Essential Reading Skills Every Student Needs to Succeed

When I graduate from the University of Michigan, I will teach 13-year-olds who learned to read during the pandemic. They adapted to remote learning, but many missed out on critical reading skills. During this time, schools struggled to give students the resources needed for effective reading instruction. As a result, literacy rates in the U.S. are dropping, contrasting with improvements seen globally elsewhere.

As we depend more on technology, the challenges in education keep rising. According to the latest updates from the nation’s report card, reading scores have not just stagnated but decreased since the pandemic. This decline puts students’ future high school graduation rates at risk since literacy is a key factor in academic success .

To tackle the literacy issue, we need to start in the classrooms. Teachers and parents must collaborate more than ever to cater to students’ needs. Classrooms should be stocked with quality resources for reading. If we ignore technology’s negative impact, students will pay the price.

In recent years, educational technology has become a larger part of teaching reading. Schools try to provide every student with devices equipped with helpful programs. While this tech can increase accessibility, face-to-face learning has proven to be the most effective .

However, many education programs are churning out underprepared teachers, making them depend too heavily on technology instead of evidence-based methods. This shift is hurting students’ reading scores.

English classrooms are prime venues for boosting reading time. Some students enjoy required readings, while others do not. Incorporating “choice reading,” where students read books that interest them, can ignite a passion for reading beyond school subjects. Teens have flexible minds, making independent, low-pressure reading sessions a powerful tool. Reading for pleasure builds motivation and brings benefits like vocabulary growth and relaxation .

By promoting independent reading, teachers can help fight technology addiction among students. They can create a setting that encourages kids to enjoy reading and discover their interests.

Unfortunately, teachers often lack the time, space, or resources needed to prioritize independent reading. If they do find time for it, they must also provide books, which can be costly. Many schools have underfunded libraries, and educators feel pushed to prepare students for standardized tests instead of focusing on cultivating a love for reading. Large classes with varying needs add to the challenge.

This is where parents can play a significant role. Parental engagement is vital for student success. Families must resist letting screens dominate their children’s time. While educational content online has its merits, allowing kids to become “iPad kids” hinders their attention and learning abilities. Digital literacy matters, but traditional books should not be replaced entirely, unless it’s an ebook format.

Community resources, like public libraries and reading programs such as Battle of the Books, can uplift students without burdening families financially. In classrooms, creating book clubs based on interests allows students to share and enjoy books without needing to buy new ones.

Education has shifted too far toward technology. New tools are exciting, but nothing beats reading and personal instruction for developing literacy. Students improve by reading more; that’s the only solution. Reading opens doors to mental and physical worlds. Let’s make every reading opportunity accessible before it’s too late.

Meredith Knight is an Opinion Columnist who writes about education policy in her column “School is in Session.” You can reach her at mmknight@umich.edu.

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