At the start of the new school year, Greene County Schools reading specialists ask parents to support reading at home. “Please encourage your child to read 20 minutes a day. Reading 20 minutes a day can help your child grow and apply reading skills of phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension that teachers work with them on during the day,” said reading specialist Julie Neal.
Research states that having a child read every night increases their speaking, reading, listening, critical thinking, and problem solving skills. It also encourages vocabulary growth as they hear new words, increases creativity, and even leads to better writing skills.
Reading 20 minutes a day:
- Adds up to 3,600 minutes of reading in a school year – that’s 60 additional hours!
- Provides exposure to 1,800,000 vocabulary words in a school year
- Increases the likelihood of a child scoring in the 90th percentile or above on standardized tests.
Ways to support a child in reading 20 minutes a day:
- Establish a routine
- Create a special place to read
- Enjoy reading together by being enthusiastic and encouraging
- Practice, practice, practice, and show encouragement as they learn to read
- Model reading yourself
“The simple act of reading 20 minutes a day – no matter if your child reads with you or independently – can lead to years of positive outcomes,” Neal said.
