Scaffolding Choice, Increasing Access: A Summer Initiative to Promote Middle School Students' Book Reading

Middle schools often mandate summer reading as a means of stemming summer learning loss, but research suggests that many students do not read any books during the summer months. Limited book access and difficulties self-selecting books are two barriers that can impact students' summer reading p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inReading horizons Vol. 58; no. 3; pp. 71 - 85
Main Author Capotosto, Lauren
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Kalamazoo Western Michigan University, College of Education 01.12.2019
Western Michigan University
Subjects
Adolescent Literature
Adolescents
Algorithms
Case Studies
Control Groups
Grade 7
Learner Engagement
Middle School Students
Middle schools
Program Effectiveness
Reading Achievement
Reading comprehension
Reading Habits
Reading Material Selection
Reading Materials
Reading Motivation
Reading Programs
Reading Skills
Student Attitudes
Student Motivation
Summer Programs
Teenagers
United States > US
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Summary:Middle schools often mandate summer reading as a means of stemming summer learning loss, but research suggests that many students do not read any books during the summer months. Limited book access and difficulties self-selecting books are two barriers that can impact students' summer reading practices. To address these challenges, students in one Grade 7 classroom participated in an initiative designed to scaffold book choices prior to summer break and to increase students' access to high-interest books. Compared to students in a randomly selected business-as-usual classroom, students who participated in the book scaffolding initiative were more likely to read at least one book over the summer. The author describes ways in which dedicating class time to helping middle school students discover reading interests, coupled with providing free access to books, can impact summer reading practices.
ISSN:0034-0502
2642-8857