Distinguishes between interest in reading and attitude toward reading. Discusses the development of reading interests and attitudes. Notes problems with teacher perception of students' attitudes and interests. Discusses the influence of teacher attitude toward reading and teachers' reactions to students. Presents suggestions for assessing student…

Generates questions which invite the reader to consider the people, places, and activities in their own classrooms that turn kids on or off to books. Provides some ideas and impressions from observations and conversations with children. Offers a nine-item annotated bibliography for teachers interested in reading further about this topic. (MG)

Examines responses of fourth, sixth, and eighth grade students to realistic and fantasy novels. Finds that students responded to fantasy with more categoric evaluations and to realism with more analytic evaluation. Finds also that evaluative responses moved from mainly categoric in grade four to more analytic in the upper grades. (KEH)

A 3-month unit on folktales with two sixth-grade classes proved to be a highly motivating means of developing critical reading skills. Lessons, which generally occupied from four to six class periods each, involved four steps: (1) the teacher stated the skills to be learned and told students what was planned for the reading period each day; (2)…

This booklet provides specific, workable suggestions for parents in helping them create the best atmosphere they can for developing their childrens' reading. The booklet begins with general principles for establishing a home reading program, and continues with a checklist of fifty specific suggestions for parents on helping their children become…

To determine if purposes in reading differ with sex, grade level, and nationality, a 16-item "Functions of Reading Scale" (developed from content analysis of student essays on why they like to read) was administered to 459 Irish (Dublin, Ireland) and American (Windham, Connecticut) students in grades three, five, and eight. Data…

One hundred forty-seven students enrolled in a developmental reading program responded to a questionnaire designed to ascertain the reading attitudes and interests of middle school students. It was hypothesized that by overemphasizing basic skills instruction, schools may not be taking the necessary steps to help students develop the ability and…

If reading is to become a lifelong passion, teachers must strive to encourage in students a lifelong interest in reading, and to improve their literature appreciation and critical reading abilities. Research indicates that teachers must enrich the reading curriculum beyond the basic skills program if children are to learn to love to read. Such an…

The articles in this publication offer ideas for developing enjoyment of reading in children. Among the topics discussed are the following: the need for teachers and parents to build children's self-esteem through increasing their experiences of success, their expectations of success, and the value they place on reading; methods for increasing…

Questionnaires were distributed to 6,354 elementary school students participating in the Holt Basic Reading System Field Study. Primary students reported that their favorite activity is watching television; intermediate students, playing sports. Approximately 25% of the students did not have a pet; 46% reported having a dog; 15%, a cat. Almost 48%…

This bulletin describes the nature and development of reading habits at elementary , secondary, college, and adult levels and offers suggestions for improvement. An appreciation of literary forms, taught in precise vocabulary, should be included in elementary instruction. The teaching of reading skills should be continued and developed in…

The community at large can make a definite contribution in helping children develop the desire to read. First, community groups can make books available to children through such methods as sponsoring book fairs and donating the proceeds to school libraries for the purchase of books. Other methods of making books available to children, used in the…

This bulletin describes the nature and development of reading habits at elementary, secondary, college, and adult levels and offers suggestions for improvement. An appreciation of literary forms, taught in precise vocabulary, should be included in elementary instruction. The teaching of reading skills should be continued and developed in…

The opening paper of this book deals with the central theme, "Reading: Seventy-five Years of Progress," and the other papers, delivered at the general sessions, are concerned with progress over the years in specific areas of reading instruction: "Characteristics of Successful Teaching of Reading,""The Major Aspects of Reading,""Identifying…

If the purpose for teaching children's literature is to introduce readers to books to which they can respond and to encourage self-directed reading, the necessity of considering the reader's point of view is obvious. If the teacher approaches the subject from the student's point of view, the selection of materials will be influenced, thereby…