By Kelly Hamer | Posted: Thursday June 26, 2025
Parents as Reading Role Models: A Key to Improving Literacy
The upcoming NCEA Literacy and Numeracy test results will offer insights into students' current literacy and numeracy levels. Regardless of these results, however, continued engagement with reading remains crucial. Strong reading habits are the building blocks for all subsequent learning, fostering enhanced comprehension and critical thinking skills across the entire curriculum.
Once students can read in primary school, it's often presumed they no longer need to actively "learn to read." However, reading is a skill that needs to be developed throughout their high school career. While we continue to encourage boys to read at school, despite their strong objections, one of the most impactful ways you can support your high school son's literacy is simply by modelling reading at home. When your son sees you engaged with a book or an online article, it sends a powerful message: it shows them that reading isn't just a school task but a valuable, enjoyable, and integral part of adult life.
By demonstrating your own interest in reading, you're doing more than just encouraging a good habit. You're building a culture of reading within your family, showing that it's a worthwhile way to spend time, learn new things, and relax.
So, whether it's setting aside time for family reading, discussing what they're reading in their English class, or simply letting them see you absorbed in a good book, your example makes a world of difference.
