With more down time over the summer, and potentially less travel or vacation time planned in light of the coronavirus pandemic, we are encouraging students to read at least one book over the summer in place of digital entertainment. Middle school students have already received their summer reading assignment (see “Academic News” section below), and high school students are being strongly encouraged to peruse our book list – or find a selection of their own – to enjoy. Click HERE to view our summer reading recommendations.
GWA’s reading initiative is based on data that demonstrates that this generation of students is experiencing a seismic shift in the way that they entertain themselves, including the following points:
- Teens are reading, but they’re reading short texts and Instagram captions, not longform articles that require critical thinking. Screen-based reading is characterized by browsing and scanning, keyword spotting, and nonlinear movement through the text. Online readers demonstrate decreased sustained attention for longer texts.
- A meta-analysis conducted by the International Reading Association and National Council of Teachers of English shows that “leisure reading” helps students develop the sustained attention and focus that is beneficial for problem solving and analysis. Also, students who read find school easier, have a more positive attitude about school, are better writers, have stronger vocabularies, have better grammar, and perform better on standardized tests.
- Reading is healthy. One study showed that reading reduces stress by 68% and is more effective for stress reduction than listening to music, having a cup of tea, or taking a walk.
- Reading fiction builds empathy. As Carol Jago, a past president of the National Council of English Teachers reports, “We are living in an increasingly polarized world. Books offer access to lives and stories outside of the boundaries of our limited first-hand experience.”
- The world’s largest study of K-12 reading habits found that “six extra minutes of reading per day can turn a struggling reader into one who meets or surpasses their grade’s benchmark.” Recreational reading keeps students in condition for school.
We hope you find a book on this list to enjoy – and that you come back and tell us about it in the fall. Happy reading!
Femke Côté
