In 2010, Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the largest children’s literacy nonprofit in the United States, commissioned a research survey—Children’s Access to Print Materials and Education-Related Outcomes—an unprecedented search uncovering 11,000 reports and analyzing 108 of the most relevant studies. The finding were indisputable: children’s book distribution and ownership programs have positive behavioral, educational, and psychological outcomes. Providing children access to print accomplishes the following: • Improves reading performance. Among the studies reviewed, kindergarten students showed the biggest increase. • Helps children learn foundational reading skills such as letter and word identification, phonemic awareness, and completion of sentences. • Prompts children to build reading stamina, to read more frequently and for greater amounts of time. • Improves children’s attitudes toward reading and learning in general (Lindsay, 2010). The researchers also suggest that a reciprocal relationship may exist between access and outcomes. In other words, providing interesting written materials to children increases their reading behavior and achievement, which in turn further increases their desire to read and acquire more books. What About E-Books? The fourth edition of the Scholastic Kids and Family Reading Report was released in January 2013 and reflects the growing popularity of e-books. The highlights include: • The percentage of children who have read an e-book has almost doubled since 2010 (25% vs. 46%). • Among children who have read an e-book, one in five says he or she is reading more books for fun; boys are more likely to agree than girls (26% vs. 16%). • Half of children aged 9 to 17 say they would read more books for fun if they had greater access to e-books—a 50% increase since 2010. • 75% of kids who have read an e-book are reading e-books at home, with about one in four reading them at school. • 72% of parents are interested in having their child read e-books. • 80% of kids who read e-books still read books for fun primarily in print. • Kids say that e-books are better than print books when they do not want their friends to know what they are reading, and when they are out and about/traveling; print is better for sharing with friends and reading at bedtime. • 58% of kids aged nine to 17 say they will always want to read books printed on paper.
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CHAPTER 4: TEXT
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