Publication:
Reading attitudes, habits and performance of third grade ESL students participating in a reading challenge program

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Authors
Martinez-Marrero, Lizzel
Embargoed Until
Advisor
Morales-Caro, Betsy
College
College of Arts and Sciences - Arts
Department
Department of English
Degree Level
M.A.E.E.
Publisher
Date
2009
Abstract
The study examines the reading attitudes, habits, and performance of third graders in an urban elementary school in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico participating in a 20 Book Reading Challenge Program. Five methods were used: questionnaires, short reading passages, comprehension questions, leveling books, and fieldnotes. The results show the importance of motivating students to read independently material that interests them and is at their appropriate reading level. It also shows the importance of getting parents involved in their children’s reading process and reading success. The conclusions show: 1) the reading program motivated the students to read independently, 2) the students were not motivated enough to read other curricular or extracurricular literature beside the reading materials provided to them, 3) the majority of the students were not able to read at or above grade level, and 4) parents showed a positive attitude toward coaching their children’s at-home reading assignments.

El estudio examina las actitudes, hábitos y habilidades de lectura de los estudiantes de tercer grado en una escuela urbana elemental en Mayagüez, Puerto Rico participando en un programa de lectura en inglés. La metodología usada fue: cuestionarios, pasajes cortos de lectura, preguntas de comprensión de lectura, libros codificados por niveles y anotaciones de las observaciones. Los resultados reflejaron la importancia de motivar a los estudiantes a leer en su nivel de lectura y de su interés como también involucrar a los padres en el proceso de lectura y en el éxito de sus hijos. Las conclusiones mostraron que: 1) el programa de lectura había motivado a los estudiantes a leer independientemente, 2) los estudiantes no estaban suficientemente motivados a leer otros libros fuera del programa, 3) la mayoría de los estudiantes no pudieron leer al nivel o por encima del nivel del grado y 4) los padres mostraron interés en ayudar a sus hijos con las lecturas en la casa.
Keywords
Reading (elementary)-activity programs,
Reading challenge program-elementary school-Puerto Rico-Mayaguez,
Reading motivation-elementary school students,
Reading promotion,
Second language acquisition
Cite
Martinez-Marrero, L. (2009). Reading attitudes, habits and performance of third grade ESL students participating in a reading challenge program [Thesis]. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11801/885