One of the most fundamental skills students learn in school is reading and reading comprehension. Reading affects all other academic achievements and is linked with social, emotional, economic and physical health. It is also the most frequently researched aspect of human thinking, or cognition. After decades of research the scientific and academic sectors have come to a consensus on: How do children learn to read? What reading difficulties do they encounter and why? What are the basic components to effectively teaching a child how to read? And how can we reduce the barriers to learning how to read?
Science has developed a sophisticated technology that graphically maps how the brain is activated during reading and measures the split-second reactions when exposed to speech or print media. Shockingly, much of this research is not part of a teacher’s curriculum or ongoing professional development. So, it’s not surprising that in a typical classroom the most effective teaching methods are not employed. As a result, for many students, their mastery of reading and reading comprehension is not as good as it could be and if the child comes from a disadvantaged family or community, the negative impact on their lifetime success may be severely impacted.
To be fair, teaching reading is quite complex. In fact, one educator who has done a significant amount of study in this area has said that “…teaching reading IS rocket science.” To put this into perspective, about 20 percent of elementary school students across the country have significant trouble reading and writing and at least another 20 percent are found to be at-risk for not meeting their grade-level requirements. There is evidence to support the fact that children growing up in underprivileged communities are found to have high rates of reading failure. And, if they are of African American or Hispanic descent or do not fluently speak English, they have greater rates of falling behind in their studies and staying behind as compared to students who are white or from middle class communities. According to the National assessment of Educational Progress, 60-70 percent of underprivileged students have weak reading skills.
The statistics are appalling and the real tragedy here is that reading failure, for any student, is preventable! With adequate instruction given to teachers, implementation of appropriate classroom teaching that includes a range of evidence-based components and activities, students can develop good foundational reading skills and habits. Having said that, we must also note that home-based factors also influence a student’s ability to read and improve their overall academic and lifetime success.
A child’s interest in reading must be stimulated with frequent and routine exposure to books, discussions and interactive activities from many genres that are interesting and relevant. As with any skill or discipline, the teacher must be systematic and explicit in teaching the child how to decipher words in print media while engaging them in learning that is enjoyable and rewarding.
At KidBrainiac we applaud our teacher’s today and the challenges they face. We have empathy for parents who may be struggling to support their families and have limited resources in which to stimulate their child’s learning. It is our goal with this website and the learning tools we offer that we will reach kids and parents in such a way that their passion for reading is ignited!