By Christy S. Martin, Ed.D.
As experts warn that the COVID-19 pandemic will affect schooling for many months, families and educators face an instructional year full of uncertainty. One reliable way to support students’ academic and emotional growth during remote, hybrid, or in-person learning is to promote regular reading. Reading is accessible, adaptable to social distancing, and effective in strengthening many skills beyond basic literacy. In short, reading remains a foundational strategy for learning and resilience.
Books—whether printed, digital, or audio—offer rich opportunities for discovery. They expose readers to new ideas, cultures, and ways of thinking. Many adults have used the pandemic to read more, and students can benefit from the same habit. Reading fosters curiosity, encourages research and writing, and stimulates cognitive development. Below are some key ways reading supports young people’s growth.
- Reading strengthens grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary. Encountering words and sentence structures in context helps readers internalize correct usage. Regular exposure to well-written text improves spoken and written communication naturally, reinforcing correct grammar and expanding vocabulary.
- Reading builds knowledge across subjects. Books and reliable online resources provide information about history, science, art, math, geography, and people. Even casual reading adds background knowledge that improves comprehension and supports cross-curricular learning.
- Reading supports cognitive development and intelligence. Research suggests that early reading habits can influence cognitive growth throughout life. Developing strong reading skills in childhood correlates with higher achievement and improved problem-solving abilities later on.
- Reading can improve socioeconomic outcomes. Reading enhances communication skills, self-confidence, and access to information—factors that support educational advancement and career opportunities. Lifelong readers are often better prepared to pursue higher education and workforce success.
- Reading benefits physical and mental health. Engaging with stories and informative texts reduces stress, supports better sleep habits, and can provide coping strategies. Reading promotes mental well-being by offering distraction, relaxation, and perspective.
- Reading enhances emotional intelligence and empathy. Stories expose readers to diverse experiences and inner lives, helping them understand others’ feelings and motivations. This increased empathy and self-awareness supports healthier social interactions.
- Reading offers companionship and escape. For young people spending more time at home or separated from peers, books provide a safe way to explore other worlds and ideas. Reading connects students to characters and narratives that can reduce feelings of isolation while still supporting school assignments.
These benefits are especially valuable during uncertain times. Whether students are learning in classrooms, online, or independently, reading remains a practical and powerful tool to keep minds engaged and growing.
How can parents and educators encourage children to read across formats? Many proven strategies still work, and can be adapted to remote or in-person instruction. Here are practical approaches to boost reading habits and engagement.
Assign research projects that ask students to investigate topics of interest, then write or present their findings. Research-based assignments develop reading comprehension and critical thinking and are easy to adapt for online submission.
Create reading discussion groups focused on poems, short stories, novels, or news articles. Discussion prompts—many provided in teachers’ guides or book club kits—encourage deeper thinking. Current events, fiction, and poetry each spark different kinds of conversation and analysis.
Use project-based learning that requires reading and research for individual or group projects. Project work motivates students to read for a purpose and often leads to meaningful, long-lasting learning.
Divide novels into parts and assign sections to different students to read and summarize. Bringing the parts together for a whole-class discussion builds collaboration, accountability, and comprehension.
Encourage creative writing by having students write, illustrate, and publish their own short stories. Turning student work into handmade or printed books motivates reading and writing; reading aloud their stories helps improve clarity and expression.
Read aloud to children and assign audiobooks—especially for younger students or reluctant readers. Listening to well-paced narration models fluency and can make complex stories more accessible.
Connect with public libraries online or in person. Assign getting a library card, checking out a book, and reporting on the experience. Many libraries offer excellent digital collections and support for remote learners.
Reach students without internet access by delivering books, calling, or mailing assignments. Maintaining personal contact—through phone calls, letters, or pen pals—helps students feel connected to school and peers and supports continued learning.
Make reading rewarding through incentives, token economies, or book vending ideas. Small rewards, reading challenges, and classroom recognition can motivate students to explore new titles.
Reading is a reliable anchor in uncertain times. It promotes academic growth, emotional resilience, and lifelong curiosity. By creating routines, offering choices, and adapting strategies for different learning environments, educators and families can ensure that students continue to benefit from the power of the written word.
About the author
Dr. Christy Martin recently retired after more than 30 years in K–12 and higher education and an additional six years in social services supporting foster youth. She considers advocating for at-risk youth a calling. Since retiring in February, she has returned to her passion for writing, focusing on child welfare and school issues. She lives in East Tennessee, about 15 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
This article was originally published by The Learning Counsel, a research institute and news media hub focused on the shift in education to digital curriculum.