Why Read?

No matter what we do, where we are, or what we want to be  reading is essential to our lives. If we aren't listening to what someone has said, we are reading what they wrote. Texts, blogs, emails, letters, the printed word: these are all examples of the ubiquitous nature of written communication. What makes the written word so special is that it becomes a vehicle whihc carries thoughts, ideas, concepts, and information to any person anywhere across time and space. Writing is a human trait that uniquely empowers humanity. yet, writing by itself means nothing if the recipient of that writing cannot comprehend the words. This makes reading especially important to us all.

If reading is a common occurence in our lives then we must engage it responsibly, with understanding being our goal. If we understand what we read then we are literate. Literacy is a big deal today: especially literacy within the written word. Literacy takes many forms. One can be computer liteate, trade literate, socially literate, etc... Literacy means that we not only comprehend something, but have becomes masters of something.

 As a writer I find it frustrating to have my carefully chosen words fall into the "void of uselessness".  As a reader, I find it frustrating to cast carefully chosen words into the "void of uselessness". In both cases reading comprehension is the culprit. Why? The English language contains upwards of 600,000 words. None of us know all of them and some of us know more than others. It is the latter which persists in frustrating both writer and reader alike. So how does one overcome struggling as a reader?

Read. That is the answer to many reading comprehension difficulties. However, do not just read anything. We all want to be interested in what we are reading. Certainly, as a preservice Social Studies teacher, I do not like reading all those dry research papers that drag my mind over the sandpaper that is statistics. Why on earth would I read them? In part because I have to, but otherwise I steer clear of them. I have a good understanding of my reading ability and, of course, my reading interests. I love reading. I always have. Yet I had to learn what to read. I have books which I purchased over 15 years ago and still I have yet to read some of them. Why? Because my ambition is to read them, but the reality is that some of them are above my reading level and, much like the research papers, I struggle to get them. But there are times when after a few years I pick up a book I previously struggled with and, from out of nowhere I get what I am reading. This is all about comprehension - and I feel good about myself when I achieve this landmark.

The challenge is to keep reading. Finding books to read that are within my sphere of interest, and some outside of it, helps.  Experiment, find out what your reading level is, and then find different levels of difficulty to engage. Some will be easy, some will not, but the challenge is the same - read.

A challenge that I offer to everyone is: 12 in 12. Setting goals for oneself is a great way to read more while developing intrinsic motivation - and motivation is what is required to read. Developing an internal locus of control will only give advantage to readers of all difficulty levels. So why not start with one book a month? This is the essential nature of the 12 in 12 challenge. One book per month equals twelve books a year or 12 in 12. You don't have to wait until January to get started - books are waiting for you everywhere! When we set goals and accomplish them we become stronger and better readers. The challenge is set, now it is time for you to pick up that gauntlet and read!