This study examined gender differences in reading attitudes among second and fourth grade students, their parents, and teachers. The hypothesis was that reading is viewed as a predominantly female activity by students. The subjects were 34 second grade boys, 23 second grade girls, 28 fourth grade boys and 30 fourth grade girls from a middle…

A study investigated the effect of repeated readings of the same connected text on students' attitude toward reading and their reading fluency, determined by accuracy and speed. Forty-two subjects (25 second-grade and 17 third-grade students) from 2 self-contained classrooms in rural Ohio participated in the study. The pretest-posttest control…

Many measurement techniques have been developed to assess elements related to attitudes toward reading, which encompass an individual's views, feelings, values, and beliefs. Instruments developed by British teachers include Likert-type scales, a repertory grid technique, and an approach assessing reactions to screened photographs of different…

Three hundred fifth grade pupils in an urban school district and in three rural schools in Tennessee participated in a study of relationships among attitudes toward reading, reading achievement, socioeconomic status (SES), and sex. Each pupil was rated on the Heathington Attitude Scale and the Hollingshead Two-Factor Index of Social Position and…

Numerous studies have focused on attitudes toward reading and how to measure such attitudes. The present study examined the effects of both the survey format and the reading abilities of 82 sixth graders at a middle school in McDuffie County, Georgia. Since all of the students had taken the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, the language arts composite…

Describes a technique that used ambiguously drawn pictures of scenes depicting various aspects of the reading process to elicit imaginative reactions by fifth-grade boys. Results suggest that the high achieving readers had significantly more positive attitudes toward reading than did low achieving readers. (FL)

The use of the Estes Reading Attitude Scale as a measure of academic attitude of fourth-, fifth-, and sixth- grade Mexican-American and Anglo student groups did not lead to substantial bias in test score interpretation. These results indicate that responses on the test as a whole can be judged as valid. (Author/PN)

Used stepwise regression procedures to determine classroom behaviors associated with eight dimensions of reading attitudes among inner-city fifth graders. Classroom behaviors were measured by teacher ratings. Results indicate seven of the eight dimensions of reading attitude showed a significant relationship with some aspect of classroom behavior.…

Presents, in the form of a conversation with a vampire, results of a teacher's research on middle school students' reading preferences. Includes a list of favorite books mentioned, favorite authors mentioned, and how students found these favorite books. (SR)

Investigates Vygotsky's concept of the zone of proximal development using peer social dialogue integrated with teacher support to develop children's reading, writing, and abstract thinking in story reflection and sense of audience. Reports that students showed improvement in word recognition, in fluency, and in evaluating their own reading…

Reviews research on students' attitudes toward reading. Argues that, given more free reading time and more choice about what to read, students are more likely to form the habit of lifelong reading. (SR)

Describes activities used in a 12th-grade literature classroom that develops students' prior knowledge to help them connect to the literature before reading it. (SR)

Investigates why children are attracted to scary books, and what they find scary. Addresses children's fears through scary books and the instructional value of scary books. Discusses successful classroom experiences with scary books and notes selection considerations. Offers literature study ideas and a 100-item bibliography of scary books. (SR)

Examined book choices of below-average, average, and above-average readers in a fourth-grade literature-based reading program. Found that book selection criteria were mentioned at different frequencies with below-average readers, whose criteria included pictures and friends' recommendations. Word length, print size, and book length influenced…

Describes how, over three years, teachers, students, parents, and administrators of a girls' school in India built a school library, going from a small locked-up collection with no check-out system to a warm and busy library room that was a popular hub of activity at the school, with a dynamic and expanding collection and a full-time librarian.…