Blog
Why Read?
‘Why read?’
‘Do we have to read?’
‘Why bother when there is so much else we could be doing to fill our time?’
These are questions I am asked frequently as an English Teacher, and my answer is always the same. Why would you not want to read? Reading is one of those wonderful activities anyone can take part in. It allows access to a multitude of different places, and enables you to see the world through the eyes of someone, or something different to you.
Reading is also considered a basic literacy skill, and one which Valley Park School want to support students to develop at every stage of their education. Ensuring students are equipped with basic literacy skills is vital to their academic development and long term success. Literacy is key to learning across all subjects and a strong predictor of outcomes in later life.
It is for this reason that we have taken steps to ensure it is supported across all subjects:
- dedicating time to explore explicit vocabulary and its etymology,
- ensuring students actively engage with what they are reading and apply existing subject knowledge to it,
- cultivating reading strategies,
- and combining reading activities and writing instruction to secure understanding further.
In addition to this, Valley Park have introduced Accelerated Reader – a reading programme designed to monitor reading practice and progress. Years 7, 8 and 9 have completed an initial assessment to determine their existing reading age and have been given access to a variety of books suitable to their current reading ability. By reading frequently, students’ ability will improve, enabling them access to a broader variety of text, but also providing benefits for other areas of their education too.
But above all, reading can be fun, and a perfect way to unwind after a long and stressful day. Reading can help protect our mental wellbeing as well as cultivate academic success.
So why not pick up a book, and read!