“Does what and how I read have an effect on my learning across the curriculum?”: An exploration of year 4 pupils’ perspectives on independent reading

Abstract

Reading is a fundamental skill that aids learning across the curriculum and is essential to success in school and beyond; indeed, in 2002 the OECD found that reading enjoyment surpasses even socio-economic status in its centrality to educational success. Using a questionnaire alongside semi-structured interviews of a selected sample, this study enquires about children’s feelings towards independent reading and its relation to their schoolwork. It finds that the choice of material available to them and the presence of a supportive reading role model in the shape of a parent, most often a mother, are crucial extrinsic factors in their reading lives.