How Regular Reading Boosts Intelligence and Cognitive Abilities

Have you ever heard the saying, "The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer."? In sociology, it refers to societal disparity.

Similar to this saying, Keith Stanovich, a reading researcher, proved in 1986 that the Matthew Effect poses a risk in reading education by causing good readers to improve while struggling readers fall further behind.

Twelve years later, he wrote an article with Anne Cunningham outlining the many benefits of reading. Extensive research confirms that regular reading significantly improves cognitive abilities and overall intelligence. Let’s look into this research team’s findings and learn how they affect our duties in the classroom.

How Reading Creates Upward and Downward Spirals: The Matthew Effect

As previously said, individuals who read frequently improve their reading skills, and those who can read well read more. Individuals who struggle with letter and sound recognition may struggle to read, leading to decreased fluency and falling further behind in school.

Keith Stanovich’s research introduced the Matthew Effect, illustrating how reading proficiency leads to upward learning spirals, while struggling readers risk falling into downward spirals.

But reading a lot leads to more than just improved reading skills. Stanovich and Cunningham conducted an extensive study on the relationship between reading volume and learning performance.

To determine how much the participants read, they used The Title Recognition Test (also known as the title recognition list). This test is made up of real and fake book titles, and its purpose is to assess an individual's reading habits. It helps kids not feel bad about not checking off all the titles, and also ensures participants are honest with their submissions.

Below, we’ll look more into the findings of the study, focussing on the cognitive impact of frequent reading.

Key Insights: How Reading Improves Cognitive Abilities and Knowledge

First and foremost, remember that extensive reading expands the vocabulary. The world’s top readers read two million words every year, while the weakest read only 8,000.

Children's books have a broader vocabulary and use more low-frequency words than adult talks or TV shows. This is purposeful—it helps them learn! Research into how to build vocabulary through reading shows that this exposure to diverse word choices is the primary driver of linguistic growth.

Some of you might be wondering just how important book language could be in real life. But book language is essential for understanding our surroundings. It’s also extremely crucial for learning.

Frequent reading:

• Expands global knowledge
• Enhances comprehension
• Improves overall academic performance.

Let’s go back to our study. Stanovich and Cunningham observed a correlation between reading volume and knowledge exam scores among university students.

Heavy readers outperform on both traditional knowledge exams (e.g., SAT) and practical knowledge tests (e.g., automobile carburettor function and vitamin content of citrus fruits).

Regular reading may help prevent fake news and misconceptions. Stanovich and Cunningham asked American students to estimate the proportion of Jews and Muslims worldwide. Nearly 70% incorrectly thought there were more Jews than Muslims because they saw far more Jews in the United States.

What was remarkable was that students who watched a lot of (entertainment) TV were more likely to be inaccurate, whereas students who read a lot were more accurate in their assessments.

Reading improves intelligence across various topics, from the Second World War to foreign languages and government budgeting. This truth doesn’t stop in school. It extends throughout our lives.

Stanovich and Cunningham also discovered that seniors who read frequently have a greater vocabulary and broader knowledge than their colleagues who read less.

Both reading researchers studied 56 children ranging in age from year 1 to 11. The study found that a six-year-old's degree of word identification, decoding skills, and text comprehension predicts their reading volume as they get older. IQ does not seem to significantly predict this.

Regular and proficient reading is essential for a successful academic career. With a good start, students can ‘read their way up'. According to Stanovich and Cunningham, reading benefits everyone, regardless of intelligence.

Practical Implications for Teachers: Fostering Reading Skills in Schools

Stanovich and Cunningham's research highlights the importance of a strong foundation in reading education. We know this may be a common message, but we also know it cannot be overstated.

With this in mind, these factors are essential for schools in the UK and worldwide:

• Keep a close eye on the reading development of your students. Intervene early with those who fall behind in sound and letter recognition or continue to struggle with reading fluency.
• Make students’ success the guiding premise for everything that happens in the classroom. This is the only way to prevent the Matthew Effect. Every pupil may learn to read with the time, support, and trust of their teachers.

Remember: It’s the less successful pupils who require the best reading experiences. By fostering a love for reading, schools can equip students with essential tools for academic success and lifelong learning. This is particularly true when we look at how reading improves writing, as the skills gained from a rich reading diet naturally translate into better communication skills.

After all, as Stanovich and Cunningham remind us, reading increases pupils’ intelligence.

Can Reading Fiction Improve Empathy and Social Awareness?

When you read fiction, you see events and feelings through the eyes of the main character. This improves empathy and social awareness, allowing you to better recognise and understand others' emotions in real life. This does not apply when reading nonfiction.

Several studies have shown that reading fiction fosters empathy.

However, the evidence does not appear to be totally conclusive. Empathy is difficult to demonstrate, and experts continue to debate whether the research in question did so effectively. So take it with a grain of salt, but don’t be afraid to give it a try in your lesson planning.

Tips for Supporting Struggling Readers in the Classroom

The rich get richer, while the poor get poorer. How unjust is that!

Thankfully, as a teacher, you can provide opportunities for all children to develop their reading skills. This might be accomplished by providing more time and attention to individuals who start with a disadvantage.

Here are some more specific recommendations to incorporate in your classroom:

• Early intervention is crucial for addressing reading difficulties. Kindergarten teachers can identify students who struggle with sounds and letters or lack a sense of rhyming. Additional language games can help.
• Early identification is crucial in years 1 and 2. The more fluently kids read, the more they focus on reading comprehension.
• Watch out for the reading slump in year 4. Prioritise reading enjoyment in addition to regular practice.
• Encourage students to read aloud and choose books based on their interests and reading levels. Demonstrate how reading broadens their horizons and enhances their cognitive abilities.

Note: These recommendations apply to all students, not just those who display noticeable challenges.

Key take-aways

• Regular reading leads to increased cognitive abilities.
• Avoid the Matthew effect to keep struggling readers on track.
• Address reading weaknesses promptly and provide many practice opportunities for struggling readers.
• A strong foundation in reading instruction makes an impact for a lifetime.

Reference: Cunningham, A. E., & Stanovich, K. E. (1998). What reading does for the mind.