Three famous writers--Eudora Welty, Madeleine L'Engle, and Jack London--used their silent reading experiences to survive not only their childhoods, but also to become adult chroniclers of human lives. Pulitzer-prize winning author Eudora Welty credits an extended period of silent reading when she was 7 years old (and home from school for nearly a…

While the influence of television on reading has only been minimally researched, it is obvious that the more television watching children do, the less time is spent on reading. Over 10 years, the cumulative effects of television viewing can be devastating. Watching television is a passive, receptive activity. Children also watch MTV, rent movies,…

Intended to help communities raise funds for Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) projects, this booklet lists ideas and examples, many volunteered and tested by RIF projects themselves. The first of the booklet's four sections offers suggestions for preparing for a fundraising effort. The next two sections contain ideas on the main avenues of…

The purpose of the project outlined in this booklet is to enable upper elementary students to become familiar with the various departments of "The New York Times," to cope with headlines and lead paragraphs, and to develop a genuine interest in an adult newspaper. A general outline of the project by the teacher is provided, followed by…

In order to determine whether the reading habits and attitudes of parents influenced the reading performance of their children, a 36-item questionnaire was sent to 213 parents of children in the STARR (Students Are Reading Right) reading program in grades one through six at two elementary schools in Neenah, Wisconsin. Responses on 148…

Visiting the library is a great way for parents to encourage their child's imagination and learning. It gives parents the opportunity to model good reading behavior and to show their child that they value books and reading. No matter how young the child is, a trip to the library can be an enjoyable outing for parents and their children. Most…

This book, one of a series, focuses on science seen every day in homes and neighborhoods. The message of the series of books urges parents and children to spend time together, talk about stories, and learn together. The first part of each book presents stories appropriate for varying grade levels, both younger children and those in grades three…

The literature on reading aloud indicates a positive result when children read aloud with others. Reading aloud is found to enhance a student's vocabulary, to familiarize students with language patterns and sentence structure, to help students develop listening skills and increased attention spans, and to build children's curiosity in reading.…

Discusses the importance of parents' reading attitudes and habits in promoting reading in children, defends the quality of current children's books, and tells how Dorothy Butler's "Cushla and Her Books," a book about the rehabilitation of a disabled child, establishes unequivocally the need for "human links" between children…

Suggests field trips and other community exploration activities to show students that reading exists as a useful skill outside the classroom. (SJL)

Reviews studies of the relationship between television viewing and children's interest and achievement in reading; points out that the relationship is complex and that further research studies using more sophisticated measures of viewing and reading behavior need to be conducted before conclusions are made. (ET)

Investigates whether seventh-grade students who were exposed to the Accelerated Reader during elementary school tend to do more reading of books than those who did not have such exposure. Describes Accelerated Reader, a program in which books are given a point value on the basis of length and reading level. Proposes that students do not become…

Investigates how the writing of some Year 6 children was influenced by exposure to the work of a contemporary author of children's literature and through reading a variety of fairy stories, tales and nursery rhymes. Concludes the children's awareness of story structure resulted in thought-provoking short stories with intertextual references. (PM)

Studies the effect of sustained silent reading (SSR) on recreational reading habits after termination of instruction. Finds that SSR students read more than those not in the program, and that SSR has no impact on above average readers, great impact on average readers, and little impact on below average readers. (RS)

Discusses poststructuralist theories and describes how they can be useful in explaining the phenomenon of children's gendered literature preferences. Offers insights into the complexities of gender and its connections with reading fiction. Discusses children's reading preferences in school, the publishing industry, the school curriculum, and…