States that reading educators are becoming concerned with aliteracy and that research is only now focusing on reading habits. Studies 39 avid readers and non-avid readers to examine home and personal factors related to leisure reading habits. Discovers differences for some aspects of reading attitudes, for motivation, and for several home factors.…

Examines conditions under which readers experience intense engagement in a text, termed "optimal experience" or "flow." Reports on two studies examining flow during reading. Concludes that (1) texts for pleasure reading or interest reading provided more flow; (2) fiction was more likely to produce flow than nonfiction; and (3)…

Examines reluctant readers, or aliterates, and identifies three distinct types: dormant, uncommitted, and unmotivated. Habits and attitudes of literate, aliterate, and illiterate students are presented, including enjoyment of reading, primary cognitive responses, and feelings about other readers. (LRW)

This paper examines the high levels of social connectedness and civic engagement between the [North] Brisbane School of Arts and the local metropolitan newspapers in their eagerness to establish and promote a reading club that would curb what they felt was the local community's preoccupation with reading popular novels. The Brisbane Literary…

A study examined the commonalities that "voracious" readers share, and how their experiences can guide parents, teachers, and librarians in assisting children to become self-actualized readers. Subjects, 25 adults ranging in age from 20 to 67 years, completed a questionnaire concerning their reading histories and habits. Respondents…

The study examined the reading interests, attitudes, and habits of fourth, fifth, and sixth grade gifted students. The data were gathered from the 69 state assisted gifted programs in Missouri by means of a survey developed by the investigator. The Ss were limited to the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade gifted children whose program coordinators…

Points out that schools should instill in students a love of reading. Presents a checklist for assessing reading attitudes, and several instructional strategies for promoting positive attitudes. Suggests that the teacher is often the most powerful force in promoting positive attitude development. (ARH)

Notes that while teachers see the value of reading, they personally prefer to watch television in their leisure time. In addition, they prefer to engage their students in independent activities not necessarily related to reading tasks than to encourage them to read books or listen to books being read. (FL)

Proposes a technique that allows students to identify with a character in a story as a method of encouraging them to read. Lists prereading and follow-up questions for use with the technique. (FL)

Most educators recognize the importance of home-school connections, especially for the development of engaged and enthusiastic readers. This collection of 33 articles published in "The Reading Teacher" from 1993 to 1999 presents the "best of the best" classroom-tested ideas and approaches for increasing student motivation for…

Discusses the benefits of reading aloud to children of all ages. Lists some of the distractions in the home that compete with reading aloud. Offers ideas for parents who want to "sell" reading's pleasures and importance to their children. Lists nine broad areas that can be stimulated by teachers and parents who read aloud to children. (PRA)

An inventory collected responses from 63 adult beginning readers and 41 proficient readers regarding beliefs, feelings, and behaviors about consumer, social context, work-related, at-home, and recreational reading. Many views of the two groups were similar, although beginners disliked reading complex materials and reading aloud, do not read at…

Reports a study that examined the long-term stability of the construct of children's attitudes toward reading. Elementary students completed the Elementary Reading Attitude Survey twice over three years. Results indicated that children's attitudes about reading exhibited a consistent decline; girls expressed more positive attitudes toward…

Finds adult readers' efforts at and enjoyment of reading tasks varied depending on the texts and purpose for reading. Notes most readers relied on activating prior knowledge, rereading of text, and note taking. Finds a significant three-way interaction between reading source, setting, and occupation only. Illustrates how specific social context…

This study investigated the reliability and structural validity of Elementary Reading Attitude Survey ([ERAS]; McKenna and Kear, 1990) scores in 575 academically talented students attending an academic summer program. Results indicated that ERAS Academic and Recreational scores had satisfactory internal consistency coefficients, and that…