Examines the literary practices four children chose to engage in outside of their inner-city school located in Sheffield, England. Suggests that children use literacy in richly diverse ways for purposes they see as meaningful. Concludes that while literacy presented by these children reflected community literacy practices, children also acted with…

Elementary school teachers (n=68) rated 374 students on aspects of motivation for reading. Qualitative and quantitative results show that teachers perceive higher achievers to be relatively higher in intrinsic reading motivation (individual and topical) than in extrinsic reading motivation (activity-based and autonomy-supported), with lower…

Examines, using qualitative methods, targeted fourth-grade at-risk children in a culturally diverse elementary school in a mid-sized city in the southwestern United States. Describes the nature of social interactions within the context of tutorial sessions. Identifies common characteristics of highly effective tutors in their interactions with…

Presents a discussion of the findings from reading-motivation research applied to computerized reading-management programs for elementary school students. Highlights include criticism of computerized reading management programs; intrinsic and extrinsic motivation; tangible and intangible rewards; methodological concerns for researchers; and…

Contributes to cultural-studies scholarship on ethnographic media studies by examining the reception of imported romance novels among women in postcolonial urban India. Shows that romance novels were found pleasurable because they were an extension of Indian women's childhood English-language reading, and they were viewed as resources to improve…

Describes a year-long teacher action-research study involving fifth graders that used trade books to teach students various reading-comprehension strategies. Finds that students retained and transferred strategy learning to other texts and contexts; valued reading more and reported reading more; and demonstrated enhanced appreciation for books and…

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)

Discusses results of a survey of youth experts who work with or for teens in libraries, schools, and other areas to determine the most important issues affecting youth. Highlights include intellectual freedom; information access; reading; literacy; social issues, including youth violence; teen culture, including Internet chat; education issues;…

Finds that reading comprehension and attitudes toward reading were significantly improved when second- and third-grade delayed readers participated in a 10-week cognitive apprenticeship in reading involving an adult volunteer reading partner, who scaffolded the reading experience to enable the student to accomplish the authentic task of reading a…

A study of 60 successful males and females with reading disabilities found both genders developed high level literacy skills through avid reading of high interest texts, females were more likely to be discouraged from pursuing academic interests, and both genders were discouraged from pursuing mathematics and science. (Contains references.)…

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…

Reviews research on the development of attitudes toward reading to investigate the idea that as children get older, their interest in reading declines. Highlights include research methodology; attitudes toward recreational reading; reading at home; reading autobiographies; and the need to provide interesting books to children. (LRW)

Examines factors influencing the reading engagement of 24 struggling, resistant readers in grade 3 through 5 who were tutored by university graduate and undergraduate students. Notes that all students made great strides in reading achievement and in voluntary reading motivation. Finds the most salient factor in increasing reading motivation was…

Determines elementary teachers' knowledge of: current children's literature; children's books in six literary genres; and activities to promote students' recreational reading. Replicates a 1981 study to determine the level of knowledge possessed by today's teachers concerning children's literature and methods of increasing students' reading for…

This article outlines how educators can provide appropriate resources for encouraging the love of reading, support strategies that motivate reading, promote the joy of reading across the curriculum, provide a balanced curriculum representing both lifetime literacy and skills instruction, and foster lifelong literacy in students who struggle with…