Chapter 2: Melissa Bryan

The author basically asserts in Chapter 2 of Readicide that students are being taught to the reading test. They are passing the standardized reading tests, but are graduating without a passion for reading. If they do not love reading, then they will not want to do it unless it is to “pass a test.” The author calls this “authentic reading.” This is the term that is used to describe what and why adults read…to gain knowledge and information as well as recreational reading. The students do not learn this skill because there is not enough material in the classroom that interests them. The three keys points discussed in Endangered Minds are 1) There is a dearth of interesting reading materials in our schools, 2) Many schools have removed novels and other longer challenging works to provide teachers and students with more test preparation time, 3) Students are not doing enough reading in school.

Students need daily access to reading materials that they are interested in reading. If they do not have easy, daily access to “practice” reading, then they will never get “great” at reading. These students need authentic reading to help them practice and become better readers. This access to authentic reading materials needs to begin in kindergarten and be consistent through the senior year of high school. Students who do not grow up in a word rich environment from the very beginning are at a severe disadvantage. This disadvantage just amplifies when these young students enter school. These students need reading nutrients to grow their reading ability. To understand anything that you read, you must have prior knowledge. To have prior knowledge, you have to have authentic reading material. Ultimately, when a student learns to read for the sake of reading, their test scores will increase naturally.

Many schools have removed novels and other longer challenging works to provide teachers and students with more test preparation time. Students can read, but cannot think about what they are reading critically. They are lacking the ability to analyze what they are reading, because they are not being challenged with higher level reading materials. Students need to be challenged to read at a higher level, and they need to be given time to critically think about what they are reading. Giving students the ability to develop this reading skill will enhance their problem solving abilities in all other parts of their lives.

Students are not doing enough reading in school. Sustained Silent Reading is essential for developing students with higher reading levels and who develop a love of reading that leads to reading for pleasure later in life.