Date of Award
6-1-1990
Document Type
Practicum
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Center for the Advancement of Education
Advisor
Dr. Joan Horn
Keywords
elementary education, home reading behavior, independent reading, leisure time reading, literature appreciation in elementary grades, logging leisure time reading, parents, reading aloud to others, reading attitudes, reading habits of elementary students, reading incentive programs, reading interests, recreational reading, silent reading, sustained silent reading, teachers, voluntary reading programs in elementary schools
Abstract
This practicum describes a reading program that was developed and implemented by the author to improve attitudes toward leisure-time reading with an increased book involvement among elementary students. A target group of 30 students in a fourth grade self-contained class was established for the program. The program contained three basic strategies for improving attitudes toward leisure-time reading with an increased book involvement; read aloud session conducted by teachers, parents, and other adults; daily sustained silent reading periods; and the keeping of a student reading log.
The writer measured success by comparing students' pre and post attitude surveys, pre and post teacher observation logs of sustained silent reading behavior, and pre and post classroom averages of the total number of books read. It was concluded by the writer that reading attitudes can be improved by using read aloud role models, daily Sustained Silent Reading and journal writing, and logging the number of books read. Appendices include Monthly Report of Volunteer Support, Degrees of Reading Power Test Results, Tallying Results of Parent and Student Surveys, and Samples of Forms and Lists.