The problems in implementing and evaluating a television project for teaching reading in thirteen District of Columbia schools are described, and the opinion is offered that the project was successful in producing a rapid improvement in the students' interest in improving their reading ability. Participants were 300 students in grades four through…

A study was conducted (1) to develop a more comprehensive theoretical framework for exploring the nature and process of response to literature, (2) to develop an integrated schema for analyzing responses, and (3) to apply this theory and schema to the responses of fifth and eighth grade students to two different kinds of texts. Subjects were ten…

The Assessment of Language and Reading Maturity (ALARM), a series of 15 subtests that measured reading skills and factors contributing to reading, was administered to 199 urban and 380 suburban junior high school students to assess the concept "progress toward reading maturity." Reading maturity was defined as evidence of solid reading…

To determine whether children find paperback books more appealing than hardbound books, children's reactions to paperback books were compared with their reactions to the same titles in hardbound format. A total of 150 fifth graders were divided into two groups: 78 children (42 boys and 36 girls) examined 30 hardbound books, and 72 children (38…

Since the average child spends an estimated 30 hours a week watching television, it is important to consider the negative and positive effects of television viewing on the development of reading attitudes and habits. Possible negative aspects of television viewing include the following: the rapid pacing of programs encourages shallow reading; the…

This paper reports a survey of children's interests at two ages. Data was obtained from a questionnaire administered to 200 grade 1 and 180 grade 7 boys and girls in ten different primary schools in the Perth, Australia area. Children were administered a 10-question questionnaire designed to measure leisure and academic interests. First grade…

Findings from a number of studies of the reading interests and habits of British secondary school students are reviewed, and the results of a new survey of the opinions of 55 teachers are briefly reported. The studies indicate that a number of "classic" texts are popular but that "subliterature" is also popular and becomes more…

Examines the relationship between leisure-time reading and home environment, reading attitude, and reading motivation. Suggests, from the perspective of developing the leisure reading habit, that (1) what parents "do" is more important than what they "are" and (2) the emphasis placed on reading in the home and on academic and intellectual…

Reports on a study that surveyed upper primary class children to determine how widely they read, who their favorite authors are, how they choose the books they read, where they obtain them, and who they talk to about them. (HOD)

Substantiates a positive and significant relationship between high interest and literal comprehension for second grade readers in the Virgin Islands. Asks teachers to consider how this might affect classroom instruction. (FL)

This report describes a program for improving students' attitudes toward reading. The targeted population consisted of second and third grade students in a growing middle class community. The problem of the lack of interest in reading and the poor quality of classroom work were evident in parent and student surveys, and teacher observations.…

Physical education teachers and coaches in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington were surveyed to determine the extent of their participation in professional activities, such as conferences, conventions, workshops, clinics, inservice meetings, and professional reading. Data show that the teachers lacked professional commitment to these activities. (PP)

A measure was developed to assess kindergarten children's interest in reading, and information about their home and school environments was collected. High-reading-interest children were read to more frequently, watched less television, and had more books at home. School factors are also discussed. (Author/PP)

Results indicate that while amount of newspaper reading does not covary with knowledge of city affairs, the reasons why people read newspapers matter. If people read to learn about municipal politics, they tend to be taught. If they read for fun, they learn little. Media effects depend on motives of media users. (PD)

Provides limited support for the use of newspapers in school. Concludes that the Newspaper in Education (NIE) program does not necessarily increase newspaper readership in adult life. (RL)