LIFETIME BENEFITS: THE CASE FOR INDEPENDENT READING Renowned children’s librarian Frances Clark Sayers once famously declared, “I am summoned by books!” Nearly two decades into the 21st century, such a declaration might seemquaint. But it is as potent now as it was when Sayers first uttered the words more than 50 years ago. Although our summons today may arrive via digital reader, the essence of books as a gateway to vibrant language, transcendent content, and dimensions beyond our imaginations remains the same as ever. For that reason, as we consider the skills that our students need to survive and thrive in the 21st century, let us understand that we and our students have nomore essential, life-enhancing resource than the book. The adage “a rising tide lifts all boats” is apt when we consider independent reading. When we read independently, many other literacy skills and understandings rise too. We have decades of research proving that avid readers are almost always skillful readers and strong writers. They know more about the conventions of language such as spelling, punctuation, and grammar because every time we open the pages of a book, we get a lesson on effective writing. Avid readers have robust vocabularies and they know about the world. Reading makes us smart, and reading changes us in ways that expand our understanding and soften our hearts (Beers and Probst, 2017; Krashen, 2011; Sullivan and Brown, 2013; Cunningham and Stanovich, 2001). Gay Ivey and Peter Johnston (2012) conducted their research inside a high-needs middle school in Virginia that implemented independent reading without any other instruction. The students were mostly reading novels and they were soon hooked, wanting to spend all their time deep inside their books. Their test scores soared. What made the difference? “The kids hadn’t been reading, and now they were” (Calkins et al., 2012). As you’ve followed your own interests through the research compendium, we hope you’ll be inspired as both an educator and parent—or a concerned citizen—to help the children you know.
I can learn about anything, travel anywhere, ask my own questions, and seek my own answers because I read.
—Donalyn Miller, literacy educator and author
178
CHAPTER 3: EQUITY T E JOY AND POWER OF READING
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs