By LINDSEY MEYER
Guest Columnist
The month of March not only marks National Reading Month, it is also a critical time for elementary school students as many are currently taking this year’s Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD) assessment. In 2025, we saw promising results for Hoosier students as scores improved following a dangerous drop during the pandemic.
While this month is dedicated to literacy awareness, it also serves as a critical reminder: Although 87.3 percent of third graders passed the assessment last year, more than 10,000 Indiana students still struggle with foundational reading skills.
Reading is not just an academic requirement; it’s a vital life skill that shapes futures. Whether a student eventually heads to college, serves in the military, or steps straight into the workforce, foundational literacy is the cornerstone of communication, opportunity, and critical thinking.
To reach those remaining students, we must embrace diverse education models that give families more opportunities to learn in ways that work best for them. Online learning options can be a lifeline for students who struggle in traditional brick-and-mortar schools. These platforms provide flexible schedules, one-to-one instructional time, and responsive tools right at a student’s fingertips.
But literacy doesn’t just happen in a classroom setting, National Reading Month is the perfect time for parents to kickstart lifelong reading habits at home. Research shows that reading with children early in life helps them build an oral and listening vocabulary of approximately 5,000 words by the time they reach Kindergarten. Even just 20 minutes of daily reading can dramatically help sharpen a child’s skills.
Here are a few tactics families can use this month to engage with their children and encourage them to read more:
- Make it fun: Let kids read what they enjoy and how they like, whether that means physical storybooks, nonfiction, or age-appropriate reading apps.
- Make it a game: Try reading in a new place like a pillow fort, have your child read to a stuffed animal or pet, or participate in virtual reading challenges to win prizes.
- Make it part of your daily schedule: Dedicate 20 minutes each evening to read together or independently, and share what everyone learned during family dinner.
Indiana’s Department of Education, the Indiana Literacy Cadre, and our dedicated teachers have made tremendous strides by using research-based methods to move the needle on literacy.
As we observe National Reading Month, now is not the time to slow down. Every page turned, every story, and every shared moment with a book helps a child grow and our communities thrive.
Lindsey Meyer is a reading coach with the Indiana Gateway Digital Academy, specializing in early childhood and elementary education with nearly two decades of experience as an educator.