Article: "Encouraging Voluntary Reading"

This article discussed a study conducted within a school on encouraging voluntary reading by including more literature activities during the day and providing a library center in the classroom, as well as providing parents with information on encouraging voluntary reading at home. This was very in-depth but for the most part interesting, though not necessarily relevant to libraries. One thing I liked about this study is that success was measured by the level of reading activity not an increase in reading scores. I know scores are important, but there is such a focus on them that it sort of makes it seem like nothing else even matters when it comes to reading success. I don't believe that. I pretty much think that as long as a kid is reading, it's a success. I also liked that this study trained parents in encouraging reading at home, though, as discussed, there's no way to really know if they are following through with that information. One always hopes that parents will do things especially when given evidence of the benefits to their children but you just never know. I found it interesting that this study chose to place four separate activity centers in each classroom. I like that they gave the library center competition. Another thing I really liked about this study is that teachers were not only encouraged to include literature activities throughout the day but they were also encouraged to model voluntary reading by reading silently during free choice time. This is really important. I think people forget that children love to copy what adults they admire do. Of course we remember when they ape our bad behavior but they do it with the good stuff too. So I think it's essential to remind parents that children will learn that reading is a valid free time activity if they see their parents doing it themselves. One final thing to mention about the article was in the results. The study found that after the intervention was over, voluntary reading at school had increased while voluntary reading at home had not changed. It's important to note that this shouldn't come as much of a surprise. It's wonderful that reading at school increased but there are a much smaller number of choices during school hours. At home, there are seemingly infinite possibilities and many of them are very appealing (such as television and video games). I like that the authors pointed out the difference in interest versus behavior. Interest in reading may have increased, even at home, but behavior not necessarily. A well-done study, I think.

Morrow, L. and Carol Weinstein. (1986). Encouraging Voluntary Reading: The Impact of a Literature Program on Children's Use of Library Centers. Reading Research Quarterly, 21(3), p. 330-346. Retrieved from JSTOR database.