An eminently readable article in the Chronicle of Higher Education got me thinking about reading. It would appear that many college students haven’t read a book in years or ever, in any language, significantly impacting their writing & comprehension skills. It’s a growing concern across college campuses & many classrooms the world over. Educators are adapting their teaching methods, but the underlying issues appear complex.
Some key stats (from the US):
- A study [paywall]published in 2000 that found just 20% of students normally did the assigned reading in 1997, down from 80% in 1981.
- A 2013 study that found first-year students’ research papers largely used sources superficially, often quoting from the first or second page & citing just a couple of sentences.
- A 2023 EdWeek Research Center survey that found 24% of secondary-school teachers described the loss of learning in English & language arts as “severe” or “very severe”.
- Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that the percentage of 13-year-olds who said they read for fun almost every day declined from 35% in 1984 to 17% in 2020.
- A 2023 Gallup survey indicated Americans are reading fewer books on average than in the past, with college graduates showing the steepest decline.
Consequences of Reduced Reading:
- Students struggle with basic reading skills like pronouncing unfamiliar words or following instructions.
- Writing skills suffer as students lack exposure to quality academic & literary models.
- Communication issues arise, with emails & other written work resembling casual text messages.
- Professors must scale back course requirements & spend more time teaching foundational reading strategies.
The obligatory mention of the pandemic:
The shift to remote/hybrid learning during COVID-19 exacerbated these challenges, with many students developing poor study habits & losing academic motivation.
“Equitable grading practices” that removed penalties for late work or set minimum grades may have inadvertently signalled that effort doesn’t matter.
This challenge requires a multifaceted response from educators, policymakers, & society at large. By understanding the complex drivers behind declining reading skills, we can work to equip the next generation with the critical thinking & communication abilities essential for academic & professional success.
Possible Teacher Takeaways:
Meaningful Texts: Make sure you’re selecting texts that spark genuine interest & curiosity in your students. Choosing materials that are relevant to their lives & experiences can help foster deeper engagement. Ask yourself why you’re giving it to them.
Interactive Discussions: Facilitate discussions that encourage students to wrestle with the ideas & arguments presented in the readings. Ask probing questions that push them to analyse the text closely & consider multiple perspectives.
Analytical Activities: Incorporate activities that require students to critically examine the texts, such as annotating key passages, outlining the central themes, or comparing & contrasting different sources. This helps build their analytical reading skills & encourages the development of Intensive Reading Strategies.
Personalized Feedback: Provide detailed feedback on students’ engagement with the readings, whether through written responses, presentations, or other assignments. This allows you to identify areas where they may be struggling.
Connecting Texts: Help students make connections between the readings & other course content, as well as their own lives & the broader world. This contextual understanding can deepen their comprehension & appreciation of the material.
By focusing on creating meaningful interactions with the texts, educators can help students develop the critical reading skills & habits needed for academic & professional success. Engaging students actively with the content, rather than just asking them to passively consume it, can be a powerful way to combat the decline in reading comprehension. Obviously, we’re not immune to wider social trends & influences, but it’s worth a try!
Is reading meeting a similar fate in a language you know?
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