Audiobooks are excellent tools to help students build literacy skills as well as improve listening, writing, and vocabulary competencies. In many shared or independent reading situations, audiobooks offer support to reluctant and struggling readers, special-needs students, and English-language learners. They are also embraced by voracious readers.…

This article focuses on a literacy approach called free voluntary reading. In schools, this approach is often called sustained silent reading, or SSR. The secret of its effectiveness is simple: children become better readers by reading, and it may be the only way to help children become better readers, writers, and spellers. Study after study has…

Discusses the issue of capable high school students who are excellent readers but don't read outside of school assignments. Suggests that the school librarian's role in solving this problem is to provide a variety of reading materials and to encourage reading both in the library and in the school program. (BK)

This study collected data via a three-page questionnaire administered to active readers 8 to 12 years old and half-hour taped interviews. Questionnaire findings (general information, interests, recent reading, information network), interview findings (book experience, reading taste, libraries, help in reading material selection, lists, reviews,…

Describes a reading program focusing on Newbery Medal and Honor Books developed by a library/media specialist and a sixth-grade reading teacher. Evolution of the group format into an individualized approach is discussed, as well as such positive outcomes of the program as increased enjoyment of reading by students. (BK)