Benefits Of Having A Reading Club In School

Reading is an integral part of education. Establishing reading clubs in schools is a great way of fostering love for reading amongst the students. The small group settings in reading clubs facilitate peer communication, equality in terms of gender, ethnicity and ability level.

Let’s take a look at some benefits of the reading clubs in the schools:

• Exercise For The Brain: Joining reading clubs in schools benefits cognitive abilities of the students. Reading is a great workout for the brain. As a result, brain connections become stronger and new connections are build. It is highly beneficial for the brain as compared to activities like watching TV.
• Concentration: Reading requires students to sit still and focus for extended periods. With time, it becomes easier and natural for them to focus for longer durations.
• Expands Their Horizons: Reading a variety of books, makes students learn about different places and cultures. They develop a better understanding of the world around them in addition to being exposed to a world that is entirely different from their own.
• Improves Vocabulary: Creating reading clubs at schools does wonders for the vocabulary and language skills of the students. The more they read, the more words they will learn. Students, who read a lot, learn how to structure sentences better than non-readers. They are also better at speaking and writing.
• Develops Imagination: Younger students love enacting whatever they experience in the day-to-day lives through make-believe plays. Reading gives them a wonderful platform to expand their imagination. It makes their brains imagine the characters, places and things, they have read in the books.
• Reading Improves Social Skills: When students interact with each other in informal setups like reading clubs, their social skills improve significantly. They become empathetic to the feelings of their peers, participate in group discussions, learn to listen and express themselves confidently.
• Better Academic Performance: Reading clubs have been shown to improve academic performance. Being a good reader helps with subjects other than English. Students get better at assimilating and retaining what they read.
• Develop A Reading Culture: Schools that have reading clubs promote a strong reading culture amongst the students. This positive reading behavior spreads across the entire school and eventually makes way to the community.
• Appreciation Of Other Cultures: When students mingle with other students in the club, there is a lot they can learn from one another. Through books by authors from different cultures, students get an opportunity of appreciating what other cultures have to offer.
• Reading Improves Communication Skills:  Participating in group discussions and public-speaking is an intrinsic part of reading clubs in the schools. They learn how to communicate their feelings in a confident and respectful manner.