What factor most influences a student's engagement in reading?

The engagement of a student in reading is significantly influenced by the variety of active strategies applied during reading. When students actively engage with the text using different strategies—such as questioning, summarizing, predicting, and connecting the material to their own experiences—they are more likely to maintain interest and comprehension. Active engagement encourages deeper cognitive processing, making reading a more interactive and meaningful experience. This active involvement not only fosters a connection to the text but also helps students develop critical thinking skills and a positive attitude towards reading overall.

While factors like the length of the text, the difficulty level of the text, and the presence of illustrations can impact reading engagement, they do not promote that same level of active involvement as the implementation of diverse strategies. A longer text might deter some students if it is not paired with engaging strategies, a difficult text can lead to frustration if students do not have the tools to navigate it, and illustrations can support comprehension but may not be sufficient on their own to engage students deeply with the material. Active strategies ensure that students are not merely passively consuming information but are actively constructing meaning and enjoying the process of learning to read.