Working from case studies of teachers and from the actual language used by teachers and students, this book provides a rationale for and a description of a response-centered approach to the teaching of literature in the secondary school. Embedded throughout the book are student activities. Each chapter gives suggested readings of related articles…

This study investigated whether the choice of literature read aloud by the teacher affected childrens' choices of books in their free reading. Subjects, 13 third grade students, freely selected library books before the study, and then were asked to make choices each week during the 11 weeks of the study in order to determine if the genre being…

Intended to help young readers of high school age find the kinds of current books that make them want to read more, this book describes nearly 800 quality fiction and nonfiction titles published between 1988 and 1991 for young adults. The book's annotations are grouped by subject matter in 32 sections keyed to senior high students' interests and…

A month-long study examined students' attitudes toward aspects of a specific reading workshop based on the whole language theory of instruction. Of the 23 students in a fifth-grade classroom, 11 became part of the experimental group who participated in the process which incorporated four primary aspects of language arts: reading, writing,…

Noting that it is important for parents and children to have fun as a family, this booklet offers parents ideas in how to make reading with their children easy and fun. The booklet discusses several topics concerning reading aloud to children, including helping children learn by reading aloud; having a special family reading time; finding books to…

A practicum aimed to develop the positive reading attitudes of six at-risk thrid-graders. Regular teacher-student sessions were devoted to reading aloud. Practicum participants were assigned mentors. Mentors and mentees met twice during the 12-week implementation cycle. The targted group of third-graders served as tutors for a group of…

Designed to assess children's preferences for story settings, the instrument requires children to indicate their preference for a story setting in each of 36 pairs of contrasting pictures, 12 pairs in each of the following categories: (1) fantasy versus realism, (2) past versus contemporary, and (3) geographically remote versus the near-at-hand.…

A study investigated the relationships between reading interests, habits, and attitudes of third, fourth, and fifth grade students and the variables of teacher/parental influences, ethnic background, gender, and grade levels of the students. Subjects, a random sample of 101 Black, 92 White, 2 Chinese and 1 Arab low-to-middle socioeconomic-level…

This book presents practical ideas, procedures, and activities which can help parents improve children's reading. The book contains the following chapters: (1) "Reading and Your Child"; (2) "Living with and Helping Your Child"; (3) "Getting Ready to Teach Your Child"; (4) "The Teaching Session"; (5)…

A great deal can be taught using the newspaper because this medium contains a variety of information in a number of differing formats. Straight news and sports stories can be used to teach or reinforce the skills of attending to detail, comparing and contrasting, categorizing, determining the main idea, understanding vocabulary, sequencing,…

To help students strengthen competencies in reading and writing direct instruction is essential. Modeling is a key component in direct instruction. The kind of materials used can help provide more cultural awareness among learners. Written materials of current interest need to be selected. Sources are varied including such periodicals as…

A study measured the effect of reading materials containing positive depictions of aging and the elderly on the attitudes of primary grade children toward aging and elderly adults. Subjects, 91 students from grades one to three enrolled in a Jacksonville, Florida public school, read stories selected from "aging/elderly positive"…

Because half of all students are female, and because role models are important in forming ideas and images, more attention should be devoted to finding books with heroic, tragic, or significant female characters. Good literature by women can be found in an increasing number of anthologies of women's literature that are now being produced. When…

Recognizing that exposure to storytelling and reading aloud enhance children's language skills and their enjoyment of literature, this book provides a rationale and suggestions for storytelling and reading aloud both in and beyond the classroom. The first chapter explores various nursery rhymes from around the world, and how this oral tradition…