- Literacy
As winter settles in, the cold weather provides opportunity for our students to dive into the cozy world of reading.
While the academic learning continues, we should remember that reading for pleasure plays an important role in enhancing overall academic success.
Research has consistently shown there is a positive correlation between the amount of reading we do and our performance at school; and this is why we at HIS think it is important that our students form a consistent and ongoing ‘reading for pleasure’ routine.
Reading widely not only fosters curiosity and enjoyment but also supports cognitive and vocabulary development, written and verbal communication skills, and critical thinking. Exploring various genres and topics can also spark an appetite for learning that goes beyond the classroom.
As we all know, digital distractions in the form of phones, iPads, laptops, and gaming consoles are everywhere, and are a constant pressure on our children’s time. As such it’s essential that we provide encouragement and opportunity for students to engage regularly with books that interest them. Whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, or graphic novels, the key is to find what resonates with each child.
To help find relevant stories of interest, we strongly encourage our students to take advantage of the three HIS Libraries (ECE, Lower School and Upper School) during the winter holidays, and beyond. Our libraries have a huge number of amazing titles by fantastic authors just waiting to be taken home, and not just by students – parents are also encouraged to loan out our books.
Parents, your involvement is particularly important. Because, for students to develop a healthy ‘reading habit’, and to get books into their hands, really does involve a collective effort between parents, teachers, librarians, their friends and the students themselves.
That’s why I invite you to borrow books alongside your children. By participating alongside their reading journey, you can model healthy reading habits and foster a love for reading in your family. Sharing thoughts about what you’re reading can lead to meaningful discussions at home, reinforcing the value of reading.
As a bonus, for Upper School readers, we also have an adjacent café with a wonderful atmosphere to lounge in.
As academic Taylor Hicks notes in his research, “the more students read, the greater their chances of performing well academically”.
This winter let’s commit to making reading for pleasure a priority in our lives. Encourage your children to discover the joys of reading beyond the curriculum and witness the positive impact it can have on their academic learning.
Together, let’s cultivate a community of readers at Hangzhou International School.