Do you like reading?
Have you ever thought about the importance of reading?
Read the following text I found out and then answer the following questions:
-
Give (using your own words) the 5 most important reasons, in your opinion, why reading is important.
- What are the 3 main reasons, according to Jonathan Kozal, people give for wanting to read. Do you agree with him?
- Do you like reading? What are your reasons for reading? When do you read? What kind of books do you read?
From time to time people have wondered why reading is important.
There seems so many other things to do with one's time. Reading is
important for a variety of reasons. We will look at some of those
fundamental reasons below, but it is important to realize that
struggling with vital reading skills in not a sign a low
intelligence. For example, John Corcoran, who wrote
The
Teacher Who Couldn't Read, is a very intelligent man. He
graduated from High School and College, became a popular High School
teacher and later a successful business man all without being able to
read. Many highly intelligent people have struggled with reading
although, when properly taught, most people can learn to read easily
and quickly.
Now, if a man like John Corcoran can succeed without reading, why
is reading important? A person should really read Mr. Corcoran's
story to get the feeling of shame, loneliness and fear that he
experienced before he learned to read. He was able to succeed in
spite of this major handicap because he was a man of intelligence,
ability and determination. But, make no mistake, it was a handicap
that made life harder and less enjoyable. [Those that are interested
in helping children learn to read may consider a degree from
Concordia
University online.]
Why Is Reading Important?
1. Reading is fundamental to function in today's society. There
are many adults who cannot read well enough to understand the
instructions on a medicine bottle. That is a scary thought -
especially for their children. Filling out applications becomes
impossible without help. Reading road or warning signs is difficult.
Even following a map becomes a chore. Day-to-day activities that many
people take for granted become a source of frustration, anger and
fear.
2. Reading is a vital skill in finding a
good job. Many well-paying jobs require reading as a part of job
performance. There are reports and memos which must be read and
responded to. Poor reading skills increases the amount of time it
takes to absorb and react in the workplace. A person is limited in
what they can accomplish without good reading and comprehension
skills.
3. Reading is important
because it
develops
the mind. The mind is a muscle. It needs exercise. Understanding
the written word is one way the mind grows in its ability. Teaching
young children to read helps them develop their language skills. It
also helps them learn to listen. Everybody wants to talk, but few can
really listen. Lack of listening skills can result in major
misunderstandings which can lead to job loss, marriage breakup, and
other disasters - small and great. Reading helps children [and
adults] focus on what someone else is communicating.
4. Why is reading important? It is how we
discover
new things. Books, magazines and even the Internet are great
learning tools which require the ability to read and understand what
is read. A person who knows how to read can educate themselves in any
area of life they are interested in. We live in an age where we
overflow with information, but reading is the main way to take
advantage of it.
5.
Reading
develops the imagination. TV and computer games have their place,
but they are more like amusement. Amusement comes from two words "a"
[non] and "muse" [think]. Amusement is non-thinking
activities. With reading, a person can go anywhere in the world...or
even out of it! They can be a king, or an adventurer, or a princess,
or... The possibilities are endless. Non-readers never experience
these joys to the same extent.
6. In line with the above, reading develops the creative side of
people. When reading to children, stop every once in awhile and ask
them what they think is going to happen next. Get them thinking about
the story. When it is finished, ask if they could think of a better
ending or anything that would have improved it. If they really liked
the story, encourage them to illustrate it with their own drawings or
to make up a different story with the same characters. Get the
creative juices flowing!
7. Reading is fundamental in developing a good self image.
Nonreaders or poor readers often have low opinions of themselves and
their abilities. Many times they feel as if the world is against
them. They feel isolated [everybody else can read - which isn't true]
and behavior problems can surface. They can perform poorly in other
subjects because they cannot read and understand the material and so
tend to "give up."
8. Why is reading important? Let's keep
going... Good reading skills, especially in a
phonics
reading program, improve spelling. As students learn to sound out
letters and words, spelling comes easier. Also, reading helps to
expand the vocabulary. Reading new words puts them in their mind for
later use. Seeing how words are used in different contexts can give a
better understanding of the word usage and definitions than the cold
facts of a dictionary.
9. There is an old saying, "The pen is mightier than the
sword." Ideas written down have changed the destiny of men and
nations for better or worse. The flow of ideas cannot be stopped. We
need to read and research to build on the good ideas and expose the
bad ideas before they bring destruction. Only by reading can we be
armed in this never-ending, life-and-death struggle.
10. The fact of the power of written ideas communicated through
reading is a foundational reason why some governments oppose free and
honest communication. Illiterate people are easier to control and
manipulate. They cannot do their own research and thinking. They must
rely on what they are told and how their emotions are swayed. There
is a good possibility that this is one of the main reasons phonics
was removed from the schools about 100 years ago.
11. Finally, why is reading important?
Reading
is important because words - spoken and written - are the
building blocks of life. You are, right now, the result of words that
you have heard or read AND believed about yourself. What you become
in the future will depend on the words you believe about yourself
now. People, families, relationships, and even nations are built from
words. Think about it.
According to Jonathan Kozol in "Illiterate America,"
quoted in "The Teacher Who Couldn't Read,'" the three main
reasons people give for wanting to read are:
1. To read the Bible,
2. To read books and
newspapers, and
3. To help their children.
I think everyone can conclude that reading is a vital skill!
Do you know where and when it takes place?
