Reading takes us into worlds that are not completely our own, a place where our imagination is filled with visions, affirming (or challenging) our preconceptions and expanding our own ideals of what can be (Gaiman 2013).  To read releases us into the wild of another’s world, bringing us closer to new relationships, understanding new customs and venturing into the unknown. Reading builds empathy, resilience, problem solving, a sense of adventure, and connections with history and our own experiences (Hateley 2013).

We read to support our own knowledge, deepen our understanding, give a way to articulate ourselves with language and experiences akin to our own – and understand them too.  To read fiction provides experiences whereas non-fiction helps expand our own knowledge and explore concepts taught to us or of interest. Both support the teaching and learning of the curriculum in different ways.  They provide different models of methods of writing, provide a voice for the content and connect students with their learning on their level.

A sleeping baby will sleep – something a friend’s mum once said to me – which makes me think a reading child will read.  It is our responsibility to assist them in developing the skills and the habit of reading. When we provide opportunities for children to read or be read to we are giving them a gift that provides the foundation of being a life-long learner.

Family who reads together…

Reference List:

Hateley, E. (2013). Reading: From turning the page to touching the screen. In Wu, Y., Mallan, K. & McGillis, R. (Eds.) (Re)imagining the world: Children’s literature response to the changing times (pp. 1-13). Retrieved from Springer Link.

readingagency. (2013, October 22). Neil Gaiman Reading Agency lecture 2013 [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/yNIUWv9_ZH0