| The Importance of Daily Reading |
| Facts from the U.S. Department of Education - America Reads Challenge |
| If daily reading begins in infancy, by the time a child is 5 years old he/she has been fed about 900 hours of "brain food". Reduce that experience to just 30 minutes each week and a child's mind loses 770 hours of nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and stories. The answer to the question: "Why can't I skip my 20 minutes of reading tonight?" Figure it out mathematically - Student "A" reads 20 minutes, 5 nights out of every week. Student "B" reads only 4 minutes each night, or not at all. Step 1 - Multiply minutes each night times 5 times each week. Student "A" = 100 minutes per week Student "B" = 20 minutes per week Step 2 - Multiply minutes per week times 4 weeks each month. Student "A" = 400 minutes per month Student "B" - 80 minutes per month Step 3 - Multiply the minutes each month by 9 months for the school year. Student "A" = 3600 minutes per school year Student "B" = 720 minutes per school year Student "A" practices reading the equivalent of 10 whole school days a year. Student "B" practices reading the equivalent of only 2 school days. By the end of sixth grade, if these reading habits are maintained, Student "A" will have read the equivalent of 60 days, and Student "B" only of 12 days. One would expect the gap of information retained and school performance to widen considerably. Something to think about: How do you think Student "B" will feel about himself/herself as a student? Which student would you expect to read better? Which student would you expect to know more? Which student would you expect to write better? Which student would you expect to have a better vocabulary? Which student would you expect to be more successful in school..... and in life? |