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Literacy Pro

Research supports that when children have access to a variety of high-quality texts and the opportunity to engage with those texts, whether through shared or independent reading time, it has a tremendous impact on their language and academic development.  This graphic highlights the long-term benefits of reading just 20 minutes a day.  Some additional benefits include:

  1. Kids who read often and widely get better at it.  Just like exercising a muscle, the more you do it, the better you get. 
  2. Reading exercises our brains. It strengthens brain connections and actually builds new ones.
  3. Reading improves concentration.  Children have to sit quietly so they can focus on the story they’re reading. If they read regularly, they develop the ability to do this for longer periods.
  4. Reading teaches children about the world around them. Through reading, children learn about people, places, and events outside their own experience. They are exposed to ways of life, ideas and beliefs about the world which may be different from those which surround them. This learning is important for its own sake but is also builds a store of background knowledge which helps children learn to read confidently and well.
  5. Reading improves a child’s vocabulary and leads to more highly-developed language skills. They not only learn new words as they read but they unconsciously absorb information as they read about things like how to structure sentences and how to use words and language effectively.
  6. Reading develops a child’s imagination. When we read, our brains translate the descriptions of people, places, and things into pictures. We’re also imagining how the characters are feeling. We use our own experiences to imagine how we would feel in the same situation.
  7. Reading helps kids develop empathy. It allows them to identify with the character(s) in the story to feel what they are feeling.
  8. Children who read do better at school. This is true not just in subjects such as English and History but all content areas. Reading is the foundation of learning. 
  9. Reading is a great form of entertainment. It provides an escape into other worlds.
  10. Reading relaxes the body and calms the mind. When we read, we read in silence and the black print on the white page is much less stressful for our eyes and brains. 

In an effort to ensure that students and families have access to a wide array of eBooks, the district has partnered with Scholastic Literacy Pro. This reading program has more than 2,500 books available for students to enjoy. Students are able to access their bookshelf by logging into their Clever account, which can be accessed directly from the district website. Students in grades K-2 will receive the QR code from their teacher to log in. 

Here are links to resources that will provide additional information on the reading program and some helpful tips for encouraging your child to read at home.