Strong reading and literacy skills are essential for students' success in K-12 and beyond by providing the foundation for understanding the world and communicating effectively. This Spotlight will help readers learn how classroom conversations can boost reading proficiency; identify research on how to get students absorbed in reading; examine…

Studies the effect of sustained silent reading (SSR) on recreational reading habits after termination of instruction. Finds that SSR students read more than those not in the program, and that SSR has no impact on above average readers, great impact on average readers, and little impact on below average readers. (RS)

Looks at growth in listening comprehension of 146 children from third grade to fifth grade and their fifth-grade estimate of accumulated wide reading as measured by an instrument using a checklist-with-foils logic, the Title Recognition Test. Indicates that individual differences in growth of listening comprehension from third grade to fifth grade…

A study examined whether prime-time television shows have an effect on the image of reading and/or reading activities through their content. The sample consisted of 39 third-grade students in a suburban area of New Jersey. A survey was presented for background information and the top three prime-time television shows were selected. Subjects viewed…

A study investigated the relationships between reading interests, habits, and attitudes of third, fourth, and fifth grade students and the variables of teacher/parental influences, ethnic background, gender, and grade levels of the students. Subjects, a random sample of 101 Black, 92 White, 2 Chinese and 1 Arab low-to-middle socioeconomic-level…

A study was conducted to determine some differences between third grade children who were reading up to expected levels and those who were reading below expectancy as determined by the Spache formula. Subjects were 210 students reading at or above expectancy and 147 students reading below expectancy. In private interviews, each student was asked a…

A study was undertaken to investigate the extent to which reading by students with varying skill levels is a text-driven or a concept-driven process; that is, it examined the conditions under which readers used context to identify words. The 72 second and third grade students in the study read target words that varied in decodability, frequency,…

Describing the characteristics and attitudes of a nationally representative sample of 36,000 students in grades 3, 7, and 11, this report details the specific features of reading instruction, how students approach their reading tasks, student reading experiences, and the home and school supports to academic achievement. The report is based the…

A review of the literature that examines the relationship between television and reading achievement reveals, in general, a negative correlation between television viewing and the acquisition of reading skills. These studies, however, have been somewhat limited in both number and methodology. To further clarify the picture, a study was conducted…

A study was undertaken to explore the processes underlying the relationship between television viewing and reading achievement. Subjects were 580 second, third, and sixth grade students from nine schools in four different geographical regions in order to provide a cross-section of students in terms of socioeconomic status (SES), urban/rural…