Importance of Reading Activity in Education

Djaber Nacer Bouhedjam

The purpose of education is to reach a state where the educatee can

be free in his thinking and his action but in an accepted manner in
accordance with his worldview. To reach this state the educational system
should be evaluated from time to time to think out the box and produce
creative techniques that may help give sufficient answers in an age
characterised by complicated issues. Among these approached issues is
how to motivate students to learn, and can reading activity be one of the
useful ways to achieve this goal?
Reading and literacy:
Reading activity is one of the most important ways of learning, as it
is connected with literacy and civilizational development as well, "since
2008, a growing number of developing countries are assessing the reading
skills of pupils in the early grades of primary school" (UNISCO). This is
to show how important is this activity on personal achievement as well as
on society as a whole, and any ignorance of this vital activity especially
in the early ages means many learning problems, "pupils who are not able
to read do not have the prerequisite skills for successful learning in later
grades" (UNISCO).
Meaning of reading:
First, reading activity is "a complex cognitive process of decoding
symbols in order to construct or derive meaning (reading comprehension).
It is a means of language acquisition, of communication, and of sharing
information and ideas" (Wikipedia). “Reading is an activity with a
purpose. A person may read in order to gain information or verify existing
knowledge, or in order to critique a writer's ideas or writing style. A
person may also read for enjoyment, or to enhance knowledge of the
language being read. The purpose(s) for reading guide the reader's
selection of texts” (NCLRC).
Love begets good deeds:
Reading activity motivates students to learn, as it is based on love
not on compulsory. This activity gives students the chance to choose what
they love to read, which means that there is an inner motive to do the
activity. Thus, the teacher can use this activity to make a student study
harder even in the subjects he may hate. The experience of the private
school (Scientific School, Algeria) shows how passionate are the pupils
of primary school towards the 20 minutes devoted to reading. In a
discussion with the director about this subject, he said: “we had bought
series of books from Algeria International Book-fair to use it as rewards
during the year, but all books are used for reading and pupils are asking
for more new books”. This experience is a new attempt for this school to
reform the fade relation between the book and the student in the age of
technology. Furthermore, the motivated learners do different activities of
learning such as interactive learning that allow "Engaged readers (to)
exchange ideas and interpretations of text with peers. Their devotion to
readings spans across time, transfers to a variety of genre, and culminates
in valued learning outcomes” (Kamil et al). Then, it is highly
recommended for teachers as well as parents to be creative in using
different genre of education to transmit knowledge at ease not on a sort of
obligation rules.
Reading helps equality??
In addition, reading activity motivates learning because it gives
equal chance for everybody, regardless of the cognitive abilities, and this
can be achieved by “silently reading”. Since this activity usually gives
time to individual to work alone, then it is a good chance for every pupil
to understand and participate; either by answering teacher’s questions or
simply by asking what they could not understand. The silently reading is
“the most appropriate option in such cases as all students are encouraged
to read at a pace that is comfortable to them” (benefitof.net). Thus, when
a student is given time to read carefully he will be able to quickly grasp
the meaning of the text and consequently a better understanding
(benefitof.net). This activity has shown great results on students’
performance, it is “According to studies in the educational field, students
who were given time to silently read and understand their topics had far
better grades than other students” (benefitof.net).
Reading outcome, confident personality:
Another benefit from reading activity is that it helps build confident
personality. Books are an accumulative register of experiences, started
thousands of years ago, with different circumstances and different
personalities, as the invention of writing dates back to fourth millennium
BC (Wikipedia). This accumulation feeds the reader with strong opinions
and solid decisions, thus enabling him to stand firm on such experiences
to say his word. The confidence is built upon knowing oneself, as “insight
into himself is the first consideration, for only if he comes to understand
his own uniqueness will he be able to understand others. Reading carries
him, it is hoped, quickly beyond himself and into the lives of others. …
the handicapped child finds that other human beings have been
handicapped and have overcome the burden” (Jenkins). Thus, reading can
help create a virtuous life and widen leaners’ experience (Jenkins).
Reading effects on teachers as well:
In addition to the effects of reading on the learner himself, it is
beneficial for teachers as well. Giving time for students to read may work
as a diagnostic task for teachers to assess students’ abilities and
weaknesses, this task enables teachers to discover problems of
pronunciation, problems of hearing, problems of seeing, and problems of
Dyslexia. It is the teacher’s role “Since children receive classification as
good or poor readers for different causes (…) to know each child well
enough to analyse those causes and give any necessary help” (Chapman).
In addition, this activity can help teacher know more about the
environment the learner lives in and the difficulties he is facing as
“Emotional upsets can account for difficulty in reading in an otherwise
intelligent child. . . . Situations that make the child feel insecure such as
family quarrels, rivalries, with brothers and sisters, and difficulties in
social relationships may result in specific reading difficulty without at the
same time developing some kind of emotional disturbance”
(Anonymous).
Convinced??
To sum up, reading activity is not an ordinary task done in school or
at home, but is an effective way for learning. Learning in its broad
meaning is “how to live”. Learning without love, equality, and confidence
is not granted. However, those values can still be achieved in the presence
of a wise teacher or parent.

Works sited:
1. Anonymous, "Emotional Upsets May Affect Reading Ability, n
Science Mews Letter, LV (June 18, 1949).
2. Benefitof: http://benefitof.net/benefits-of-silent-reading/
3. Michael L. Kamil et al: Handbook of reading research, edited by
Michael L. Kamil et al, Routledge, New York, 2000.
4. NCLRC: http://www.nclrc.org/essentials/reading/reindex.htm
5. Pat Chapman: The Determination Of The Relationship Between
Reading Skills And Personality Development. Pat Chapman. North Texas
state college. (1952).
6. UNESCO: Opportunities Lost: The Impact Of Grade Repetition And
Early School Leaving. UNESCO Institute for Statistics - 2012. Canada
7. Wikipedia…
8. William A. Jenkins: Reading for enjoyment and personal development.
William
A.Jenkins. http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/journals/ed_lead/el_196702_
jenkins.pdf