The primary purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to examine educators' perceptions of how comic books and graphic novels can promote literacy skills and motivation in readers. The problem was that teachers were concerned about students' lack of ability to focus on traditional novels and lack of interest in classroom reading material.…

The current study's purpose was to validate a revised Story World Absorption Scale (SWAS; Kuijpers et al., 2014) as a measure of habitual adolescent reading engagement. This approach to measuring reading engagement reflects the multidimensionality and theoretical alignment that is currently missing from the reading engagement literature.…

This study explores the relationship between features of the books students select for independent reading and their motivation to read. After spending 15 to 20 minutes reading from their self-selected texts, participants (n = 340) completed the Motivation to Read Profile-Revised (MRP-R) (Malloy et al., 2013) and provided information about their…

Reading is and continues to be on the decline in the U.S. Perhaps more startling to consider is the impact that low reading motivation levels may have on the persistent achievement gaps that pervade Black and Hispanic minorities. This research study aimed to elucidate the intersection of these two points and the implications of introducing choice…

The role of student choice reading on engagement and academic achievement from the perspective of teachers is the topic of this study. The problem addressed is that middle school students often struggle with reading due to a lack of engagement in English Language Arts courses. Students and educators are mainly impacted by this problem; however,…

This single-case study was designed to evaluate the effects of autonomous text choice on reading motivation and reading comprehension in underperforming sixth-grade students. This study was built upon the theoretical framework constructed using self-determination theory, situational expectancy-value theory, and culturally relevant pedagogy. Study…

The purpose of this mixed method study was to examine the influence of reading motivation on African American and Latinx high school students' reading perceptions across grade levels and between genders. This study included a review of data from the "Motivations to Read Questionnaire," and conversational interviews using scripted…

Reading motivation is an important contributor to reading achievement. Students with higher levels of motivation tend to outperform those with lower levels. Reading motivation is a dynamic, situational, context-dependent trait that can vary in children over time and across tasks. Teachers have a valuable opportunity to support students' reading…

Elementary students' literacy skills are decreasing nationwide ("The Nation's Report Card," 2019). This is concerning because as literacy skills slip, the literacy demands for American workers are steadily increasing (OECD, 2013). Unfortunately, adding to the situation is the fact that students' attitudes towards reading are worsening…

Reading motivation has been identified as a significant factor that contributes to academic achievement. However, research has demonstrated that reading motivation declines as students progress through the elementary years. Exploring younger students' reading motivation is warranted as it can identify practices that foster and sustain intrinsic…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of audio books on students' reading experiences in a public elementary school in rural upstate South Carolina. This study was conducted to address the problem of practice reported by teachers as low motivation and engagement during independent reading in classrooms that contributed to…

Improving reading comprehension for middle school students with disabilities and others who struggle with reading, referred to here as striving readers, is challenging. Formal reading instruction typically shifts from skills acquisition to application in middle and high school, providing inadequate support in the skills for comprehension (Chall,…

Reading fluency and comprehension are necessary to successfully function in school, work, and society. A 2015 study by the National Center for Educational Statistics indicates that the dropout rate for African American males is significantly higher than the national overall dropout rate. Since proficiency in reading strongly correlates with high…

The purpose of this action research was to address the issue of first-grade students being unengaged and unmotivated to read independently for the recommended 20-minute block of time in class. Students were also not electing to read independently during any free time they had in class. This research was designed to investigate how implementing a…

In order to succeed in college, students need to be able to read closely, critically, and independently. Unfortunately, large scale studies of graduating high school students in the United States have indicated that many are underprepared for college and career reading. When these students enter college, they often find themselves in a space that…