What Should Students Read? Independent Reading (Blog Digest, Part 2)

Encouraging students to cultivate a love for reading not only supports their academic growth but also nurtures their imagination and empathy. With countless options available, it's vital to ask, What should students read during their independent reading time?

A Balanced Reading Diet

In pursuing a balanced reading diet, it's important to consider the genre requirements suggested by educational standards, such as the Common Core. Just as a well-rounded diet requires a mix of nutrients, a student's reading regimen should include a variety of genres to develop different cognitive skills and maintain engagement.

The Power of Informational Text

The shift toward informational text within certain educational guidelines, including the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), recognizes the fundamental role that factual reading material plays in student learning. Information-rich texts provide students with the context necessary to build knowledge and understand complex concepts.

The Nutritional Value of Informational Text

This concept goes beyond understanding to emphasize the 'nutritional value' of informational texts. The core idea is that consuming texts loaded with facts and data is akin to eating a meal rich in vitamins and nutrients, fortifying students' ability to comprehend and engage with the world around them.

Complementary Literary Texts

The narrative text counterpart to informational reading, literary texts offer their own nutritional value by fostering creativity, emotional intelligence, and a deeper appreciation for storytelling. Both types of texts play a crucial role in a balanced reading diet.

Supporting Diverse Reading Appetites

While balance is key, recognizing the importance of a child's interests is pivotal. For reluctant readers or those who haven't yet found their passion for reading, finding texts that captivate their attention can be more important than strict adherence to a balanced literary and informational diet.

Guiding Student Choices

Teachers and parents face the challenge of guiding students towards books that not only interest them but also contribute to their educational growth. Fostering an environment where children feel empowered to explore different genres and topics helps them develop autonomy over their reading choices and, ultimately, their learning journey.

Travel and Independent Reading: The Journey of Literacy

Akin to embarking on a physical journey, delving into a good book is an adventure in itself. Independent reading allows students to 'travel' to different realms and times, learn about far-off places, or delve into another culture—all from the comfort of their room or a cozy nook in a local library or hotel lobby. This journey through reading not only contributes to their academic prowess but also broadens their horizons in much the same way as traveling does.

As students pack their mental bags with books for independent reading, educators and parents can play the role of guide, offering maps in the form of diverse reading lists that pique curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Like any savvy traveler knowing the importance of a good accommodation for rest, learners too need comfortable spaces that welcome and stimulate reading. Thus, the reading journey flourishes when paired with an environment that supports it, be it at home, in school, or during travels, where the alliance of an inspiring text and a serene setting can work wonders for a student's desire to read.