Why is reading important - Quia



Why is reading important?

Millions of adults in the U.S. have such low levels of literacy that they cannot read a newspaper. 38% of 4th graders nationally cannot read at the basic level. This means they are not able to understand a simple paragraph from a 4th grade level reading book. Very few children with serious reading difficulties ever graduate from college. Their job opportunities are limited.

According to the great philosopher, Groucho Marx, people who cannot read or cannot read well are unable to experience the joys of learning, the opportunities for self-reflection, or the simple pleasures of being lost in a book.

What is so hard about learning to read?

If you think about it, writing was invented only about 5,000 years ago, and the experience of mass literacy is very recent to human history. Reading is not a natural occurrence. Humans are not born with the ability to read, like we are born with the ability to develop oral language. Reading and writing are both recent cultural inventions that have to be taught and learned in order to be successful.

Reading is not easy for a lot of young people. It seems easy to those of us who do it well, just as riding a bike seems effortless after you know how to do it.

Reading Challenges include learning:

• Irregular spellings

• Illogical or random alphabet code

• Sound patterns for each letter and word

• Pronunciation changes in words that are spelled the same

• Reading instruction

So, how can we improve our reading?

READ, READ, READ

Well, first and foremost, practicing reading is the most important way to get better at it. However, practicing good reading skills will help you improve and build your vocabulary, comprehension, and pronunciation. It also serves as a good model for English grammar and writing. Hopefully, you will also develop a love for reading and learning.

Turn to the other side for a list of helpful reading strategies we will develop

and learn throughout the school year.

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