Recreational reading is the exact opposite of studying. It is done from a comfortable sofa, while commuting on the bus, before sleeping, and even on weekends. There is no test, no assignment, no teacher requiring a review. All one needs is a good book, an interesting article, a story, a comic, or an essay to read.
However, this seemingly trivial activity might help one achieve better academic results. Students who engage in recreational reading develop vocabulary, concentration, writing skills, and background information. These skills are necessary in various classes, not only in literature or English.
What we should not be doing here is claiming that reading fiction books will miraculously turn everyone into an A-student. Grades depend on many factors, including effort, quality of education, rest, psychological state and family. Still, recreational reading gives students an advantage because it teaches without feeling like schoolwork.
Why Reading For Fun Improves School Work
In school, a student is rewarded for having the capacity to interpret instructions, follow an argument, analyze ideas, express one’s thoughts, and write in clear language. All of this comes from reading for fun. A regular reader is accustomed to the flow of sentences, new vocabulary, alternative perspectives, and complicated concepts.
Even in classes that might be considered non-“bookish” reading helps. Mathematics has language. Science tests require careful reading. History requires understanding cause and effect. Psychology, business, nursing, and sociology all involve reading comprehension of research.
The student who goes on to work on large academic assignments finds that ease of reading greatly facilitates the process. A student who is preparing to write a major research paper will benefit from academic assistance, tutoring, library assistance, or a similar kind of “write my paper for me” service. The more they read, the easier it becomes to know what kind of academic writing should be like.
According to Martin Buckley, an expert in educational writing, pleasure reading makes sense because it contributes to the development of what Buckley calls “academic patience.” It means that students who often read by choice will not be surprised by lengthy texts, slow progress in discussions, and thorough explanations.
Reading For Pleasure And Academic Success: Research Findings
The connection between reading for enjoyment and academic success is more than just an opinion expressed by teachers. The OECD report stated that PISA 2018 findings revealed a positive correlation between reading for enjoyment and reading skills across participating countries and economies, regardless of respondents’ gender and socio-economic status. The magnitude of the difference varied, with changes in reading scores ranging from less than 11 to more than 30 score points between countries.
It does not mean that reading for pleasure is a direct cause of better grades. There can be several other factors, including a larger number of reading materials available, additional help from parents, or better habits at school. However, the relation is obvious enough to consider. Enjoying reading is related to the necessary level of literacy.
The keyword is “enjoyment.” Compulsory reading can work, but its emotional component will be quite different. If reading feels like punishment, students tend to resist it. If reading is optional, students tend to read more, read more often, and acquire skills more easily.
Skills Developed In Pleasure Reading
Pleasure reading is good for grades since it develops multiple smaller skills. The thing is, such skills are difficult to track because they develop gradually.
The most useful ones are the following:
Vocabulary
Students learn new words in context. They do not just memorize the definition; rather, they see how the word operates in real sentences.
Attention
Reading trains the focus. The reader learns how to keep on track with a single thought for more than a few seconds.
Writing Rhythm
Frequent readers learn to understand sentence flow, paragraph structure, transitions, tone and pacing.
Background Knowledge
Students learn about history, science, culture, emotions, geography, and other issues through books.
Inference
Reading teaches the ability to make sense of the implications and explicit statements.
Memory
Keeping the characters, facts, places, and arguments keeps the memory sharp.
Reading Improves Writing Skills More Than Students Think
Most students believe that the only way to improve writing skills is through extensive practice. Practice does matter, but reading provides an additional model to students showing how to introduce a paragraph, how to write examples, how the tone changes and how an idea may develop from simple to complex.
Moreover, a student who reads a lot understands that there is no single form of writing. News articles, memoirs, scientific essays, novels, and opinion pieces operate in different ways. This will help a student to make the right decisions regarding their own work.
For instance, a student who reads clear non-fiction will understand how to write about evidence in a convincing way. Reading fiction will teach how to provide descriptions and convey emotions. History books will teach how to link events with consequences.
Finally, reading for pleasure removes the fear of a blank page. Once students have seen various examples of good writing, they know that it is possible to gradually make every sentence perfect.
The Grade Connection Is Usually Indirect
The true connection is indirect. Enjoying reading helps develop the skills that lead to better grades. It can make the learning process easier since the student reads fast, understands instructions and writes better.
Such indirect influence is important, especially over time. Reading one book will not improve the grade report. But reading for a year can totally transform the student. One can describe such influence as follows: enjoyment of reading is not an alternative to studying. It is just a means of developing the right type of mind.
Reading Choices For Students
The ideal book is any book that the student decides to keep reading. The student does not have to start with classics and difficult non-fiction works. It is important not to start too hard, as the good habit may be lost prematurely.
Some good choices could be:
- Novels with good plots
- Graphic novels
- Memoirs
- Books on sports
- Popular science books
- Travel essays
- Detective stories
- Historical fiction
- Articles from reputable magazines
- Biographies of those whom the student admires
Choice is critical. If a student is passionate about football, they should start reading football articles. If the student admires musicians, they should start with the biographies of such artists. Reading confidence builds up with success first.
How To Make Reading Useful For Schooling
The aim is not to add another obligation to pleasure reading but to make the process easy and regular.
One should try this approach:
Read 15 Minutes A Day
It is better to read often than have large gaps between your reading sessions.
Have A Book At Hand
Having a book in one’s bag or beside the bed is always a good idea.
Combine Books Easily Read With Complex Ones
Both comfortable and challenging texts are needed by students.
Choose Audiobooks Carefully
Audiobooks can help the student have fun, learn, and get back to reading.
Do Not Waste Time On Badly Selected Books
Completing each book is not necessary; otherwise, an uninteresting book can interfere with the development of the habit.
Discuss The Book With Someone
A short talk with friends, parents, or teachers helps students retain information.
Relate Reading To Assignments
A student reading a memoir about medicine will use this experience in health class; a student reading science articles will find examples for essays.
In this way, the student continues to read for enjoyment but does so in a structured way.
