The Texas Reading Club is designed to encourage youth to read for pleasure and to promote library usage.A statewide theme is selected each year that emphasizes ways in which reading expands young minds and encourages children to use their imaginations. The year 2000's theme, "Invent the future! READ!," emphasizes ways in which reading…

Suggests books and other materials that are interesting and supportive for struggling readers and reluctant readers, in several categories: repetitive texts, texts that can be performed, and popular texts that have particular appeal for reluctant readers. (SR)

Describes the experience of planning an author visit day at Longfellow School (Portland, Maine). Discusses advance arrangements; supplemental reading; creative curriculum enrichment with other books; and involving the school community. Includes an annotated bibliography of books to assist in planning author visits, as well as a sampling of the…

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…

Argues that music is a powerful way to motivate students to read. Discusses reading picture books made from songs or written by musicians; using music to set the mood; combining poetry with music; and using instruments or sound effects. Lists picture books made from songs or written by musicians, books for mood music, and books with musical…

Units of study that contain fictional and informational texts can improve students' comprehension by strengthening background knowledge, vocabulary, and motivation. Such units improve students' background knowledge when informational texts activate or build prior knowledge for fictional texts on the same topic, vocabulary when they provide…

Contends that middle school pupils need a specially designed curriculum with its objectives, learning opportunities, and appraisal procedures and that learners need ample time to interact with others in purposeful and motivational experiences. (PA)

Discusses booktalks as a method of promoting reading among middle school students and suggests titles in the areas of fantasies, mysteries, contemporary fiction, outdoor/adventure fiction, historical fiction, and humorous fiction. A Web site is given that includes complete bibliographic information and additional titles. (LRW)

CD-ROMs and Web sites that have logical links to books on appealing topics can entice boys to read for fun and information. Research and professional experience tells us that boys are more enthusiastic technology users and less avid readers than girls are. The software and books listed are appropriate for children from kindergarten through high…

The goal of the Texas Reading Club is to encourage the children of Texas to become library users and lifelong readers. This manual was created for the 2002 Texas Reading Club, a program of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The theme, "Read Across Texas!" invites children to explore the history, geography, and culture of…

Describes using read-alouds to entice reluctant high school readers. Discusses beginning read-aloud guidelines, titles that work (both listing and discussing numerous titles), adjustive guidelines, and effects on students. (SR)

Within the context of the national debate about boys' achievement in secondary schools, this article examines young people's conceptions of the success of the "Full On" magazine designed to encourage boys to read more and to challenge the negative aspects of a "lad" culture. The article begins with an analysis of the magazine, its editorial policy…

There are few research studies on the effects of teaching comprehension strategies to young children in the primary grades. Using a Dominant-Less Dominant Mixed Model design employing both qualitative and quantitative data collection, we evaluated two approaches for teaching comprehension strategies to 7- and 8-year-old children in four…

This article reports the results of a study examining the reading attitudes of the Russian people. This study also investigates the motives that guide adults in their choice of literature. Researchers have noted that two motives stand out: (1) "normative" or "pragmatic" reading (for school, exams, and reports; for carrying out…

New learning and communications paradigms of today's learners are extending the definition of literacy and directly affecting how reading and writing skills are acquired (Leu, 2000). Mirroring an ever-expanding definition of literacy, new college and K-12 curricular programs that redefine digital media are popping up all over the country. Story is…