Describes a method of motivating students to read by using the uninterrupted sustained silent reading method. (MKM)

Contrary to the claims of members of the National Reading Panel, there is strong evidence supporting the practice of in-school free reading. Many studies show "no difference" between in-school free reading and traditional instruction, but there are very few negative studies, and many positive studies. (The author's scorecard has 24 positive and…

This case study investigates whether teachers model reading in 1 Singapore primary school during an exercise called "uninterrupted sustained silent reading" (USSR) carried out in the classroom. Even though reading is an important determinant of a student's growth in language skills and ability, and modeling the act of reading is…

A study investigated whether sustained silent reading encourages college students to increase their reading rate. Subjects were 76 education majors or students otherwise interested in teaching who were enrolled in an undergraduate course in teaching reading/language arts in a university in the southeastern United States. Subjects recorded their…

Takes a "tongue-in-cheek" look at employing N. A. Flanders' classroom observational technique, Interaction Process Analysis (IPA), for purposes of evaluating secondary students' reading behavior during Sustained Silent Reading. (Author)

From November 1972 through June 1973 an experiment was conducted with 576 students (in grades two, four, and six) to determine if there were significant differences in reading performance and attitude toward reading between students in programs which included a daily period of sustained, silent reading (SSR) and those in programs which did not.…

Two pressing education reforms entail improving students' reading skills and improving high schools in the United States. In this article, the authors focus on both of these issues by adding the voices of students in an underperforming high school to the discussion about reading reform. We present the results of a larger study pertaining…

Describes a successful sustained silent reading program which involved junior high students in identifying and remedying their own miscues. (DD)

A study of 1,242 children in 20 fifth, sixth, and seventh grade classes in Richmond, British Columbia, was undertaken over a seven-month period to discover the effects of a sustained silent reading program (SSR) on the students. Ten classes and the four schools they were in participated in the SSR group and ten classes selected from five other…

Discusses four studies of the Uninterrupted Sustained Silent Reading method designed to determine whether teacher modeling of appropriate reading behaviors would consistently lead to increases in student reading activity. Concludes that this method provides an effective environment in which students model teacher behavior to improve attentiveness…

A junior high reading teacher explains how she got teachers and students involved in a daily school-wide reading period. (SJL)

An experienced teacher presents guidelines for starting Sustained Silent Reading in a classroom, including explaining the program to the students and dealing with those who forget their books, disrupt the class, or fidget. A list of teacher background readings is included. (SJL)

Describes the Sustained Silent Reading program that sets aside specific class time for each student to select a book or other reading material and read silently with no interruption for a specified length of time. The goal is to motivate students to read and to understand that reading can be a desirable leisure activity. (Author/RK)

A study investigated the effect Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) has had on literacy at Estancia High School in California which recently implemented an SSR program. It also examined the role SSR has on language development, comprehension, vocabulary, student attitudes, and its corollary consequence on the development of reading habits. A survey of…