Why Is Reading Important?

By Glenn and Diane Davis

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From time to time, people have wondered why is reading important. There seem to be so many other things to do with one's time. Reading is important for a variety of reasons. We will look at some of those fundamental reasons below, but it is important to realize that struggling with vital reading skills is not a sign of low intelligence. For example, John Corcoran, who wrote The Teacher Who Couldn't Read, is a very intelligent man. He graduated from High School and College, became a popular High School teacher and later a successful businessman, all without being able to read. Many highly intelligent people have struggled with reading, although most people can learn to read easily and quickly when properly taught. 

If a man like John Corcoran can succeed without reading, why is reading important? A person should read Mr. Corcoran's story to feel the shame, loneliness, and fear he experienced before learning to read. He succeeded despite this major handicap because he was a man of intelligence, ability, and determination. But, make no mistake, it was a handicap that made life harder and less enjoyable. 

Why Is Reading Important?

1. Reading is fundamental to functioning in today's society. Many adults cannot read well enough to understand the instructions on a medicine bottle. That is a scary thought - especially for their children. Filling out applications becomes impossible without help. Reading road or warning signs is difficult. Even following a map becomes a chore. Day-to-day activities that many people take for granted become a source of frustration, anger and fear.

2. Reading is a vital skill in finding a good job. Many well-paying jobs require reading as part of job performance. There are reports and memos which must be read and responded to. Poor reading skills increase the time required to absorb and respond in the workplace. A person is limited in what they can accomplish without good reading and comprehension skills.

3. Reading is important because it develops the mind. The mind is a muscle. It needs exercise. Understanding the written word is one way the mind grows in its ability. Teaching young children to read helps them develop their language skills. It also helps them learn to listen. Everybody wants to talk, but few can really listen. A lack of listening skills can result in major misunderstandings, which can lead to job loss, a marriage breakup, and other disasters, big and small. Reading helps children [and adults] focus on what someone else is communicating.

4. Why is reading important? It is how we discover new things. Books, magazines and even the Internet are great learning tools that require reading and understanding what is read. A person who knows how to read can educate themselves in any area of life that interests them. We live in an age when we are overwhelmed by information, but reading remains the best way to take advantage of it.

5. Reading develops the imagination. TV and computer games have their place, but they are more like an amusement. Amusement comes from two words: "a" [non] and "muse" [think]. Amusement is non-thinking activities. With reading, a person can go anywhere in the world...or even out of it! They can be a king, or an adventurer, or a princess, or... The possibilities are endless. Non-readers never experience these joys to the same extent.

6. In line with the above, reading develops the creative side of people. When reading to children, stop every once in a while and ask them what they think will happen next. Get them thinking about the story. When it is finished, ask if they could think of a better ending or anything that would have improved it. If they liked the story, encourage them to illustrate it with their own drawings or make up a different story with the same characters. Get the creative juices flowing!

7. Reading is fundamental in developing a good self-image. Non-readers or poor readers often have low self-esteem and low opinions of their abilities. Many times, they feel as if the world is against them. They feel isolated [everybody else can read - which isn't true], and behaviour problems can surface. They can perform poorly in other subjects because they cannot read and understand the material.  Often, the nonreader tends to "give up," especially when reading is made more difficult with things like the Dolch word lists.

8. Why is reading important? Let's keep going... Good reading skills, especially in a phonics reading program, improve spelling. As students learn to sound out letters and words, spelling becomes easier. Also, reading helps to expand the vocabulary. Reading new words puts them in their mind for later use. Seeing how words are used in different contexts can give a better understanding of their usage and definitions, rather than just the cold facts of a dictionary.

9. There is an old saying, "The pen is mightier than the sword." Ideas written down have changed the destiny of men and nations for better or worse. The flow of ideas cannot be stopped. We need to read and research to build on good ideas and expose bad ones before they cause destruction. Only by reading can we be armed in this never-ending, life-and-death struggle. 

10. The fact of the power of written ideas communicated through reading is a foundational reason why some governments oppose free and honest communication. Illiterate people are easier to control and manipulate. They cannot do their own research and thinking. They must rely on what they are told and how their emotions are swayed. There is a good possibility that this is one of the main reasons phonics was removed from schools about 100 years ago.

11. Finally, why is reading important?  Reading is important because spoken and written words are life's building blocks. You are, right now, the result of words that you have heard or read AND believed about yourself. What you become in the future will depend on the words you believe about yourself now. People, families, relationships, and even nations are built from words. Think about it.

According to Jonathan Kozol in "Illiterate America," quoted in "The Teacher Who Couldn't Read," the three main reasons people give for wanting to read are:

1. To read the Bible,
2. To read books and newspapers, and
3. To help their children.

I think everyone can conclude that reading is a vital skill!  Good reading starts with knowing the letter sounds and when each letter makes each sound. In 15 lessons and about 60 hours of teaching time, we can turn English-speaking non-readers into knowledgeable readers.  Don't waste another minute. Sign up for our complete reading program now.

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