Recreational+Reading+(Kate)

= ** Recreational Reading ** =

**I. Literacy Research Question: **
What are the most influential factors and the best classroom practices that help motivate students into becoming life-long readers who purposely engage in recreational reading (reading for enjoyment).

**II. Brief Summary and Results: **
Throughout history parents have been a large influence on their children both in and out of the classroom. A great deal of research has been reported in the United States on the participation of parents in children's education and these studies strongly confirm the idea that families play a pivotal role in helping young children to learn how to read. By reading in front of their children, parents act as exemplars of good reading habit while demonstrating that reading is an enjoyable and worthwhile activity. (Strommen & Mates, 2004) Positive experiences with literacy from an early age and support for reading related activities at home are important factors for predicting success in reading. (Alvermann, 2001; McKool & Gespass, 2004)Although many students become readers because of parental and home influences, teachers should never discount the reading potential of students who come from environments where reading is not valued. Research has shown that teachers and certain teaching methods can also have a strong and lasting effects on students’ reading attitudes and practices (Pitcher et al. 2007). Research also suggests that additional contributing factors such as the students ability to choose (what genres, lengths, topic, etc.) their reading materials and participating in daily literature discussions can positively effect students' motivation and the students' overall literacy and recreational reading development.

According to researchers benefits of recreational reading include:
 * reading attainment and writing ability for reading that is done both in school and out of school
 * text comprehension and grammar
 * breadth of vocabulary
 * positive reading attitudes
 * greater self-confidence as a reader
 * pleasure reading in later life

**III. Scholarly Articles Related to Recreational Reading: **


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1. Strommen, L., & Mates, B. (2004). Learning to love reading: Interviews with older children and teens. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 48(3), 188-200. ======
 * This is an interesting research report that discusses a study conducted with 151 students to determine each student's individual attitudes and beliefs held towards reading. To begin the researchers asked the students to complete an survey in order for the researchers to distinguish and separate the student responders into two distinct groups (readers and not-readers). Then, by using the results collected from the surveys, Strommen and Mates continued their research and identified key environmental and personal factors that were consistently present in the lives of all the adolescents who had affiliated themselves as having developed an avid love of reading.Shockingly only approximately 8% of the surveyed students were identified as “readers” (those who love to read and read for pleasure) the reminder of the students received the identity of “not-readers” (those who preferred not to read).

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2. McKool, S. & Gespass, S. (2009). Does Johnny's reading teacher love to read? How teachers' personal reading habits affect instructional practices. Literacy Research and Instruction, 48(3), 264-276. ====== >
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The results from this study indicated that while teachers value reading as a leisure activity, only a little more than half of the teachers surveyed read for more than 10 minutes a day in their free time. Unsurprisingly, the study also noted that teachers who read more than 30 minutes a day used a greater number of instructional methods associated with best practice than teachers who read less than 10 minutes a day or those who did no reading at all. The study also indicated that teachers who are readers themselves are more likely to engage in instructional practices that reflect their own love of reading. They tend to read aloud to their students, engage in conversations about books, model reading strategies, give students greater choice in reading materials and provide time frequently for students to read during the school day more than teachers who do not read for pleasure.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Teacher, 50, 14-25.

 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Results from the study conducted by Gambrell suggested that classroom cultures that foster “reading motivation are characterized by a teacher who is a reading model, a book-rich classroom environment, opportunities for choice, familiarity with books, social interactions about books, and literacy-related incentives that reflect the value of reading.” (p.15)

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">For a full reference list of literature that I included in my literature review please visit: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">

**<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Implications: **
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">In order to reap the benefits that recreational reading can bring schools need to implement a reading promotion program that will make reading an experience that is actively sought out by students. Schools therefore need broad-ranging approaches to consult with students in order to learn of their interests and to ensure that the range of reading materials available in school reflects those interests. They need to recognize that a diverse range of reading materials will encourage students to read, and they will need to engage children in the planning and delivery of reading and library activities, offering them the opportunity to select and purchase reading materials for their use.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Teachers need to offer a coherent and creative literacy curriculum that develops children’s intrinsic motivation to read, creates an engaging physical and social environment for reading, provides students’ choice and encompasses diversity as well as focused instruction and tailored support. In the process, full attention must be paid to meaning and purpose, the details of text reception, the social context, values, attitudes and culture in the class, the school and the community. In explicitly planning to nurture positive attitudes, teachers will need to respond to children’s interests, offer a diverse range of potent texts and engage them in the selection process. Seeking in addition to strengthen home-school-community partnerships and enable creative engagement through enriched pedagogical practice. In creating a reading culture which fuels delight and fosters desire, teachers will be supporting the development of life-long readers, readers who find both purpose and pleasure in reading.

