What Works

Volume 32, Number 3, February 2005

Ken Haycock

Reading For Pleasure

Research Finding:
When children read for pleasure, they get hooked on books and develop requisite language skills effortlessly.

Comment:
Children who are readers will develop at least acceptable levels of literacy. Without a reading habit, children simply do not have a chance.

Well-read people write well because they have subconsciously acquired good writing style.

Free voluntary reading of self-selected reading material is a critical component of any effective reading program.

Young people need access to well-stocked, attractive libraries with interesting and relevant material and qualified staff if they are to become motivated to read.

Free voluntary reading is not a replacement for the language program but rather complements language arts classes.

We have confused cause and effect. Skill acquisition does not lead to reading; reading for meaning, about things that matter to us, causes literate language development.

The path to higher test scores is reading.

Parents should opt for actual reading rather than using workbooks

Source:
Krashen, Stephen D. (2004). The power of reading: Insights from the research (2nd ed.). Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited/Heinemann. 1-59158-169-9