The material included in this print version of the "Motivation and the Right to Read" conference has, for the most part, not been edited. Due to the problems of translating audiovisual presentations into print, these are not included here. The discussion periods are also omitted. Following the "Welcome" the presentations at…

The papers included in this book were presented at a conference in San Francisco, just prior to the National Council of Teachers of English Convention. The speakers included specialists in children's literature, parents, librarians, school administrators, reading consultants, college professors of children's literature, and those informed on…

It was hypothesized that a positive relationship exists between a reader's interest in a passage and his level of comprehension of it. The subjects, 90 sixth grade boys of at least average ability, read a pre-test passage and indicated their interest and comprehension by writing in the deletions for the previously read passage as it appeared in…

Attitude toward reading is an important educational outcome and evaluative criteria due to its relationship to reading behavior and the refinement of reading skills. However, existing scales for assessing reading attitudes are invalid, are constrained by a ceiling effect, or are difficult to administer. A reading attitude assessment package was…

A rationale is presented for using science fiction in the English classroom, emphasizing that students like the genre and that it teaches them to analyze and interpret social and technological change. (SJL)

Practicing public school teachers in the Maritime provinces of Canada were surveyed to determine which professional and general periodicals they read for in-service development and what features they would like to see in a professional periodical. (Author/SJL)

The purchase of $3,500 worth of paperback books led to 70 percent participation in an Ohio high school reading program run by the library-media center. (An annotated sampling of paperback titles purchased for the reading program is provided.) (MKM)

Suggests 22 ways to motivate reluctant or poor readers and lists 30 sources of materials for remedial readers. (MKM)

Examines the influence of teachers, age, sex, and race on the reading preferences of third, fourth, and fifth grade pupils. Concludes that the tested variables do explain differences, but that there are more similarities than differences. (RS)

Reviews physical and mental factors that influence the reading habits of older Americans. Discusses their motivations for reading, reading programs for institutionalized elders, ways to encourage older people to use the public library, and other ways to encourage older people to read. (SKC)

Suggests individualized reading as a solution to the problem of varied interests and ability levels in large introductory college courses. Details how directed individualized reading followed by oral reports presented to the professor was used successfully in an introductory psychology course. (ARH)

Finds that sharing research on a particular author (Katherine Paterson) with a friend's sixth-grade class increased the students' interest in both the author and her books, led to fruitful discussions with the children, and aroused their curiosity about other authors and books. (NKA)

Reinforces the idea of the importance of home influences in early reading behavior. Reveals a significant positive correlation between the literary environment of the home and the "literacy set" of a child in a preschool setting. (FL)

Explains how a five- to seven-minute daily reading of popular children's books fostered aural comprehension and literary appreciation in students. (HOD)

Reports findings of a study in which third-grade students gave reasons why children and adults should read. Reveals that the children saw reading as a utilitarian activity both for children and adults. (FL)