Independent reading is an essential component of education. This skill will serve readers in many life situations. In fact, the student reads independently to achieve the three goals of effective reading: comprehension, fluency, and participation.
So this activity is not just a passive activity. It also takes practice and discipline.
What is independent reading?
Here are some characteristics of self-reading:
- Independent reading is an activity in which students choose which texts to read. It is common in the classroom for teachers to help students find relevant texts and to use technology to make sense of the texts they are reading.
- In addition, students develop on their own an understanding of text structure, genre and literary devices. They can also learn new skills such as discussing or analyzing what they read.
- Independent reading is a time when students read for pleasure and without outside influence. Teachers observe students’ behavior while reading. Students should have their own independent reading time that they can use to read whatever they want, as long as it is age appropriate.
Benefits of independent reading
School can actually reduce a child’s enjoyment of reading. When students don’t choose books, they usually don’t read anything. They can only read what their teachers want to read, which is not always fun and interesting.
The most common reason children don’t want to read is because they don’t care about what they read. This is why it is so important for teachers to encourage children to choose the books they actually want to read, even if those books are not set by the teacher.
Here are three reasons why you should use self-reading in the classroom and tips for successfully incorporating it:
1. Independent reading increases student interaction
Independent reading is a great way for students to become more involved in their learning. They are able to choose what they read and this helps them think critically about the content they read.
Students who used independent reading showed that they were more involved in their learning. They can also think critically about the content they read and thus become better learners.
Moreover, children are unique in that they like to control what they read. They want to read books that match their interests and ideas about the world.
In other words, they will be happy to read whatever they choose to match their interests and ideas about the world. This is because they want to be in control of what they read. They don’t want to force someone else’s idea on them.
2. Develop reading skill
Research shows that students who read independently become better readers, do better exams in all subjects, and have better content knowledge than those who don’t.
Therefore, it is important for students to read regularly to get the most out of the reading experience. One way to do this is to read for pleasure in their spare time, not just during school hours.
3. Develop the pleasure of reading
Enjoyment of reading is closely related to mastery of general reading, as well as specific skills such as developing vocabulary, comprehension and grammar of the text. Rather, it is related to athletic competence.
But very few children say they enjoy reading, and that number drops as they get older. Independent reading and free choice help students discover the joy of reading. A study showed that about 80 percent of children said that the book they liked the most was the book they chose for themselves.
4. Develop the student’s self-confidence
Independent reading is a very important skill for students. This helps them develop a sense of self-confidence as a competent and effective reader. They are able to read independently, without the help of their parents or teachers.
Students who can read independently are more likely to do well in school and college. They will also have the opportunity to learn new skills that they can use in their future careers.
Independent reading develops the student’s confidence as a competent and effective reader.
Strategies for integrating independent reading into the classroom
So how do you actually do independent reading in your classroom? Here are some ideas:
- Set aside time for independent reading in each student’s day, whether at school or at home. Class time is especially effective because it provides students with a distraction-free reading time in their day.
- Offer each student a selection of reading-level books of different genres and help them find books they may like.
- Ask each student to make a list of five books they would like to read and to set personal reading goals.
- Discover creative ways for students to share books with each other, including activities such as book clubs, video projects, blogging, or talk time.
- Use the homework or the integrated curriculum to challenge students to participate more, think outside the box, or demonstrate a deeper understanding.
Conclusion
Reading is the most important skill for success in school, but also in life. It is a long-standing tradition for students to read for pleasure as well as for school.
It is important to teach children to read from the beginning of their studies. This will help them succeed in school and later in life.
Not to mention that children need time and effort from parents and teachers if they want them to develop the skills needed to succeed.