Every student regardless of the level wants to come out with good grades and an improved academic performance. Reading is well-planned and deliberate pattern of study which has attained a form of consistency on the part of students toward understanding academic subjects and passing at examinations. The level of reading determines the academic achievements of students to a great extent. Both reading and academic achievements are interrelated and dependent on each other.
Students often come from different environments and localities with different levels of academic achievement. Therefore, they differ in the pattern of reading habits. While some students have good reading habits, others tend to exhibit poor reading habits. Academic achievement means how much knowledge the individual has acquired from the school.
Group reading is very important during final year research projects; students share ideas and materials for research purposes. Effective reading is important avenue of effective learning and reading is interrelated with the total educational process and hence, educational success requires successful reading habit.
GROUP READING
Reading is the ability to understand words contained in a document and make use of the knowledge for personal growth and development. This implies making meaning out of recorded information either printed or non-printed in the life of an individual. People read for different reasons and purposes, some of which include for pleasure, leisure, relaxation, information and for knowledge.
Reading is the identification of the symbols and the association of appropriate meaning with them. It requires identification and comprehension. Comprehension skills help the learner to understand the meaning of words in isolation and in context. Reading is an essential tool for knowledge transfer and the habit of reading is an academic activity that increases skills in reading strategies.
Group reading is designed to provide differentiated teaching that supports students in developing reading proficiency'. The small group model allows students to be taught in a way that is intended to be more focused on their specific needs, accelerating their progress.
Guided reading helps students develop greater control over the reading process through the development of reading strategies which assist decoding and construct meaning.
THE NEED FOR GROUP READING
The need for group reading especially as undergraduate cannot be overemphasized. The need for group reading is as follows:
i. Improves/broadens understanding: Group reading helps students understand courses better especially difficult ones because ideas are shared among group members. It also broadens the knowledge of courses/subjects. From the various contributions of group members, understanding improves and knowledge broadens.
ii. Retention: group reading also increases retention. It is easier to remember what group members shared than what you read alone in your closet. By so doing, it improves academic retention.
iii. Good use of time: group reading also helps students to make good and judicious use of their time. Some students find it difficult keeping to their personal reading time-table and as such may experience low academic performance. But when you read in groups, it helps you make good use of time since you are not the only one reading, you will be constantly reminded of your appointment with other group members.
iv. Opportunity to ask questions and gain clarification: group reading enables you to ask any questions as regards the course or subject you do not understand or need further clarifications on form other group members who have a better understanding of the course than you.
GROUP READING AND THE PERFORMANCE OF FINAL YEAR STUDENTS
Final year students need good grades more than anyone below their level in school because they need to graduate with a good and impressive CGPA after round up their undergraduate project defense even though good grades should be worked for from the very beginning of entry into the university.
Therefore, group reading is advised for final year students especially those who underperform academically and needs to improve their CGPA.
CONCLSUION
Reading is a lifelong skill to be used both at school and throughout life. Reading is a basic life skill. Without the ability to read well, opportunities for personal fulfillment and job success inevitably will be lost. Despite its importance, reading is one of the most challenging areas in the education system. The ever-increasing demand for high levels of literacy in our technological society makes this problem even more pressing. Reading comprehension is considered the real core and the peak for the reading process, and a big process around which all other processes are centered.