This article explores the factors behind the success of a reading workshop at the Center for Teaching and Learning in Edgecomb, Maine. In the workshop, teachers start by being honest with students about what they do as readers. They acknowledge the guilt many of them grew up with--the feeling that there's a proper, rigorous way to read and that…

This article explores the reading behaviours of 10 young competent nursery and reception children, The 10 children were selected from a group of 54 case study children involved in the national Bookstart evaluation study, "Bookstart: Planting a Seed for Life" (2005). This group of young readers, from different socioeconomic groups, were…

This report shares the findings from a nineteen-month study of The Big Read, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest, designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. Piloted in early 2006 and launched nationwide later that year, The Big…

In this article, Elizabeth Birr Moje, Melanie Overby, Nicole Tysvaer, and Karen Morris challenge some of the prevailing myths about adolescents and their choices related to reading. The reading practices of youth from one urban community are examined using mixed methods in an effort to define what, how often, and why adolescents choose to read. By…

All public, private and parochial schools in the city of Baltimore were polled to find out what young adults were reading on their own time for pleasure. The most popular teen titles in each school, as well as the overall top ten titles for the city are given. (NH)

A study examined the roles of reading in a community by describing the reading activities of individuals and demographic subgroups of individuals. After the preliminary, trial phase to determine the feasibility of the survey, 109 adult wage earners from 4 occupation groups, in a community of 6,000 households, responded to an inventory designed to…

Sixty percent of the population supposedly has the ability to read without severe mechanical problems but has little or no inclination to read except perhaps that which is required of him. A few practices that will lessen the student's disinclination to read are suggested. (Author/NH)

Explores what is known about magazine reading habits and interests in the United States and reviews sources in the ERIC database that discuss classroom uses of magazines. Source lists for children's magazines are also included. (HTH)

My goal in this article is to discuss the empirical support for extensive reading and explore its pedagogical applications in L2/FL learning. I argue that the benefits derived from diverse studies on extensive reading in many different contexts are so compelling that it will be inconceivable for teachers not to make it an important feature of…

This book presents an informal history of books and reading, beginning with the first clay tablets and continuing on to the latest novels. The history recounted in the book reveals the power books have always had to delight and entertain, and to enlighten, educate, and "raise possibilities." But the story of reading also contains many…

Compares the reading fare of social and economic leaders with the reading material selections of intellectuals, concluding that the press is highly regarded and widely read among these groups. (RB)

In building the young adult book collection, the emphasis should be for quality of text and format as well as appeal, level of difficulty, and developmental and curricular uses. (NH)

Examined factors influencing instructors' selection of course readings and students' reading patterns. Found that instructors were informed by pedagogical objectives, such as challenging students, exposing them to diverse sources, and reinforcing central course themes, as well as non-pedagogical factors such as reducing expense and author gender.…

Examines poetry preferences of young children from a historical perspective and from a recent study conducted by the authors. Makes recommendations for building bridges to lasting poetry interest. (SR)

Presents a set of questions that are offered as suggestions to help students think and define themselves as readers. Notes that to encourage thoughtful, well developed responses, the questions should be spread out over a number of days or weeks. (RS)