Welcome To Ms. Atlas' Reading Advice
Mitch Albom Book Signing
Why Should I Read?
–What have you read today?–What have you read this month?
–What have you read recently for pleasure?
Often, when we think of reading, we think of novels, literature, students listening to a teacher,children listening to a parent, reading groups and reading classes. But, how often do you think about reading as recipes, maps, income tax instructions, blueprints, emails, software installation instructions, movie listings, contracts, newspaper, scrolling signs, advertisements, and web pages? That’s reading, too! Did you know that over 96% of the sites on the web are expository in form? What does that mean for you? Simply put, if you don’t get the facts, you don’t get the info. In the Information Age, if you cannot accurately gather information and interact with it, it is like a soldier going into combat unarmed. The most either can do is “hope for the best.” Each type of expository text places different demands on the reader because of the unique ways it uses structure, features, conventions, and devices. Consequently, students need to understand the structure of expository text, how to prepare to read it, and how make meaning from it.
Reading Builds a Mature Vocabulary and Makes You a Better Writer.
It’s no secret that reading increases your vocabulary and improves your spelling, but did you know that reading increases your vocabulary more than talking or direct teaching? Reading forces us to look at words that we might not have seen or heard recently at the pub. In fact, language in children’s books is likely to be more sophisticated than your average conversation. Increased vocabulary is especially crucial for bloggers or writers. All successful writers will tell you that in order to write well, you need to read. Every day. You’ll be surprised at the words you start incorporating into your writing. An exceptional vocabulary isn’t just for writers though. Knowing what other people are saying and using the perfect words to convey your feelings is a critical part of being a better human being.Reading makes you smarter
It turns out that reading helps in almost every area of life. Those who read have higher GPA’s, higher intelligence, and general knowledge than those who don’t. They also earn higher salaries than poor readers. Why? The demands of the workplace increasingly call for understanding written information. No matter what you want to do or become, you can’t do it without more knowledge. Reading is an excellent way to get where you want to go.Reading Earns You More Money
Inadequate reading skills usually result in limited earning power. Approximately 50% of the chronically unemployed are functionally illiterate, and over 80% of unemployed parents lack a high school diploma. Approximately 25% to 50% of the people in U.S. prisons cannot read or write. At least one in five Americans is illiterate, and another 25% are able to read at only rudimentary levels. They cannot perform basic literary tasks such as reading the newspaper, deciphering a bus schedule, understanding a drug label, completing an order form, or balancing a checkbook. How many employers are looking for unskilled labor? Unless you can think of a good reason not to read, there is no reason to put it off. Go to the media center today to find a great book!