Is reading really as beneficial as everyone says?

[Emilyisherenow]

Ds is 9, year 5.

He finds English difficult and has been a bit behind throughout primary school.

I'm reading chapter books with him for 10 minutes to half an hour. I'm trying to go for some of the classic, more well written books. We do a page each.

He doesn't really enjoy reading but he accepts that it's important and does seem to enjoy the time together.

Will it definitely be helping and making a difference?

Regular reading helps with confidence, comprehension, pace and fluency. All this help with learning.

However, your son will probably make more progress, at least in closing the gap, if you give him a bit more control. Let him choose the books. A 'classic' book doesn't make a better reader, but a child who wants to read because they are interested and involved with the book with accelerate progress.

It is of paramount importance.
I agree with PP, ler him choose the books. That should help.

It's hugely important, but I agree with PP who said let him have some choice. Normally I read chapter books to DS but he picks the one he reads to me.

It really really really does

Have a look at the literacy trust for some suggestions. Think too about broadening what you're reading maybe - what is he interested in, non fiction as well as stories. Maybe a trip to library or bookshop to try some and choose for himself?

Yes, it is so important for vocabulary, punctuation, creative writing plots / ideas , imagination and just reading!
Choose a book based on his interests or characters he likes.

It is so important. But agree with everyone else, let him choose the books. You want reading to be fun, something he would want to do for pleasure - let him choose the books!

He's got no interest in choosing books.

I love reading myself and there have always been books in the house, we've always gone to the library, I've encouraged reading in every way I can but unfortunately neither of my children have ever been that interested.

He will read the Diary of a wimpy kid books which is fantastic but even with that he's not enthusiastic.

This is the most interested I've ever been able to get him. I have chosen books that aren't too difficult that I know would appeal to him.

Any reading is good.
If he's not into books, maybe look at comics or graphic novels.

Yes, wider vocabulary to add to the others plus being exposed to lots of different situations, backgrounds, cultures if reading widely. Also structure, literally look at the starting word of every sentence on a page, look how different they are. If you can have word clouds at home with synonyms for "said" he can create it with you.

Reading is great but it it more about the exposure and comprehension of what they are reading so ask questions. Why do you think Gemma did that? Why is Peter sad? Can you think of another word for sad? It doesn't matter if they can't get it, it is something you teach. So Gemma was not very nice to Olivia because she hid her bag. Whatever it is you talk about it. The same with films, tv shows, pause and talk.

Secondary will be about reading up on topics for geography and pulling out relevant content to the questions they have been set for homework. Don't worry about "classics" honestly some of them are not great and exciting for his age. You want books that are gripping for him and don't be afraid just to read to him. I still read books to my children, the eldest is 21!

Reading is really important. It's the best thing to do for his education but choose some more interesting books.
You might ignite a love of reading.

Absolutely yes.

My child is similar, but now 11 nearly 12 (Year 7). I think it will be making a difference and I would keep going with it. Once he gets to secondary school, he'll have more homework that just requires reading, because that is the format of the homework. Like longer and more complicated instructions etc. If he can't read easily, he'll struggle with working out what he has to do even in subjects he likes and everything will take him an age!

Thanks, so when I say classics I mean more books like Stig of the Dump.

Books with a proper storyline that are well written and that I think will appeal to him.

He's actually a very fluent reader and when we talk about what we've been reading he seems to understand well.

He struggles getting things down on paper and extracting information from text.

Like I say he doesn't really enjoy reading but he enjoys the time together and he's been getting into the stories and talking about what he thinks will happen next.

I'm just hoping that pushing on will be beneficial long term.

I will definitely encourage him to choose the next book. He just goes by the cover though then hates the book. No patience to read the back to see what it's about.

He's a lovely boy though and really wants to do well.

It does really help, but don't get too bogged down about what they're reading. Neither of mine had the urge to read fiction once they were past the stage of me reading to/with them - but they'd read football magazines/fashion magazines/books about animals/outer space etc.

Both did very well at school and read fiction as adults.

Have you tried the treehouse books? They are really graphic novels but if they grab him at least he would be reading.

Would he find non-fiction more digestible, easier to dip in and out of?

My son used to really like things like books about science or space, with lots of facts dotted throughout, and things like the Guinness book of world records fascinated him.

According to his teachers at primary many boys prefer facts to fiction.

It doesn't need to be fiction.
Football books, books on machinery, books on how things work. Often boys prefer non-fiction so try something else The David Baddiel books, Goosebumps and The Unfortunate Events books are popular with his age group. There are billions of them though so get them from the library.

DD can't stand novels and hates reading at length but loves language and words as a tool she got into poetry and playscripts in year 7 and reads lots now but there are lots of poetry books aimed at younger children Michael Rosen ofcourse is very popular. I think it's probably because there are fewer words per page / more space around the words that makes poetry enjoyable and because she's autistic the playscripts gives directions so you can clearly imagine what's going on. She will just about tolerate short stories so I went for more grown up ones like Roald Dahl's short stories and his ghost stories.

@Emilyisherenow

"Will it definitely be helping and making a difference?" yes, absolutely.

When you have a non-interested reader, you could point him towards topics that he's enthusiastic about.

e.g "IF" for instance he's interested in the Romans, Simon Scarrow could be a starting point.

Finding his interests, is the key. 🙂

No but I'll have a look.

Stig of the Dump was published in the 60s! Why not get him some books about current footballers or something? 60 year old books must feel very dreary to a kid now.

My grandson had no interest in reading until he started reading the Beano. Now he reads all sorts of things. Frankly it doesn't matter what they read to begin with so long as they enjoy it and the more "worthy" stuff will happen.

Is your DC more science / maths / logic? I was never great at english (I did get a B at GCSE) but I hated it. I was more logical. I only needed to know enough to help me in other subjects.

If they enjoy science can you do different reading, like science magazine or engineering stem kits where you have to follow instructions. Coding books etc

Reading is important but can you improve comprehension and reading in other ways than just reading books

It’s absolutely vital for success, particularly at secondary school. Let him read anything - the wider the range the better. Take him to the theatre to hear the spoken word. Anything like this will help.

Honestly, two children and many years I e tried everything.

We've had all of the Guinness book of records, Riley's believe it or not. Science books, 100 facts about dinosaurs, sea creatures, animals. Joke books, comics and magazines.

They just are t that interested. Diary of a wimpy kid has been the only and most popular.

I'll have a look at all suggestions though thank you.