Investigates book report policies and how they affect the volume of and attitude toward student reading. Recommends that educators establish a clear, reasonable book report policy; involve parents, teachers, and students in the design and implementation of a schoolwide or districtwide policy; keep developmental needs of early adolescents in mind;…

Provides a guide for helping students perform melodramas via the intercom. The benefits include motivating students to read and heightening student self-esteem. Suggests five elements for a successful performance: a clearly written script, rehearsals, optimal voice levels and microphone distance, an introduction by the principal, and…

Describes the reading attitudes and development of a 17-year-old recovering alcoholic and drug addict. (MM)

Investigates the efficacy of a metacognitive instructional strategy for use with basal readers in improving reading comprehension, strategy use, and attitude toward reading. Finds that children can be taught how to use metacognitive reading strategies and techniques during basal reading instruction. (RS)

Investigates the validity of the Reading Anxiety Scale. Finds that (1) reading anxiety shows a stronger negative correlation with reading achievement than does general anxiety; and (2) although general anxiety and reading anxiety correlate substantially, reading anxiety measures something beyond general anxiety. (RS)

Discusses the benefits of reading aloud to children of all ages. Lists some of the distractions in the home that compete with reading aloud. Offers ideas for parents who want to "sell" reading's pleasures and importance to their children. Lists nine broad areas that can be stimulated by teachers and parents who read aloud to children. (PRA)

Analyzes the content of extension bulletins directed to farmers' wives and of their responses to it. Finds that the women generally accepted the recommendations of the "Cornell Reading-Course for Farmers' Wives" (offering an ideal vision of literacy tempered to suit women's life on farms) but valued reading mainly as a diversion from work. (RS)

Considers the future of children's books and reading in light of the increased use of the Internet. Misgivings about the Internet are discussed, centering around the unauthoritative nature of the information available. (LRW)

An inventory collected responses from 63 adult beginning readers and 41 proficient readers regarding beliefs, feelings, and behaviors about consumer, social context, work-related, at-home, and recreational reading. Many views of the two groups were similar, although beginners disliked reading complex materials and reading aloud, do not read at…

Discusses the rationale and technique for using subtitled foreign films with an integrated language approach in a developmental college reading class. Reports student attitudes. Shows that the subtitled films motivated students to read, gave them good time on task, and improved their knowledge of other cultures and eras. (SR)

Traces the history of the shift in reading evaluation, outlines the new view of reading, and addresses current assessment trends, including prior knowledge, strategic reading, process measurements, use of authentic texts, and habits and attitudes. Discusses overall diagnostic models such as informal, dynamic, and portfolio assessments. (RS)

Lists and annotates eight items from the ERIC database that discuss ways to motivate children to use the library and to read. (PRA)

Describes how junior high school students became actively involved in promoting literacy in their school and community by bringing books to children in a homeless shelter, honoring their favorite writer with a schoolwide exhibition, and collecting books to send to soldiers in the Persian Gulf, among other activities. (RS)

Discusses factors involved in motivating middle school students to read books that interest them to build a positive attitude toward reading. (MG)

Relates the experiences of students who loved to read as children, but grew to dislike reading as they passed through junior high and high school. Suggests having students compile a personal anthology of works of their choice rather than assigning them specific readings which they do not select. (PRA)