Reading improves almost every area of a person’s life. Not only does it improve their vocabulary, but it helps them learn how to concentrate, to pay attention, to take in information at a rapid pace, and to comprehend. In essence, reading develops the skills that make up good human beings.
Why is Reading Important Before First Grade?
Children who can read comprehensibly by the age of three will be able to participate in more conversations, understand what is going on around them, and be able to solve issues with classmates and teachers. It also helps children develop their language skills (this is especially true with spoken language), as well as their social and interpersonal skills.
Reading teaches children how to express themselves through words and phrases. This, of course, extends to their verbal communications (for instance, toddlers and preschoolers can communicate about concepts by using more complex words and phrases).
Why is Reading Important in Elementary School?
At this age, children begin to have conscious control over what they read. In other words, they are self-directed readers. By this time in their lives, students are well-versed in concepts such as the alphabet, numbers, shapes, sounds, and words. As they continue to grow, students will also become aware of the fact that reading is not simply about facts and figures; reading allows students to connect with the world around them.
Why is Reading Important in High School?
Not only is reading an important part of the educational process in high school, but this is often the age when students start to learn more in-depth techniques for reading comprehension. Reading comprehension is not just how much a student knows, but how much they can comprehend.
At every age, reading increases focus and concentration. Children who can focus and concentrate on what they are reading improve their cognitive performance in school, because they are less likely to get distracted. This is especially true in school settings, where students can be distracted by new ideas and people. Students who read have an increased ability to absorb information, process it, and remember it.
Reading Makes You Happy
More than just being important for education, reading makes happier people. Many benefits of reading are directly related to one’s enjoyment of life. People who enjoy reading every day report less stress, have more energy and live longer than those who do not. Reading inspires creativity and innovation. Reading inspires change and improvement.
A Reading Specialist at West Liberty University
This program is intended for educators or others who wish to expand their reading and writing skills with a particular focus on multisensory teaching practices. By incorporating field experiences, courses include early and emergent literacy, word structure awareness, provision of reading tests with resulting specific interventions, advanced literacy courses in comprehension, language fluency and vocabulary acquisition, writing development, and spelling.
West Virginia Reading Specialist Certification requires completion of six reading courses, a master’s degree, and passing the WV state licensing exam. Graduate students can earn their master’s degree and complete core courses through the MAEd program. This program is accredited by the International Dyslexia Association. Learn more at West Liberty University’s Reading Specialist page.