Reading for Pleasure

In the weeks leading up to Book Week (Week 6) we are encouraging students to read as many books as they can as part of the Clan Reading Challenge. The theme of this year’s Book Week is Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds and we are encouraging our students to travel the world...through reading! Once they have finished reading a book, whether it be fiction or nonfiction, long or short, ebook or print, they are to record it on their Clan’s reading log. 

We understand that our students have busy lives and the time they put aside for reading for pleasure diminishes as they get older. As adults, we too find it difficult to allow time to sit down with a good book! 

There are many benefits of reading for pleasure, regardless of your age. Some of these include; aiding sleep readiness, reducing stress, empowers you to emphasise with others and it increases your vocabulary and comprehension. There is also evidence from a study that found that students who loved reading had: 

• higher scores on the cognitive and social/attitudinal competencies
• consistently higher scores in mathematics, reading, logical problem-solving and attitude
• higher average scores for engagement in school, positive communication and relations with family, and positive friendships (New Zealand Council for Educational Research, 2006)

Healthline.com have published more information on the benefits of reading books and how it can positively affect your life.

As parents, you can support your child’s reading habits by helping them find books that interest them, encouraging reading as a downtime activity and reading with them. If you’re pressed for time, why don't you play an audio book in the car on your way to school and their extracurricular activities? ABC News has more information on how you can support your adolescents’ reading habits. 

The O’Brien Resource Centre has a huge range of books available for student loan, with new titles arriving almost daily. If a student would like to read a book and the library does not have a copy, we will purchase it for the collection in the next book order.

Students can also access e-books and Audio Books through the library catalogue’s ePlatform. Once borrowed, students have access to them for a minimum of two weeks, and can return them anytime. Please email Mrs. Hill if you have any questions about accessing the platform.