Boys’ reading skills help predict college attendance

By General Education Advice, Student Mastery

Reading skills predict college attendance

Reading skills matter when it comes to getting into college.  This isn’t new information, but a study just published its sobering findings.  As Michael T. Nietzel’s headline in Forbes sums these up, “Teenage Boys’ Lower Reading Skills Helps[sic] Predict Why Fewer Males Attend College” (June 11, 2020).

Reading scores for boys, on average, have lagged behind those of girls for many years now.

One reason for this skill gap is that more boys than girls don’t like to read.   The problem isn’t so much that they don’t enjoy reading; the problem is that because they don’t enjoy reading, they don’t read unless absolutely necessary, and sometimes not even then.

This means that they’re missing out on vital reading practice, essential for building reading skills as well as stamina.

And, during this extended period of remote learning, unwilling readers have had even fewer incentives to read on their own.

The good news, though, is that lost reading ground can always be recovered and at any time.  Half the battle is recognizing the importance of reading skills, whether reading is “enjoyable” or not, and that the best way to become a better reader is to read!

We can help.

Contact us to find out more about our reading enrichment programs and tutoring.