Throughout the last decade, reading comprehension, especially among the teenage demographic, is declining a dramatic amount. With technological resources such as Google and artificial intelligence so easily accessible, it is becoming more and more rare for teenagers to seek literary knowledge on their own volition instead of searching for quick answers.
Because school is a crucial element of learning throughout adolescence, GlenOak educators say it is essential that students continue reading both inside and outside of the classroom in order to stay sharp logically and emotionally.
It’s common for students to feel intimidated by reading because they think that because they’re not indulging in a difficult read, it will not make them smarter. However, teachers argue that any type of reading can help develop important life skills.
“Even in a young adult novel, there may not be challenging words or themes or concepts in it, but it still engages your mind,” sophomore English Teacher Jessica Cunningham said. “It allows you to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and see things from their perspective without actually living through it yourself.”
In a world consumed with constant digital distractions and a rapid decrease in sustained concentration, teachers also stress how reading can help develop a stronger attention span.
“Sometimes with a story, you may not like a certain part of it, but you can’t tune it out. You can’t scroll onto another paragraph because then you’re going to lose the meaning,” Cunningham said. “Just sustaining that attention is so important. We all need to do things that we don’t want to do sometimes.”
Currently being at a lower reading level than one may want to be is not permanent, or something you have to stick with forever. Instead, it should be seen as a step in the right direction to reading the books you would like to understand better.
“My advice is to start small and meet yourself where you’re at, and you’ll build the stamina,” junior English Teacher Laura Oser-Lakins said. “So by the time you’re graduated and into adulthood, you’ll be ready for those 500 page novels if you want.”
Reading also comes with endless options. There are infinite amounts of books to choose from, covering every single subject, topic or experience that best suits one’s interests. It is a common misconception that only certain types of books can improve intelligence, when actually, any and every piece of literature has a lesson you can take away and implement into your life–regardless of the complexity.
“Comic books, manga, the things kids enjoy now, they’re gonna expand your intelligence, because intelligence is critical thinking and reasoning skills,” senior English Teacher Dana Hill said. “If everybody else does it for you, you’re never going to develop those skills.”
These skills any form of reading develop are especially critical to build perseverance, which isn’t only important for your education, but a tool that will help you your entire life.
“Kids who are readers are willing to read, think about it, put in the work, and produce something. I see that kids that aren’t readers are very reluctant. They want to skim over the article, and they want to give a two word answer,” Hill said.
Whether it’s mandatory reading for school, or a student pursuing literature outside of it, reading is a skill that builds patience, drive and analytical thinking, traits that are undeniably important and form an important foundation for teenagers entering adulthood.
