To determine whether children find paperback books more appealing than hardbound books, children's reactions to paperback books were compared with their reactions to the same titles in hardbound format. A total of 150 fifth graders were divided into two groups: 78 children (42 boys and 36 girls) examined 30 hardbound books, and 72 children (38…

Since the average child spends an estimated 30 hours a week watching television, it is important to consider the negative and positive effects of television viewing on the development of reading attitudes and habits. Possible negative aspects of television viewing include the following: the rapid pacing of programs encourages shallow reading; the…

Three hundred fifth grade pupils in an urban school district and in three rural schools in Tennessee participated in a study of relationships among attitudes toward reading, reading achievement, socioeconomic status (SES), and sex. Each pupil was rated on the Heathington Attitude Scale and the Hollingshead Two-Factor Index of Social Position and…

This paper reports a survey of children's interests at two ages. Data was obtained from a questionnaire administered to 200 grade 1 and 180 grade 7 boys and girls in ten different primary schools in the Perth, Australia area. Children were administered a 10-question questionnaire designed to measure leisure and academic interests. First grade…

This study was designed to test the effects of choice on the reading comprehension of 92 fifth and sixth grade students. Conducted in an elementary classroom, the test involved having each student read five cloze passages and answer an interest questionnaire about the passages. The experimental variable in this study was choice of topics on a…

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an instrument to be used to measure the attitudes of fifth grade students toward literature. A research instrument of sixty items was developed and administered to 205 fifth grade students in schools around Orlando, Florida. Based on the results of the study, the following conclusions were…

This yearbook includes a summary of the research in reading that has been conducted in recent years, and also contains many ideas that have practical implications for the teacher in the classroom. The essays are divided into six major sections: research review, college and adult programs, teacher education, programs and practices, test materials,…

In order to determine the opinions of third grade remedial reading pupils about trade books recommended in library selection aids and special series books recommended for poor readers, 57 pupils completed statements on book inventory forms about 24 picture books and 24 series books. Data was gathered on book completion, interest, and difficulty…

An efficient reading skills course may be considered one of the most important reading courses a college student takes since it may be the last reading course taken; it may be a last chance to develop high-level reading proficiency. The instructor of such a course should keep in mind both the immediate scholastic improvement goals of the the…

This book helps to alleviate the problem of finding specific books for each child by taking into consideration the child's reading abilities, interests, and personal problems. The many factors which influence children's reactions to books are spelled out as well as the effect of physical makeup and format upon children's choices. The nature of the…

Designed as a teaching guide, this booklet provides suggestions for using the newspaper as the primary source of instructional materials for teaching high school language arts and other subjects. Teaching techniques and class activities are also presented. Contents include "The Newspaper: A Living Textbook,""Echoes from the Firing…

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which English teachers in Iowa's public schools have an applied knowledge of reading interests of adolescents and various socio-psychological tasks or needs of adolescence. In addition, characteristcs in common among teachers scoring significantly higher statistically on book annotation…

This monograph attempts to use the results of research to help answer teachers' practical questions about teaching techniques and instructional materials in the teaching of reading in the secondary schools. Chapters include: "About Successful Reading Programs," which discusses the all-school developmental program, temporary compromise programs,…

The major purpose of this dissertation is to develop a new series of courses, within an elective English curriculum, which will both enhance the immediate lives of high school students and motivate a lifelong desire to read literature. The new literature program involves a series of five courses organized on the basis of five values of literature…

Microfiche copies of 112 children's trade books and two Xerox Classmate Readers were put into three fourth-grade classrooms to assess their effect on children's reading achievement, attitudes toward reading, the the use of library books. The microfiche copies of the trade books were matched title-for-title with hardbound books shelved with the…