Educators around the country are struggling with a youth reading crisis. Not only are NAEP reading scores trending downward, but too many students start off the school year saying, “I hate reading.” The prospect of reading, whether at home for an assignment or out loud in class, makes these students anxious. This anxiety makes them less likely to practice, which impedes their literacy progress.
One way to create a more welcoming experience for all readers is to offer a variety of reading formats in both the library and the classroom. A recent research study I conducted on behalf of Thorndike Press from Gale, part of Cengage Group, found that simply offering students large print books was an effective intervention: 87% of teachers agreed that access to large print positively impacted their students’ reading success, with many noting improvements in fundamental skills such as letter and word recognition, fluency and comprehension.
Study participants included approximately 1,500 students in grades 4-12 and 56 teachers and librarians from 13 U.S. elementary, middle and high schools. Participants read large-print books printed with high-contrast black on high-opacity paper. The text is in 16-point font, and pages feature increased space between lines and paragraphs.
This approachable format not only helped students build literacy skills but also improved their social-emotional wellness. Here are some key findings from the study and recommendations for getting started with a large print collection.
Making reading more approachable and enjoyable
Teachers who responded to my survey reported increased engagement and confidence in reading among their students, particularly their struggling readers. Because large print books made the reading process more comfortable, students were more likely to have the stamina to finish an entire book. They were also more likely to participate in classroom read-alouds. When asked whether access to large print books led to increased student participation in classroom read-aloud activities, most teachers said yes, including:
- 74% for students reading below grade level;
- 63% for students diagnosed with ADHD; and
- 52% for students reading at grade level.
Students read more and had a more positive experience: 89% of 6th-12th graders said they enjoyed reading large print books. And at the end of the study, 75% of grade 6-8 students and 86% of grade 9-12 students expressed interest in having more large print books available.
One 7th-grade student noted that they felt a sense of achievement with large print books, as he could read more pages and comprehend more material. He shared, “One big thing for me was that I did not lose my spot or go a long time with only half reading. Half reading is where I am reading, but my mind is somewhere else, and I don’t understand or take the information in.”
SEL benefits of large print
Because it provides a more welcoming experience, large print improves students’ social and emotional well-being by decreasing their anxiety about reading. Students in the study read more and became more proficient, leading them to find more joy in reading and become more engaged in learning. When asked whether reading large print decreased their students’ stress and anxiety associated with schoolwork reading, a majority of teachers said yes, including:
- 81% for students reading below grade level;
- 58% for students reading at grade level; and
- 58% for students diagnosed with ADHD.
This decrease in anxiety was paired with an increase in confidence. Teachers reported that large print boosted confidence among a wide range of readers, including:
- 87% for students reading below grade level;
- 71% for students reading at grade level; and
- 55% for students diagnosed with ADHD.
Teachers also found that students who had been diagnosed with ADHD increased their participation in class activities and were able to read without distraction for more extended periods. “Oftentimes, smaller text can be a trigger for students I work with who are on Behavior/Emotional IEPs or have been diagnosed with ADHD,” said one 8th-grade special education teacher. “I liked that the text felt fresh and accessible to the students.”
Getting started with large print
For schools seeking to launch or build a collection of large print books, the implementation is notable for what it doesn’t require. It doesn’t require any teacher professional development, changes in curriculum, adjustments to teaching practices, or new technology. All it needs is getting a large print book into a student’s hands. As a 7th- and 8th-grade classroom teacher told me, “I’ve been using large print texts in the classroom for years now, and I will always continue to do so. Having large print is just another tool, like audiobooks, graphic versions and books in other languages to help students access reading successfully.”
A popular way to introduce students to the visible benefits of large print is through “book tastings,” during which teachers or librarians read sections of books and then showcase the different formats students can choose from. A department chair of a media center explained, “Generally, when I have large print incorporated in book tastings, I say, ‘Hey, take a look at this book. Does anybody notice anything?’ I have students call out the physical attributes of the book, and then I explain that our brains like more white space and we get fewer headaches when we have larger print like this.”
Comments like this and an array of data from my study show that large print books can deliver both literacy progress and social-emotional benefits. By embracing a diverse selection of reading materials and prioritizing student choice, schools can transform reading from a dreaded chore into a source of pride, confidence and lifelong learning. As one 10th-grade special education teacher recalled, “Many of my students struggled with confidence and were not very engaged readers at the start of this school year. After incorporating large print books, students have been more engaged and confident when reading aloud. Their fluency and comprehension skills, based on informal and formal assessments, have also improved. I definitely feel that I have been able to meet their need to become confident and fluent readers by using large print books. I hope to continue using large print books in my classroom in the future.”
Opinions expressed by SmartBrief contributors are their own.
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