Research has shown that children who read for pleasure not only have a better sense of wellbeing, but they reach greater levels of attainment across all subjects.
The Growing Up in Scotland longitudinal survey, for example, reveals that frequent reading at home is one of only three factors proven to have an impact on the vocabulary gap between the most and least well-off children - an impact which occurs regardless of their parents’ level of education.
In our research at the Scottish Book Trust, as with other academic studies, we’ve found that pupils with behavioural difficulties are able to process their own emotions through reading and find greater confidence in their interactions with classmates.
To help you support and nurture a reading culture in your school, here are five tips to consider:
1. Allocate time for regular reading for pleasure
Making sure there is time for pupils to enjoy reading for pleasure within the school week is crucial. It will demonstrate that it’s an important part of the school day and help to foster these habits at home.
You could schedule regular reading sessions during the day or spontaneous ”drop everything and read” (usually referred to as Dear) time. Make sure you also include reading for pleasure in home learning.
2. Choice of accessible and relevant texts
It’s important that children have a wide variety of up-to-date reading materials relevant to their needs, interests and experiences, as it encourages them to try new things.
It also means that your pupils, likely with diverse backgrounds, can find texts that they can relate to.
Why not ask them what types of reading materials they would like to see in school, so that they can be involved in the auditing and selection? You can ensure learners have access to diverse content by providing a library of book boxes in the classroom.
You can also encourage them to broaden their reading experience by accessing the book-finding Bookzilla App on tablets.
3. Allow pupils to take part in informal book chats
Informal discussions are a great way for learners to share their reading with one another. Pupils benefit greatly from peer support, as it brings confidence and a sense of pride in sharing their knowledge.
Perhaps this can be done during relaxed sessions, or by supporting pupils to make their own notes and bookmarks to go in shared reading materials, and to create videos and book trailers that can be shown in class.
4. Become a positive reading role model
Don’t underestimate your power, as a teacher, to be a reading role model. By sharing the books you enjoy, you can demonstrate how reading for pleasure is an activity for everyone.
You can show that you are a reading role model by displaying signs with your favourite book of the moment and by setting up a quiet reading time where pupils can see that you are actively enjoying reading.
5. Keep up to date with contemporary children’s books
By developing your knowledge of the latest children and young adult books, you will be able to recommend and discuss a range of reading materials relevant to the needs, interests and experiences of all your pupils.
And by getting to know their habits and preferences, you can make informed recommendations as well as encourage learners to try new things.
You could have regular conversations about their personal reading with the whole class, or help select a book they might like during library periods.
As well as following these steps, you can also involve the wider community by encouraging reading for pleasure at home, and by raising awareness of the benefits and joy to be found at the local library.
To further support teachers, the Scottish Book Trust is launching a new online course for primary school teachers to develop and sustain reading for pleasure, a Developing and Sustaining Reading for Pleasure course, running from September 2024 to June 2025.
Applications are open until Friday 31 May - details are in the link above.
Pauline Bird is the school communities manager at the Scottish Book Trust
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