Middle Grade Boys: Reading Habits and Preferences for a New Millennium

Based on research indicating successful readers have several common characteristics (student choice and availability of reading materials, time for reading, and time to talk about their reading), a study explored research findings about each characteristic and surveyed middle grade teachers ' reading practices in the classroom. Seventh-grade students (n.124) in a small southeastern city and seven of their teachers were surveyed concerning student reading. Results indicated: (1) excluding textbook assignments, the majority of boys surveyed do not read and do not enjoy reading; (2) teachers and parents encourage students to read, but fewer than half are engaged in reading to boys; (3) teachers do not provide a time for personal sustained silent reading during the school day; (4) middle grade boys do not read unless required by their teachers; and (5) assigned reading materials are not the reading materials preferred by middle grade boys. (Contains 7 tables of data and 21 references.) (NKA) * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document.