Reading linked to higher student achievement

All parents want to see their kids succeed in school, in college and in life. Educators say reading is the key.

The grandparents of Kieden Lundell, 8, have him read for a half hour each evening.

“The phone is off. tTe TV’s off. The distractions from outside are gone,” Becky Hanley, Kieden’s grandmother, said.

As a result, Kieden, a second grader, has read over a million words this school year.

He’s one of 14 students so far at Bridgewater Elemetary to reach that goal.

Principal Teri Beseris says the school really places an emphasis on reading.

“They have much higher grades the more they read,” Beseris said.

Bridgewater teachers say the importance of reading can’t be overemphasized.

“No matter what subject you’re talking about, there’s reading in some form involved in it,” fourth grade teacher Sarah McIntyre said.

“As parents are helping at home and reading with their students at home, it’s advancing their reading in school,” first grade teacher Nicole Likes said.

“What I see is the kids who read more, actually do better with their writing,” sixth grade teacher Bobbi Jean Rooney said.

“It’s kind of cliche but reading opens up worlds to students, ” fourth grade teacher Karen Tolman said.

School District 91 Director of Student Achievement, Gail Rochelle says research confirms the link between reading and achievement..

“And if they are proficient readers, it’s likely they will perform better, not only on tests of reading achievement, but on other standardized tests,” Rochelle said.

One study by Nagy and Herman showed children who read at home 20 minutes a day score on average in the 90th percentile of standardized tests.

So what’s the best way to help children learn to love reading? Rochelle says it begins in the home, before the kids even go to school. That’s what Carrie Wilcox did with her kids.

“If you don’t start at home, they will struggle in school,” Wilcox said.

Rochelle says what Kieden does with his grandparents – all reading together – is a great example.

“If parents model reading, if they read independently, that has an effect on students willingness to read and their motivation to read,” Rochelle said.

One final important point Rochelle says is to discuss with the child what they are reading.

“You ask questions. You ask your child to predict what might happen,” Rochelle said.

Educators say a goal of reading 20 minutes a day is appropriate for elementary school students. They say it helps if parents begin reading books to their children, even when they are babies.