Student motivation is a critical element of engagement, learning, and achievement. With this in mind, teachers are particularly interested in motivating their students to read. However, getting students to do so can be a difficult task, especially if they lack confidence in choosing personally interesting books. We advocate for carefully nurturing…

This study expanded the definition of reading practices to include both print- and Internet-based reading, and examined the relationship of reading profiles to Taiwanese college students' performance on various practices. The results showed that more time was spent on Internet-than print-based extracurricular reading, and that the three…

This study sought to determine if, by providing parents with a workshop on the use of dialogic reading techniques during the storybook reading event in the home, Pre-Kindergarten children's attitude and interest in reading would improve. Parents completed a survey prior to the workshop and two months following completion of the workshop. Through…

For the past one hundred years, the American public has been entertained by the daily and the Sunday newspaper comic strips. The comics are now recognized as a legitimate and unique pop art form that chronicles the American culture. Research concerning reading interests and preferences provide evidence that the comics have a particular attraction…

Presents information for helping high school and college students realize the merits of others' research and thoughts and utilize a critical acceptance in the awareness of a writer's limitations. (JM)

Examines five apparent axioms concerning the teaching of reading to ascertain if they are in reality axiomatic. (TO)

Offers suggestions for improving reading programs at boys' boarding schools, including (1) providing inservice training for teachers, (2) developing material selection procedures that consider boys' reading interests, and (3) capitalizing on the boarding school environment. (FL)

Argues that biography written especially for adolescents can be taught in such a way that students learn to exercise judgment in their reading. Provides a list of questions teachers can use to help students become more discerning in their perusal of nonfiction and biography. (FL)

Determines the relationship between attitude and reading behavior in adults. Finds that adults with positive attitudes toward reading spend more time in daily reading and read a wider variety of materials than do adults with negative attitudes. (MG)

Notes that pupils need to have opportunities to select challenging reading materials and need chances to read on an individual basis as well as in group work situations. Notes that interest and purpose in reading are important. (RS)

Finds no foundation for the fear teachers and parents have that "light reading" (comic books, magazines, and novels) will limit higher-level reading. Notes that the vast majority of doctoral students at a major southern California university responded affirmatively to light reading as youths. (RS)

Argues that reading materials should fit the criteria of relevance, interest, and usefulness if children are to get maximum benefits from reading instruction. (FL)

Suggests that teachers need to make reading pleasurable, sell books, restructure the classroom environment, establish reading conferences, and limit the length of reading material assigned to students in order to reverse the reluctant reader phenomenon. (FL)

Reports that second-grade students in reading groups that used materials without pictures had faster mean reading times than students who read the same materials with pictures, but did not differ from them in comprehension or achievement. (FL)