A study of birth order and encouragement and their effects on the reading enjoyment of a selected group of sixth grade students

Conceptual Framework: The purpose of this project is to examine students who have developed a negative attitude toward reading. It looks at specific family variables, such as birth order and socioeconomic status, as possible causes for a student\u27s reluctance to read. In addition, the focus of this project reflects on the teacher\u27s involvement in the student\u27s life with reading, and how teachers, along with parents, might encourage or motivate their students to find fulfillment in reading. Some of the guiding themes in this study draw from the notion that reading is an essential aspect for functioning in every day life; therefore, children need to build a lifelong appreciation and love for reading. Teachers and parents can work together to make reading easy and fun for children by creating a positive, non-threatening environment of encouragement and understanding. Research Questions: 1) What factors influence the students\u27 reading enjoyment? Is birth order a factor? Is socioeconomic status a factor? 2) What methods do teachers use to encourage reading enjoyment in their students? 3) What seems to work to motivate the reluctant students to read? Conclusions: After two months of observations, interviews and general participation in the classroom, the research determined, that although teachers play a significant role in encouraging their students to read, every student is unique. What motivates one reluctant student to read may not interest another. There are many factors which influence the reading behavior of students, and teachers cannot take total responsibility for the students\u27 lack of interest, and motivation to read. In the end, enjoyment in reading has to come from withi