What the Research Says
Would you like your child to build great reading habits? Do you struggle to choose the right books for your child to read? And most importantly, is your goal for your child to become a lifelong learner and reader?
Reading is the foundation of almost every other academic skill. Writing, mathematical word problems, success in subjects like social studies, and science all depend heavily on a student’s ability to read and understand. During elementary, middle, and high school, overall achievement weighs heavily on a student’s ability to read and comprehend text. If your child’s grades and overall school performance could improve, reading is a great place to start. Even off-task behaviors in school may be linked to academic frustrations. Sadly, struggling readers, less confident readers, and less enthusiastic readers are at a disadvantage in today’s fast-paced world.
Setting traditional academics aside for a moment, reading is also the building block for many life skills. Whether it’s the skill that allows you to choose from a menu at a restaurant or the skill that helps you navigate signs and complex directions at an airport, successful readers are more confident citizens, more skilled consumers, and more capable members of our global community.
Three quick facts about Reading Programs at School-Connection
- We have designed our reading program to improve overall reading performance, improve overall academic achievement, and improve soft skills like social, emotional, and life skills.
- We have done our research. Our reading programs are backed by scientific research and provide us with data-driven instruction.
- We confidently deliver a scientifically proven, afterschool reading program that is also fun and engaging!
Let’s take a look at the basic principles of our reading program and what makes us SPECIAL:
What is independent reading?
It’s important for students to read outside of school. It’s just as important that students choose their own reading materials outside their classroom environment. This independent, choice-based reading has positive lasting effects on young readers. Not to mention the more immediate impact of improving their overall school performance.
Independent reading is voluntary reading, done separately from school, assigned readings, and curriculum. It is driven by personal choice. At School-Connection, we use The Accelerated Reading Program, which puts students in the driver seat, motivates and monitors their authentic practice, encourages reading practice, and demonstrates growth.
This way, student choice is both guided and monitored by our professional team, taking the guesswork out of which books your child should be reading for pleasure.
What does the research say?
According to a literature review, Independent Reading and School Achievement, out of NYU, “Students’ reading achievement has been shown to correlate with success in school and the amount of independent reading they do (Greaney 1980; Anderson, Fielding and Wilson 1988). This affirms the predictability of a success cycle: we become more proficient at what we practice (Cullinan 1992).
The consistent and reliable practice is what School Connection provides, ultimately leading to their improvements in comprehension and grades in school.
The National Council of Teachers of English state, “The advancement of reading comprehension skills and development of vocabulary are directly tied to the work readers do during independent reading. In fact, “reading is a powerful means of developing reading comprehension ability, writing style, vocabulary, grammar, and spelling” (Krashen, 2004, p. 37). Students spend time authentically practicing a wide variety of skills within their self-selected books during independent reading time.
By choosing a School Connection’s reading program, authentic reading practice builds a foundation for improving overall comprehension.
And the results of this study, The Effects of Choice on Reading Engagement and Comprehension, proved that participating students had higher comprehension levels when they read independently and read books they chose. Additionally, they had higher comprehension levels when they read silently.
Why should children read outside of school?
Sure, parents can take their children to the library with the hope of choosing a book their child is interested in, but it is difficult to monitor their progress at home. Do they understand that library book? Is the library book at the right level for both engagement and progress? Although we certainly encourage trips to the local library, it can be done as a supplement to our research-based, after school reading program.
Reading at home with a parent can be an enjoyable guided reading activity when a book like Harry Potter is chosen. Maybe far above their child’s reading level, but hearing the story aloud is not only enjoyable, but a fabulous way to spend time together as a family, off screens. This activity is considered an enrichment activity, not a replacement for sound, data-driven reading instruction.
Additionally, classrooms are filled with academic expectations and teachers who are pressed to cover content and curriculum. California’s educators are doing an amazing job in the classroom! We enthusiastically support their hard work by supplementing their instruction with a data-driven Accelerated Reader program. Afterschool hours are the perfect time for voluntary, choice independent reading books.
More about The Accelerated Reading Program at School-Connection:
- All reading goals are personalized for your child
- Books are suggested and recommended by our team using student’s interests and their “just right” reading level for engagement, quality, and authentic practice
- Detailed reports are generated based upon our online quizzes that carefully track the mastery of skills linked to the Common Core curriculum and California state standards
- Families receive real-time digital information on their child’s reading progress
At School-Connection, our students read, understand, and succeed! We take the guesswork out of independent pleasure reading and replace it with fun and engaging evidence-based programming. Let us help your child achieve their reading goals, improve their grades, and experience pride in their ability to love and understand books.
School-Connection supports the hard work both teachers and parents are doing by facilitating this research-based reading program.
If you would like to learn more about our reading program or for a free consultation, please fill out this form. We will contact you shortly to discuss your child’s reading needs or concerns and to custom build the ideal reading program for your child’s success!
