The Importance of Reading
Success in Reading is Success in Life

The importance of reading cannot be emphasized enough! It goes far beyond the importance of books. We use reading everyday, at school, at work and in our everyday activities.

If you think about it, you use reading skills almost every time you do something. You read road signs when you drive. You read signs in the grocery store and labels on cans and boxes. You read the paper when you are looking for a job. You read an application when you are applying for a job. And most of us now read words on the internet to get information, just as you are now. Words are everywhere!

Why is Reading Important?

A Personal Story

But, there are some people who did NOT learn to read as children. In fact, you may know someone who does not read—and not be aware of his situation.

A few years ago I was working as an occupational therapist. I worked with people who had been injured at work, helping them return to their jobs. And I went with my patients into their workplaces, so that I could see what they did, and use their work activities to help them return safely to work.

One day I was working with a gentleman who had janitorial duties in a large institution. I waited while the supervisor handed each worker a written assignment and gave verbal instructions to the group.

When she was done, the workers scattered in different directions, each going to his or her assigned location.

But my patient, John, stayed behind. Much to my surprise, the supervisor then proceeded to READ his assignment to him. It seems that John, unbeknownst to me, had never learned to read.

So, everyday, after everyone else left to get started on their jobs, he listened to his assignment and memorized it.

John will never advance beyond his current position—because he never learned to read!

But, you can be sure that John understands the importance of reading!

"It is no exaggeration to say that how well children learn to read affects directly not only how successful they are in school but how well they do throughout their lives. When children learn to read, they have the key that opens the door to all the knowledge of the world. Without this key, many children are left behind."

U.S. Department of Education

How powerful!! By helping our children read well, we are opening the door to success for the rest of their lives. That's the importance of reading!

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