Reasons to Read

Reasons to Read:

We all know why reading is so essential but have you ever wondered what reasons students give? I’ve asked over 3,000 students from 41 schools in 5 countries to explain in 20 words or less why reading is a necessity. Below are some of their best answers. #ReasonsToRead

These reasons all come straight from students:

READING KEEPS YOUR BRAIN NIMBLE.
IF PEOPLE READ MORE MAYBE SOCIAL MEDIA WOULDN’T BE SO STUPID.
READERS ARE BETTER AT SPOTTING FAKE NEWS.
GAMING HYPES YOU BUT READING RELAXES YOU.
YOU CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR OWN MISTAKES WHEN YOU READ ABOUT OTHERS’.
WHEN YOU’RE NOT HAPPY AT SCHOOL READING CAN TAKE YOU AWAY FROM IT ALL.
READING ALLOWS YOU TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR HISTORY.
IF YOU READ YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT ALL THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD.
WHEN YOU READ YOU FORGET HOW STRESSED YOU WERE.
READING MAKES YOU OPEN-MINDED.
BOOKS ALLOW YOU TO LEARN ABOUT OTHER CULTURES; WHICH WILL MAKE YOU LESS LIKELY TO BE RACIST.
BOOKS ALLOW GYMRATS TO WORK ON THEIR MIND, NOT JUST THEIR BODIES.
READING ADDS DEPTH TO YOUR PERSONALITY.
UNLIKE THE INTERNET BOOKS ARE FACT CHECKED.
READING CAN MAKE YOU A BETTER SPEAKER.
BOOKS CAN GIVE YOU THE KNOWLEDGE TO HELP YOU OVERCOME YOUR PROBLEMS.
READING CREATES MORE POTENTIAL FOR YOUR FUTURE.

READING MAKES YOU A BIGGER PERSON.
READING IMPROVES LANGUAGE.
READING TEASES YOUR IMAGINATION.
BOOKS ALLOW YOU TO LEARN ABOUT LIFE.
READING MAKES YOU MORE CREATIVE.
IF YOU WANT A GOOD JOB YOU SHOULD READ MORE.
READING OPENS YOU TO NEW WORLDS.
BOOKS CAN TEACH YOU ABOUT YOUR BODY.
READING LETS YOU EXERCISE YOUR MIND.
READING MAKES YOU BETTER AT EVERYTHING.
BOOKS GIVE YOU OTHER PEOPLE’S PERSPECTIVE.
YOU CAN BE INSPIRED BY BOOKS.
READING CAN EXPAND YOUR VOCABULARY.
BOOKS CONTAIN KNOWLEDGE FROM THE PAST.
READING EXPANDS YOUR IMAGINATION.
YOUR BRAIN GOES DULL IF YOU DON’T READ.
READING ALLOWS YOU TO OVERCOME WRITER’S BLOCK.
BOOKS CONTAIN HIDDEN INSPIRATION.
READING REFRESHES YOUR OUTLOOK AT LIFE.
BOOKS CAN MAKE YOU BETTER WITH YOUR MONEY.
BOOKS TAKE YOU TO ANOTHER WORLD.
BOOKS ARE IDEA FARMS.

If you want to pimp your library with these reasons to read I’ve gone one extra and compiled these into funky printable posters available on Pinterest click here (boom!) There’s also a couple of template posters if your students want to add their own reasons for reading.

Sourcing Reasons:

Motivational talks tend to suffer from time constraints however workshops offer me more time to interact with students. Over the past year and a half I’ve been asking students during these workshops what reasons they can give as to why reading is a necessity. Initially I was interested in verbal answers but over time I started to request these in written form so I could share them with teachers. (Funkiest teacher/librarian resource ever?)

Of course students can get carried away and to limit this I’ve since asked students to tell me ‘in 20 words or less explain why reading is so important.’ Above are the best and if you’re looking for light entertainment I’ve also added some of the weirder responses below (keep scrolling!)

#ReasonsToRead

I always struggle to tell when some of the younger students are cracking a joke or being earnest; they’re simply too good with their deadpan facial expression. Either way these are some of the reasons to read that constantly crack me up. (Of note I’m a serious fan of the ‘nerd power!’ and ‘taste nice’ quotes – lol.)

BOOKS UNLEASH YOUR INNER NERD POWER.
READING MAKES YOUR BRAIN FIZZ.
READING CAN TEACH YOU HOW TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD.
YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT DINOSAURS WHEN YOU READ.
TEACHERS ARE LESS LIKELY TO TELL YOU OFF IF YOU’RE READING.
BOOKS TASTE NICE.
SUSPENSEFUL BOOKS MAKE YOUR EYEBROWS TWITCH.
READING LOTS WILL MEAN YOU’RE BETTER PREPARED FOR THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE.