Literacy Coach

The Power of Reading

Reading is learning. Learning is education. Education is knowledge. Knowledge is power. Power is influence. And influence is the ability to change the world.

Reading is not just important because it leads to higher achievement in education. 

Reading helps strengthen the brain. Just like exercise strengthens the body, reading is one workout that strengthens the mind. Reading involves a complex network of circuits and signals in the brain. As your reading ability matures, those networks also get stronger and more sophisticated. Frequent brain exercise helps  reduce the decline in mental ability that comes with ageing.

Reading improves mental health. Escaping to the world of books helps us escape worries and stress, promotes better sleep and higher self-esteem. Individuals who read fiction are better able to understand others’ mental states, beliefs, desires, differing thoughts and this leads to improved social, communication and relationship skills. 

Reading improves vocabulary and knowledge. The more you read, the more words to which you are exposed. There is a strong correlation between word-reading skills and vocabulary acquisition and opportunities in life.

Reading improves memory and focus. As your brain learns to remember all the aspects of a fictional novel, your memory becomes better. This helps create new brain pathways and strengthen existing ones. Immersing oneself in the world of literature requires focus. The more we read the more our brains are able to link cause and effect.

Reading makes us better writers. The two are intertwined.

Reading enhances imagination and empathy. Literary fiction has the power to help readers understand what others are thinking and feeling. Empathy is crucial for interconnectivity.

Reading strengthens analytical thinking skills. Reading requires us to ask questions and seek answers.

Teenager TED talk on: The Power of Reading

WORD OF THE WEEK

Esurient (adj) Hungry, greedy,or eager for something

The esurient student devoured the book, desperate to learn more about the topic.

Oubaitori (n)

The ancient Japanese philosophy, Oubaitori comes from kanji for the four trees that bloom in Spring: cherry blossom, plum, peach and apricot. Each flower blooms in its own time and the meaning behind the idiom is that we all bloom in our own time. Essentially, this idiom means that people shouldn’t live their lives comparing themselves to others, but instead value their own traits and focus on their own growth.