Why Every Middle School Student Should Read an Hour in School
It’s been a long day and all the students are weary of Math, French, and L.A.
They look up to the schedule and see two words. Silent reading. An hour of reading would benefit everyone because…
Firstly, reading provides you with an expanded imagination. It does because as you read, you imagine what you’re reading about. Because of this, students could be sitting at their desks, but in a different world of their choice.
Secondly, if, in the middle of the school day, say, middle school students had an hour of silent reading, where they could relax and bury themselves in their favourite books in a quiet, peaceful environment, to rest before the next half of the day. They could also look at stressing school work under a different light, allowing them to get better grades.
An additional bonus is that teachers could plan their lessons during the hour of silent reading. Do you know how long it normally takes a teacher to plan a lesson?
Lastly, an hour of reading would also encourage students to use a larger vocabulary of many different words and an interest in learning new and interesting words that can be used in many different scenarios.
Of course, not everyone is interested in reading. Many middle schoolers prefer comics or graphic novels to regular books, but an hour of reading would firstly develop different interests and open-mindedness, secondly encourage a healthy interest in reading (Did you know that reading can boost emotional development and career prospects by 50% to 100%!) and thirdly allow students who would normally never read to discover how fun it can be. Another counter-argument is that most students have time to and do already read at home. However, an hour of reading at school forces the students to read as much as a 10-13 year old should. In conclusion, an hour of reading daily in school would provide rest, relaxation, an improved vocabulary and imagination, and a chance to grow interests. So go out today and ask your teachers, principals, and administrators for an hour of reading time each day.
By Victoria K., Grade 6