THE POLITICAL:
Back in 2012, the UK government looked at the research evidence on reading for pleasure:
Benefits of reading for pleasure:
• There is a growing body of evidence which illustrates the importance of reading for pleasure for both educational purposes as well as personal development (cited in Clark and Rumbold, 2006).
• Evidence suggests that there is a positive relationship between reading frequency, reading enjoyment and attainment (Clark 2011; Clark and Douglas 2011).
• Reading enjoyment has been reported as more important for children’s educational success than their family’s socio-economic status (OECD, 2002).
• There is a positive link between positive attitudes towards reading and scoring well on reading assessments (Twist et al, 2007).
• Regularly reading stories or novels outside of school is associated with higher scores in reading assessments (PIRLS, 2006; PISA, 2009).
• International evidence supports these findings; US research reports that independent reading is the best predictor of reading achievement (Anderson, Wilson and Fielding, 1988).
• Evidence suggests that reading for pleasure is an activity that has emotional and social consequences (Clark and Rumbold, 2006).
• Other benefits to reading for pleasure include: text comprehension and grammar, positive reading attitudes, pleasure in reading in later life, increased general knowledge (Clark and Rumbold, 2006).
But as author Charlies Connolley writing in the New European this month points out:
Almost 800 public libraries have shut their doors since the Conservatives came to power. That is 800 too manyThe little local library that made me a borrower - The New European
THE PRACTICAL:
Going beyond the politics, the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education asks:
What if… we wanted all our children to read for pleasure? | Centre for Literacy in Primary Education
Teachers realise this - and have questions:
Research suggests that reading for pleasure can boost comprehension, vocabulary and attainment, but what can teachers do to promote it?Reading for pleasure: What does the research say? - Twinkl Digest Education
Here's a whole paper on the subject - for teachers of English as a second language:
Pleasure reading at home and its effects in the English classroom. How pleasure reading in English can improve children’s comprehension of and proficiency in English as a second language.Pleasure reading for development of English as a second language
These pages have looked many a time at why reading for pleasure is a good thing:
Jay Doubleyou: how to get back to reading
Jay Doubleyou: reading really is the best way to improve (your own and a second) language
Jay Doubleyou: atelic activities
Jay Doubleyou: don't destroy a love of reading
Jay Doubleyou: extensive reading
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