What is the hold of literature on a reader's imagination, on my imagination? I remember many hours spent with books in a kind of romantic entanglement, and heartful obsession, and joyful reverie. I certainly remember being lost with words, lost in enthusiastic abandonment. I loved the sounds of words, and the images they conjured, and the…

This study explored English teachers' perspectives on the influences on their print text choices for study by Year 8, 9 and 10 students at three Christian schools in Perth, Western Australia (WA). A multiple-site case study was used to understand the phenomenon. Three teachers were selected at each school and data were collected through…

Briefly reviews some of the literature on the reading habits and interests of high school age students, and describes the different kinds of literature they read. (RB)

Explains how to design reading cards using material relevant to the interests of the children being taught. (TO)

Describes four samples of research designed to gauge the extent and effectiveness of those literary experiences which many English teachers regard as basic to instruction. (RB)

If the classroom English teacher is to be given any assistance in determining the most appropriate literary experiences for developing students' literature appreciation, it is imperative that research create a clearer understanding of the factors involved in developing discrimination in literature. (RL)

Reports the following information from a survey of secondary school students: the amount of leisure reading undertaken by students; the type of literature read; the effect of personal-, school-, and home-related variables on the variation in amount of time spent on leisure reading; students' sources of literature; and students' attitudes toward…

Lists the data and responses to the 12 questions in the study. Provides some general observations about the results. (RL)

Explains how a five- to seven-minute daily reading of popular children's books fostered aural comprehension and literary appreciation in students. (HOD)

Presents a study of students in Australia, Canada, and England and examines grade nine students' written responses to writing over a two year period and their opinions of the books they read. Suggests that for students of that age, creative written responses to writing are the most imaginative. (JC)

Presents a study comparing the elements children report enjoying in a book and the elements teachers believe children enjoy. Concludes that a great discrepancy exists between the two groups, as children reported they liked books offering excitement, suspense, and action, while teachers believed children pay more attention to characters. (JC)

Suggests that while teachers may wish to guide students in their reading of literature--to give them only "good" literature and to help them see the "right" interpretations of it--such guidance leaves students' understanding to chance, and does not help them choose to think and construct values of their own. (JC)