Opinion
English Learners Letter to the Editor

A New Hypothesis on Reading

February 26, 2019 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

To the Editor:

A recent blog post addressed a study concluding that struggling English-language learners would benefit from repeating the 3rd grade (“Study: Repeating 3rd Grade Could Help Struggling English-Learners,” February 1, 2019).

What occurs during the extra year of 3rd grade that causes such growth? One possibility is that repeaters had the chance to develop a pleasure reading habit in English, as 3rd grade tends to include more fiction and less “reading for information,” which happens more in 4th grade.

Published scientific research consistently shows that self-selected pleasure reading (which includes a great deal of fiction) is a strong predictor of proficiency in second languages, impacting vocabulary, spelling, grammar, writing, and reading comprehension. Also, according to a 1993 study by Keith Stanovich, Richard F. West, and Harold R. Mitchell, those who read more know more about social studies and science.

In 2001, researchers Susan Neuman and Donna Celan found that English-language learners from higher socioeconomic backgrounds benefited even more from repeating the 3rd grade. This is probably because middle-class children have far more access to reading material than low-income children have in their homes, schools, and neighborhoods. If this hypothesis is correct, it means we should invest more in librarians and school and public libraries in less affluent communities, and continue to encourage self-selected reading. If we do this, the need for retaining ELLs may be vastly reduced.

Stephen Krashen

Professor Emeritus

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, Calif.

A version of this article appeared in the February 27, 2019 edition of Education Week as A New Hypothesis on Reading

Events

Student Well-Being K-12 Essentials Forum Social-Emotional Learning 2025: Examining Priorities and Practices
Join this free virtual event to learn about SEL strategies, skills, and to hear from experts on the use and expansion of SEL programs.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus
Teaching Profession Key Insights to Elevate and Inspire Today’s Teachers
Join this free half day virtual event to energize your teaching and cultivate a positive learning experience for students.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

English Learners Q&A What’s Ahead for the 5.3 Million English Learners in Our Schools?
If English learners do well, the whole nation will, says the outgoing director of the federal office of English language acquisition.
6 min read
Photograph of a Hispanic elementary school girl writing at her desk in a classroom setting
E+
English Learners Which Students Are Earning the Seal of Biliteracy, in Charts
A growing number of students are graduating high school with a seal of biliteracy recognizing their multilingualism.
2 min read
Karen language students work on a presentation highlighting historical figures during a Karen for Karen speakers class at Washington Tech Magnet School in St. Paul, Minn., on May 22, 2024.
Karen language students work on a presentation highlighting historical figures during a Karen for Karen-speakers class at Washington Tech Magnet School in St. Paul, Minn., on May 22, 2024. The St. Paul district has boosted seal of biliteracy participation by creating courses and assessments for less commonly spoken languages.
Kaylee Domzalski/Education Week
English Learners Schools Are Graduating More Students With a Seal That Shows They're Multilingual
All 50 states now allow students to earn a distinction on their diploma signaling their mastery of multiple languages.
6 min read
A students throw their caps into the sky at the Tupelo Christian Preparatory School graduation ceremony at Hope Church on Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Tupelo, Miss.
Students throw their caps into the sky at the Tupelo Christian Preparatory School graduation ceremony at Hope Church on Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Tupelo, Miss. The seal of biliteracy on students' high school diplomas recognizes their multilingualism.
Hunt Mercier/The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal via AP
English Learners What New Research Shows About the Academic Success of Former English Learners
A new study offers a more nuanced look at English learners' academic performance in high school by disaggregating data.
4 min read
Photo of Latino teen studying in library.
iStock/Getty