Enhancement of Communication Development of Primary Grade, At-Risk Children through Reading Aloud for Pleasure.

N

51

High Risk Students; Primary Education; Reading Aloud to Others; Reading Attitudes; Reading Improvement; Reading Programs; Recreational Reading; Rural Schools

A practicum was designed to encourage 60 at-risk young children in a Chapter 1 reading program at a rural primary school to read for pleasure so that they would eventually increase literacy development. The parents, teachers, and volunteer readers would increase the amount of time spent reading aloud to the children in the Chapter 1 reading program. These individuals would become the reading role models for at-risk children. A grade level in-service program presented current views and information necessary for teachers, staff, and volunteers of enrichment reading for at-risk children. The value of reading was reinforced by providing increased books and magazines that assisted the teachers with classroom libraries and materials for reading aloud. Volunteers, such as peers and individuals from the community, were effectively incorporated with the teacher's needs. Analysis of the data indicated that parents reported their children enjoyed the time spent reading stories together and that they had increased their reading. Teachers stated that the at-risk children who were read to exhibited an attitude of confidence and expanded literacy development. (Contains 33 references. The beginning survey and the parent survey instruments are attached.) (Author/RS)

1994

ED372378