It was really insightful to reflect on the results from our Year 7 and 8 Cohorts reading survey. It sparked some valuable discussions about how the students perceive themselves as readers.
In our collaborative space in MK1, we have 75 students, and 60 of them completed the survey. Here are some of the results.

Only 20 students saw themselves as good readers. When I unpacked the question 'Why is it important to be a good reader? Many of them stated that being a good reader is important for a variety of reasons. It can make you smarter, improve your brain function, and expand your knowledge. Reading enhances vocabulary, improves writing skills, and increases comprehension, helping with tasks like proofreading and understanding texts. It also helps build attention span, creativity, and imagination, all of which contribute to better learning and problem-solving abilities. Strong reading skills are essential for education, job opportunities, and life skills. Additionally, reading helps with practical tasks like understanding instructions, road signs, and job-related materials. In the long term, being a good reader is crucial for personal and professional growth, making life easier and more successful.
Quite insightful response I thought! You never can tell what they are going to say next...
Borrowing Books from the Library...
Never: 16 responses
Every few months: 8 responses
A few times a year: 19 responses
Once a month: 16 responses
Once a week: 10 responses
Twice a week: 4 responses
It seems that most people borrow books occasionally, with a strong group borrowing a few times a year and once a month. Fewer individuals borrow books on a weekly or fortnightly basis, and a notable number never engage with the library at all. (Makes me think what they are doing when we go to our Library visits?)
I love to read and I'm part of a book club. It is a great way to read genres that you may not necessarily select. The above data and student responses made me think it might be good to promote a Book Club with our Literacy programme, maybe adding a bit of competition to it?
I like reading ... The above graph shows the Year 7 students have a higher interest in reading compared to the Year 8, this suggests that there is a drop in engagement or reading habits as students transition to the next year. This pattern could be due to several factors, and addressing it requires careful consideration of the types of texts provided to the students.
The reading survey definitely has given me food for thought and provide some valuable information for my next steps when planning future Literacy activities.
