Those of us who enjoy reading classics with our students, families, friends, or various companions are already familiar with the beautiful feelings that arise in these gatherings. Year after year, we observe how dialogic reading enables respectful listening to all voices through equal participation, a deeper understanding of the text through supportive interactions, and an increase in motivation toward reading.
However, the necessity of classic literature for achieving good results is often questioned. This newspaper has provided various reasons for using the best literary works. Nevertheless, research in the prestigious journal Nature offers another argument in favor of their use. The study was longitudinal and involved more than six thousand German adolescents aged between 10 and 15. The hypothesis was that reading fiction could improve readers’ cognitive and social skills and consequently increase their prosocial behavior. Various genres were considered, such as non-fiction, comics, popular literature, and classics. The result was that, among the genres analyzed, only classic literature improved adolescents’ prosocial behavior and social adjustment.
The research reminds us that behavior is also influenced by other variables such as parental education and peer socialization. However, we know from other studies that the content of leisure and cultural products also influences our behavior. While this study demonstrates that reading classic books improves behavior, we know from other research that dialogic literary gatherings amplify this effect when shared through equal dialogue.
Thus, we find another argument to promote dialogic literary gatherings in more spaces and to conduct them with the rigor our children deserve, that is, using the best works ever written. In other words: just as a nutritionist would recommend fruits and vegetables to improve our health, it is advisable for children to have access to spaces where they can share classic literature to enhance their relationships and mental health.
This article is translated from Periódico Educación
Special education and primary school teacher