Teen Read Week: Empowering Young Minds

Teen Read Week is a national event encouraging teens to discover the joys of reading, explore new genres and develop lifelong literacy skills. The annual celebration emphasizes the importance of reading for fun, personal growth and academic success. 

According to the U.S. Department of Education, literacy is a cornerstone of academic achievement. Teens who read outside of school consistently perform better in writing, language arts and critical thinking. Reading expands vocabulary, improves comprehension and strengthens communication skills, which are essential in and out of the classroom. 

Reading provides cognitive benefits that extend beyond the classroom. Research from the U.S. National Library of Medicine shows that reading stimulates the brain, improving memory and concentration while fostering creativity. For teens, this cognitive stimulation can lead to better problem-solving skills and a more developed ability to process and analyze information.

Resources

Plenty of resources are aimed to support teens, parents and educators in encouraging teen reading. These tools provide access to reading materials, literacy programs and strategies for improving reading comprehension:

• Library of Congress: Teens can explore thousands of books through the Library of Congress’ digital collections. The library provides access to fiction and nonfiction titles, historical documents, and multimedia content to enrich the reading experience. 
• Youth.gov: This platform offers various literacy resources, including articles on the importance of reading and guides for starting teen book clubs. It also connects teens with local programs that promote reading and literacy skill development.
• Read.gov for Teens offers a variety of book lists, interactive features, and engaging literary resources specifically curated for young adults. You can encourage your teen to choose from various genres, such as fantasy, historical fiction or science fiction.

Help Your Teen Build a Love of Reading – Tips from our Principals

• Start Small: “Encourage your student to pick up a book or magazine for an adventure that sparks the imagination. Magazines can offer a world of possibilities while being less overwhelming than lengthy novels, making them perfect for students who may be hesitant about reading.” - Eric North, Principal of Wingate Elementary and Middle School
• Read as a Family: “Read alongside your student. Try novels, non-fiction, or any genre that sparks interest for you and your student. The shared experience of reading together can be incredibly rewarding. By reading side by side, you model a love for books and create meaningful opportunities for discussion.” - Larry Parrish, Principal of Riverside Indian School
• Incentivize Reading with a Pop Culture Twist: “Implementing a rewards-based program can make a real impact. At Flandreau Indian School, we’ve installed book vending machines that run on gold coins students earn for academic achievements and good behavior, and they’ve been a big success. We stock a variety of books, but we also make sure to include titles connected to popular movies and trends. By tying reading to rewards and making it relevant to their daily experiences, we’ve been able to engage our students in a whole new way,” says Everall Fox, Superintendent of Flandreau Indian School

With so many stories waiting to be discovered, Teen Reading Week is the perfect opportunity for teens to unlock the doors to new worlds, ideas and possibilities — one page at a time.

Sources:

• Read.gov for Teens
• U.S. Department of Education Family Engagement Resources 
• Library of Congress
• Youth.gov