Effective Methods for Improving Reading Skills in Finland
In Finland, educators are pioneering new methods to enhance the reading skills of students. In the town of Riihimäki, both upper secondary schools and basic education institutions have introduced daily reading sessions to foster a love for reading among children and young people. These sessions, which take place every morning, allow pupils and teachers to read traditional books or magazines for at least ten minutes.
The initiative was spearheaded by Kari Jukarainen, the principal of Riihimäki Upper Secondary School. Jukarainen observed that lengthy assignments in some subjects could overwhelm students, leading to anxiety and decreased motivation. “The situation makes the student nervous, and a negative emotion reduces motivation towards the entire subject. We thought about the matter with our colleagues, and one way was to start reading sessions at the upper secondary school,” Jukarainen explains.
Outi Ervasti, Head of Education in Riihimäki, notes that these reading sessions have already become an integral part of basic education. “Today, we have already received positive feedback from schools that the pupils have been with their noses in the book,” Ervasti says.
Powerful impact
Another successful initiative comes from Salo, where a reading model has significantly improved children’s literacy skills. This model requires each child to read fiction for half an hour every day or complete ten books during the school year. The impact has been remarkable, with primary school children showing a substantial increase in reading speed. “The test result increased by as much as 39 words in one semester, while the increase is usually 5–10 words,” says Piia Ukura, the developer of the model and a teacher of Finnish language and literature at Armfelt School.
A key factor in the success of these programs is the commitment of everyone involved in the child’s daily life. Ukura emphasizes the importance of collaboration between schools and homes. Parents are informed about the significance of reading homework and encouraged to make reading a pleasant daily habit. If challenges arise, Ukura works with parents to find solutions.
The reading model has also proven effective in secondary schools, with the ultimate goal of every comprehensive school graduate to be a young person who reads.
Curious to learn more about innovative methods from Finland for enchancing reading skills? Read our blog post “Reading to dogs helps people learning to read and with learning difficulties”!
We’d love to hear your thoughts on these methods! What approaches are taken in your country to enhance reading skills?
Written by Katja Mäkelä
Sources:
Lehtilä, S. (20.3.2025). Lasten lukutaito parani selvästi Salossa kehitellyllä mallilla- näin temppu tehtiin.
Niskanen, A-M. (13.3.2025). Riihimäen kouluissa luetaan perinteisiä kirjoja joka päivä- tavoitteena on parantaa lasten ja nuorten lukutaitoa.