Norfolk Public Schools

Time spent reading is key to literacy achievement and academic success. Anderson, Wilson, and Fielding (1988) found that time spent reading books outside of school predicted student’s reading performance.  Norfolk Public Schools is committed to providing equitable opportunities for students to grow as readers and encourages students to read at least an additional 14.2 minutes every day.

The research suggests that students who read for an additional 14.2 minutes a day are exposed to more than one million additional words over the course of a year. This finding highlights the substantial impact of consistent daily reading on a student's vocabulary and language development. By devoting just a few extra minutes to reading each day, students can significantly increase their word exposure, potentially enhancing their overall academic performance and comprehension skills.