Contexts of Reading - Background

What are contexts of reading?
Contexts of reading are all the elements that influence how we read in different situations. The context includes: 1) the setting, 2) the text, and 3) the purpose for reading.

There are two main types of reading contexts. In leisure contexts we choose to read for our own interest, pleasure or entertainment. In functional contexts we read to help us achieve a specific goal. Functional reading may still be enjoyable, especially when it involves problem solving, but it always has at least one goal that requires us to think ahead about what we are trying to achieve.

The same text could be read in either a leisure context or a functional context depending on the purpose for reading. For example, reading a short story for enjoyment is leisure reading; reading a short story for a school assignment is functional reading.

Why should I teach my students about contexts of reading?
Teaching students about contexts of reading will help them be more confident and strategic in their reading. Researchers and theorists tell us that reading always varies according to the context. Proficient readers know how to size up the setting, text and purpose, and how to select the best reading strategies for that context. For example, a situation that involves understanding and recalling details requires a different set of strategies from a situation where the reader is seeking specific information but memorization is not necessary.

Unfortunately for many students, choosing effective strategies does not come automatically. Often, students who have difficulty reading simply browse or skim through texts without a specific strategy in mind because they don’t have a clear reason for reading. When situations arise in which they need to search for specific information or meaning, they may assume it will be too difficult for them. They may also feel frustrated and overwhelmed by the demands of different reading contexts.

Teaching students to understand and identify different contexts of reading will help them develop and choose reading strategies, which in turn will increase their motivation, confidence and success. Knowledge of context can help students to:
• realize the decisions they are making in regards to reading, including the key decision of whether or not to read something in the first place
• select the information that they need to focus on
• figure out difficult words
• monitor their reading to see if it was accurate
• feel more in control and less frustrated during reading.

Students can learn to recognize contexts of reading and choose appropriate strategies through teacher-guided practice and reflection on the reading they do in various situations for various purposes. Such practice and reflection helps readers develop metacognition [link to new meta popup], or the ability to think about their thinking processes.

Why is functional reading important for students?
Functional reading is what students will need to do all the time to get things done at school, at work and in their everyday lives. Almost all jobs require some amount of reading, whether it is simple signs and directions or more complex memos, e-mails or other documents. Functional reading is also important for everyday activities at home and in the community, such as driving, shopping, cooking and paying bills.

While any assigned reading is automatically functional, we can help students more clearly understand the meaning and importance of functional reading by providing materials and contexts that relate to authentic goals.

Why is leisure reading important for students?
It may seem that only functional reading is important, but leisure reading can play a major role in developing students’ imaginations, identities and literacy. This reading does not need to be literature to be meaningful. Any kind of leisure reading helps students acquire new vocabulary, strategies and ideas. Most importantly, leisure reading helps students to think of themselves as readers.

Research shows that we tend to underestimate the amount of leisure reading our students do. In fact, students may read a variety of texts for enjoyment: newspapers or magazines, letters or notes from friends, information on the Internet, comic books, song lyrics, novels, stories or poetry. Some students will do leisure reading because they are interested in a particular topic. Or they might read to enjoy a particular genre, author or series.