The power of a good book is inescapable. These narratives are all-consuming and entirely engaging, and when they are put in the hands of young learners, they can be transformative. When it comes to educational confidence, some pupils lack the necessary means to find their feet. However, through promoting positive reading habits and skills, teachers can give them a much-needed boost and send them where they need to be. So, what is the connection?
Reading Is a Core Skill
When it comes to all of the reasons as to why reading is important, the discussion always circles back to the fact that it is simply a core skill. Everyone would benefit from being able to read, and recognizing letters, words, and patterns in language is just one of those things that are used in daily life. Whether it is reading signs in a shop, or studies to further your own educational journey, reading is everywhere in all contexts. Without this core skill, people are arguably limited in what they can achieve and how they feel about their daily existence. So, when children are built up in this area, there will be a natural consequence of boosted confidence in their overall education.
It Is Transferable
Once you have mastered the craft of reading, there will also be a knock-on effect in how you approach your other subjects too. If you can read well, then you will feel better placed to tackle the classes that you don’t enjoy as much. This can be the difference between disengaging and trying hard to find a way to succeed.
Sparking Creativity
Reading is also closely linked to creativity, with learners who have a strong capacity in this area leaning into their more creative sides overall. With the ability to read comes a love for books. Everyone in the world has one novel that changed their life, and children may or may not have found it yet. Whatever lies ahead for them, it is bound to inspire their more creative side as they move forward, and this is a wonderful thing indeed. Creativity is not just for art-led subjects, because things like biology, math, and social studies require the brain to think, solve problems, and research. These three skills are all founded on creativity.
It Brings Joy
It is also true that books, whether recreational or used in the classroom, are enjoyable. The very fact that a child can read the material will mean they are happier in general and less embarrassed or even ashamed of their lack of ability. Mental health is very important for schools to focus on, and this issue will only get better when educators lean into the things that make children feel confident, happy, and well-rounded. Reading ticks all of these boxes and more and having something that makes them feel happy will have a natural impact on their capacity to engage with their daily studies.
Reading and confidence are so closely linked that it is hard to imagine one without the other. Children who can read are more capable of being involved with their learning journey.
