The second many students step into their English classes, they are greeted with difficult assignments testing comprehension, like tricky quizzes with niche book details. But maybe these assignments would not be as difficult if we actually comprehend what we read for homework.
The students of today are the adults of tomorrow, and without basic having literacy skills we will struggle to navigate the world independently and effectively. We can improve our work by focusing on independent research and intentional proofreading.
Literacy skills are not only imperative for success in school, but also for the work force. Adults with low literacy levels participate less in the labor force and experience higher rates of unemployment, according to Ballard Brief, an online research library analyzing social issues on a global level. Although it is easy to fall behind and skip over reading or learning grammar rules, taking shortcuts results in the loss of truly comprehending what you are reading, and truly understanding why a comma might go in a specific spot. Lacking these skills can translate to difficulty in future work, having a bigger impact than just high school assignments.
One reason comprehension quizzes have become the norm in English classes is the decline in deep comprehension among students, English Teacher Gwen Quigley said. A grade looming over students’ heads encourages most of them to deeply read and hunt for details. Teachers who do not rely on grades try to encourage students by letting them have more freedom in picking out books they want to read, Quigley added.
In 2023, 5 million young adults struggled to analyze long reading materials, according to a 2024 analysis conducted by the Institute of Education Sciences. While reading comprehension provides students with basic interpretation skills, it also forces their full concentration and molds critical thinking.
Slacking behind and rushing through assignments will catch up in the long run, eroding not only students’ literacy skills but also their overall comprehension in other aspects of life. Nearly a third of seniors lack basic reading skills, and nearly half struggle with foundational math, according to results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), an assessment measuring what students know in different subjects across the United States.
Slipping literacy rates are a direct result of students’ passive habits. Skimming has replaced deep reading, leaving critical comprehension skills to wear away. Without a willingness to set aside dedicated time to sit with a text and fully absorb it, academic readiness naturally begins to suffer.
In 2012, 27 percent of 13-year-olds reported reading for fun, though in 2025, only 14 percent claimed the same thing, according to nationsreportcard.gov. While reading for fun is not enticing to everyone, the declining rate of reading for fun only emphasizes the trend we are seeing throughout our country; people are not trying to improve their literacy skills.
The only way we can salvage our declining literacy rates is by setting aside time tofocus on our work, and even though it may not be fun for everyone, it better prepares you for the future.
So next time you pick up a book, read to absorb the information, not just until the letters stop.
