The results of the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study 2001 (PIRLS) were reported in 2003. In addition to data about the reading achievements of 10-year-olds in 35 countries, the study also collected questionnaire information from children, their teachers, headteachers and parents. One aspect of the data that attracted comment in the…

The importance of reading for academic study cannot be overemphasized. At the postgraduate level, students are faced with complex text interpretation processes. Yet, while concerns have been expressed regarding the English as a second language literacy (Fitzgerald, 1995), few international students have been asked for their views on their…

The study examines the reading attitudes and attainment of Hong Kong, Singapore and English primary-school students using data collected in the PIRLS 2001 international reading survey. A total of 13,486 students aged 9-10 years were assessed. Singaporean students were found to have more positive reading attitudes and confidence than Hong Kong and…

A study of 1,242 children in 20 fifth, sixth, and seventh grade classes in Richmond, British Columbia, was undertaken over a seven-month period to discover the effects of a sustained silent reading program (SSR) on the students. Ten classes and the four schools they were in participated in the SSR group and ten classes selected from five other…

Reports on an interdisciplinary unit of study for British second-year junior students dealing with trees. Claims the unit developed the appreciation and fascination that reading materials can offer and demonstrated the multifarious uses for which reading can be employed. (SKC)

Investigates the relationship between reading attitudes, achievement, and learners' perceptions of a Jigsaw II cooperative learning experience among a group of eighth-grade Lebanese students of English as a Foreign Language. Reveals certain statistically significant differences between high and low achievers and between males and females across…

Investigates the functions of reading across diverse cultural settings by examining children's purposes for reading in 13 countries and then identifying functions of reading common across age levels and nationalities. Finds three common factors identified by 10 and 13 year olds: utility, enjoyment, and escape. (KEH)

Outlines an observational album assessment device, which describes children's reading behavior, taking into account attitudes, responses and strategies to produce a profile of each reader's achievements. (NH)

Describes the Reading Is Fundamental, UK program. Argues for taking books to children and families in areas where there is little or no book culture. Notes that through free book distributions and accompanying high-quality motivation events, the program has shown that children who choose reading for pleasure are more likely to use reading for…

Illustrates the findings of a survey of reading frequency and attitudes related to extensive reading in English. Finds a negative correlation between the number of years of past English study and reading attitude. Notes that these findings are useful for defining appropriate instructional actions and identifying areas for further research with…

Investigates attitudes and cultural background of Israeli Arab students learning Hebrew and Israeli Jewish students learning English to reading comprehension in familiar/unfamiliar cultural stories. Compares contexts: Arabs as minority group learning the majority language and Jews as majority group learning a minority language. Indicates that…

Presents a summary of a case study of the Machiguenga of the Peruvian Amazon, who have reached a relatively high level of literacy 40 years after receiving a written alphabet. Identifies sociological and educational factors contributing to literacy acquisition and retention. Notes that the program has noticeably increased the people's self-esteem…

This study examined the extent that motivational processes facilitate the comprehension of texts and the extent of culture's role in children's motivational processes of text comprehension. Relationships between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, the amount of reading, past reading achievement, and text comprehension were examined by utilizing…

Maya K. David reports an interesting view of reading in Malaysia through the eyes of graduate student Mohd Nazri bin Hamid (2003), who conducted an exploratory study about the culture of reading in an academy of Islamic studies. The purposes of Nazri's investigation were (a) to examine undergraduate students' reading habits, (b) to offer a…

The results of the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS 2001) were published in 2003. In addition to data about the reading achievements of 10-year-olds in 35 countries, PIRLS 2001 also collected questionnaire information from children, their teachers, headteachers and parents. The results showed not just how well students can…