**<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Recommendations from select scholarly journal articles: **
__<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">For Pre-Service Teachers, Teachers, & Administrators: __ <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">To foster delight and pleasure in reading, increased attention needs to be paid to:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> motivating readers and to the construction of creatively engaging environments which nurture children’s personal encounters with literature and other texts and offers them choice, giving space and time to read voluntarily and to share their own individual preferences.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">students must see themselves as participants in a community that views reading as a significant and enjoyable activity
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">continuous modeling by adults of what it is like to get pleasure from reading
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">adopt an enthusiastic attitude toward reading and openly discuss their personal reading lives with students.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">varied and integrated instructional strategies and resources
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">an open and caring school environment
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">develop student's intrinsic motivation in the form of a positive self-concept and creating a desire and tendency to read

__<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">For Parents and Family Members: __ > become involved and stay involved in your child's reading from birth to adulthood
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">join and frequently visit your local library
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">make the most of projects like Bookstart (giving books to babies)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">make sure there are books and reading materials in the home, readily available and at hand. Visit bookshops and chat to staff about suitable books
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">children and young people need to see the adults around them reading: newspapers, a book, a magazine or the internet.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">be aware that listening and speaking skills are an important part of learning to read. Playing word games like I-Spy, reciting nursery rhymes, singing songs, making up a story and reading aloud are all vital
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">talk to your child about what they are reading at school, on the Internet or discuss an item in the newspaper
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">understand that babies and young children respond more readily to human contact and the real world, whereas older children enjoy using technology
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">learn alongside your children by improving your skills and awareness of new technologies, including Internet safety

**<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Resources: **
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">I. __<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> Professional Resources for Teachers, Administrators, and Pre-service Educators: __
 * Scholastic - Read Every Day
 * "Read Every Day. Lead a Better Life. is a global literacy campaign launched as part of Scholastic's 90th anniversary celebration that underscores the importance of reading to better prepare children who will need strong literacy skills to survive and succeed in the 21st century."
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">[|Transforming the Classroom to promote Students' Development for a Love for Reading]
 * One teacher's story of her plan to engage her students in developing positive recreational reading habits. This news article chronicles the teachers motivation and determination to secede against the obstacles she faced within her own classroom when she began implementing teaching strategies to promote recreational reading in her students.
 * VanderBilt University - Motivating Students
 * This website explores the advantages, disadvantages and effects of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors that students experience as well as, recommendations of possible ways to motivate students' positive recreational reading habits.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Best Practices to Include in a Classroom: Readers Theater
 * "Readers’ Theater is an activity in which students, while reading directly from scripts, are able to tell a story in a most entertaining form, without props, costumes, or sets.This is a //reading// activity, and students are not asked to memorize their lines. They are, however, encouraged to "ham it up" and use intonation and gestures appropriate to their characters and their characters’ words." This website provides a helpful guide for teachers to follow to help them when implementing readers theater into their classroom as well as resource links to free online readers theater scripts.
 * Best Practices to Include in a Classroom: Readers Workshop
 * This website provides FREE resources for educators to effectively and efficiently engage students in Readers Workshops within their classroom.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">II. __<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">General Resources for Family Members/General Public: __
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Involved Parents: The Hidden Resource in Their Child's Education
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">This website provides parents and families with a better understanding of why it is important to be involved in their child's education from day one. It also provides the families with fun and easy ways to become involved and stay involved in their child's education.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Get Your Kids Reading
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">This YouTube video was created by an elementary grade teacher and her class as a PSA announcement trying to convince parents to be more actively involved in their children's home reading practices and environment.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Storyline Online
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">This website was created by the Screen Actors Guild Foundation and features high-quality and engaging children's literature that is read aloud by featured SAG members. Each video includes accompanying activities and lesson plan ideas that could be completed at home.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Tumble Books
 * TumbleBook Library is an online collection of animated, talking picture books which teach young children the joys of reading in a format they'll love.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Help Your Child Develop Recreational Reading Habits
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">This article provides wonderful examples and recommendation for ways families can promote and aid in their child's overall development of positive recreational reading habits.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Parent's Guide to Help You Child Learn How to Read and Love Reading
 * This guide contains tips to help your child read and develop recreational reading habits.

There is no doubt whatsoever that recreational reading is of an utmost importance in the overall development of a student’s literacy. Not only can it nurture their habit of reading from a very young age, but it also has a concrete and deep impact on the students’ ability to understand and make sense of different written messages in a host of different contexts. Becoming a recreational reader is predicated on developing a love of reading (Sanacore, 2002).