I have to confess that I am a very enthusiastic reader of counter-intuitive educational, economic, scientific, or cultural studies. For example, did you know that the verdict is in on small class size, yet small class size has almost no measurable impact on learning?
Or how about the study that determined the social structure of a community is directly related to the physical health of the individuals within that community? I enjoy the challenge to my own thinking and practice that these studies present.
A recent study revealed what has the greatest impact on making a child an avid reader. Of course I had preconceived ideas about this.
It must be the amount of reading a parent does with his or her child. Or maybe it is the variety of books a child is assigned to read in school or how often the child is brought to the library. Perhaps it is the quality of the literature chosen.
I was mildly and pleasantly surprised to find out that, in fact, it is the actual number of books present in a child’s home that has the greatest impact on a child’s reading. The number of books at home also has a very substantial effect on a child’s achievement in school.
As the home library grows, so does a child’s love for reading and his or her success in school. This should be a good incentive for parents to make sure that great books are on every birthday, Christmas and reward list for their child.
As the author of this study noted:
“The presence of books in the home has a greater influence on a child’s level of education than does the parents income, nationality, or level of education…A home with books as an integral part of the way of life encourages children to read for pleasure and encourages discussion among family members about what they have read, thereby providing children with information, vocabulary, imaginative richness, wide horizons, and skills for discovery and play.”
Reading is a crucial part of the program of studies at Veritas - from Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. Our classrooms at Veritas are filled with books and our teachers are continually sharing their own love of reading with their students as they teach literature and reading skills in class.
This is first of all because we are people of The Book. God chose to reveal Himself to us through a book, so reading should be central to our lives.
So, read to your child every day; go to the library; choose great literature; but especially, fill your house with books.
For further information, there is a great article comparing the differences between reading paper books versus digital screens. Additionally, here is a list of 1000 Great Books, great classic literature reading for children reading at 1st through 9th grade levels. Happy reading!