Are Kids Reading Enough?

by Ashley Cosenza
Fourth Grade at Whitmore Bolles Elementary School
Dearborn, Michigan

Are kids reading enough? That is the question on most parents’ minds. I think kids are spending too much time watching T.V., playing video games, and using other electronics. I am sure that parents would agree with me. From my point of view kids should be reading or playing outside more often. That is why I think a monthly book report or reading calendar is something all students should have.

Here is what fourth grader Stephanie Levin had to say about how kids spend their free time, "Kids are playing too many video games and watching too much T.V." I also interviewed Ms. Repenhagen, the Reading Resource Teacher at Whitmore Bolles, to find out what the average elementary student should be reading and she said that children should be reading fifteen to thirty minutes a day outside of school. Ms. Repenhagen added, "If you read for just fifteen minutes a day outside of school you will read over 1,000,000 words a year. Studies show that children with the highest test scores read about one hour each day.

So are you reading enough? If not, I would suggest that you start reading more often. You would be surprised where a good book can take you. For every teacher and parent who reads this article, encourage your students to read each and every day.

(Uploaded May 2004)