Reading builds comprehension skills. The more you read, especially independent reading, the more you understand what you read and how to apply it. You take bits and pieces of information from various sources such as textbooks, print media and stories and build them into a comprehensive whole that makes more sense than each part independently. Information from one subject relates to others, such as measurement math skills relating to cooking and science classes.
Reading builds vocabulary. As students learn new vocabulary words, they increase their capacity to understand more material. For example, learning words such as humidity, density, evaporation and precipitation helps the student understand weather and scientific principles included in science class.
Successful readers read faster and retain more information than students who struggle with reading. Reading faster allows them to move through assignments quicker than less able readers. In upper grades and college level courses, each daily course assignment may include 50 or more pages plus a written assignment. Strong reading skills allow the student to get through all subject lessons, retain and communicate back to teachers and classmates about the lesson content.
As students read, they build fluency, learning to speak with greater ease and communicate more effectively. The student reads quickly with accuracy and confidence, processing the material as she reads. She learns to consider the purpose and emotion behind the words to delve into the deeper meaning of the passage. This improves comprehension in all subject areas.
Reading teaches the student how to put main ideas together to get the point across and how to build an understandable sentence. He learns how to organize his thoughts in written and spoken communication. Students learn to add important details to the main idea to build on the concept. This aids them in completing written assignments or oral reports in any subject area.
Students who develop reading success transfer that success to other academic areas. They believe they can learn successfully and that encourages them to continue to learn. Continued success improves the chances they will read for pleasure and knowledge. It encourages them to be independent and self-sufficient readers and learners.