challenging in our culture.
Keeping the Flame Alive
So, if we are serious about fostering a love of reading in our kids, what can we do to nurture their curiosity and make it a part of their daily lives? Here are just a few suggestions:
Endorse ALL literature as a means to finding the right reading level.
Applaud graphic novels and how they invite visual learners in.
Consider listening to audiobooks.
Continue to read aloud to ALL age groups.
If we want to nurture a love of literature in our children - especially the most reluctant readers - let’s give them access to stories that will benefit their language development. For example, audiobooks allow them to hear a fluent reader and understand the story without the challenge of decoding. Similarly, why not let them enjoy the images in graphic novels? This will help them connect and comprehend the piece. And for those who love the printed word, let them cozy up and crack the binding of their current read.
Here’s How!
Here are my suggestions for inviting readers to the table and developing curiosity as part of their daily lives:
Litter your house with ALL books (picture books, novels, graphic novels).
Leave comics in the bathroom - for a quick and entertaining read.
Turn on TV and movie subtitles.
Listen to audiobooks in the car.
Have candid, organic conversations about books, the same way you might discuss a recent movie you watched or the latest Tik Tok trend!
Otherwise said, we need to commit to looking at reading in many ways in order to spark the flame early in our childrens’ lives and sustain it as a lifelong source of growth and joy. At the end of the day, let’s send our kids a clear message that All Reading Is Good Reading!
Let’s Connect...
If you’re interested in continuing this conversation, asking questions, or sharing your own observations, please feel free to email me at anne@keatingquigley.com and join me for my free workshop, Is All Reading Good Reading?, on March 10 at 7:30 pm (register below).
Join us for:
Is All Reading Good Reading?
with Anne Connerty, Essay and Workshop Specialist
Wednesday, March 10
7:30 pm
Anne is also available for essay guidance and one-on-one mentoring sessions.
Written By Anne Connerty
Essay and Workshop Specialist
Offered by Keating Quigley Educational Advisors
Keating Quigley Educational Advisors is a Greenwich-based educational advising practice that partners with domestic and international families to provide highly personalized educational consulting services for Nursery through Grade 12 students. Services include school search support, essay guidance, social-emotional mentoring, relocation support, and enrichment workshops.