Reading is a fundamental skill that is essential for academic success and lifelong learning. However, recent research has shown that many K–12 students are not reading at the level they should be. In fact, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 37% of fourth graders and 36% of eighth graders are reading at or above proficiency levels. This is a concerning statistic, as reading proficiency is a strong predictor of future academic success.
To better understand the factors that contribute to students’ reading abilities, a team of researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara conducted a study that looked at the impact of daily reading time on students’ reading skills. The study, which was published in the Journal of Educational Psychology, involved over 1,500 students from 29 schools across the United States. The researchers found that just 15 minutes of daily reading time had a significant impact on students’ reading abilities.
The study divided students into three groups: a control group, a group that received 15 minutes of daily reading