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45th out of 303 books
—
224 voters
The Power of Reading: Insights from the Research
Continuing the case for free voluntary reading set out in the book's 1993 first edition, this new, updated, and much-looked-for second edition explores new research done on the topic in the last ten years as well as looking anew at some of the original research reviewed. Krashen also explores research surrounding the role of school and public libraries and the research ind...more
Paperback, Second Edition, 216 pages
Published
August 1st 2004
by Libraries Unlimited
(first published January 15th 1993)
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I'm moving this book to my "read" list even though I didn't finish it completely. I'm giving it 3 stars only because it wasn't "easy reading"....unless you like to read textbooks with hundreds of cited studies. Krashen definitely did his research! I would say the basic premise is how important reading is, mostly FVR (free voluntary reading), basically reading on your own for pleasure and how FVR is the most effective way to increase literacy. The cited studies show that FVR improves spelling, re...more
The book “The Power of Reading, Second Edition: Insights from the Research” by Stephen Krashen absolutely blew me away. I had no idea reading for pleasure was so beneficial.
We know that learning to speak is instinctual for children, that as long as the adults around them talk to them, that language will come naturally.
Reading, on the other hand, is not quite so natural. Children need to be taught the mechanics of sounding out words, and helped along as they learn the basics. But, according to Dr...more
We know that learning to speak is instinctual for children, that as long as the adults around them talk to them, that language will come naturally.
Reading, on the other hand, is not quite so natural. Children need to be taught the mechanics of sounding out words, and helped along as they learn the basics. But, according to Dr...more
Three points stick out to me from this book: 1) Reading is the key to better comprehension, grammar, spelling, writing style, and vocab; 2) Reading is more important to learning how to write well than writing practice is; and 3) light reading is intellectually, academically, and socially viable. While I'm in full agreement and excited about points 1 and 3, point 2 scares me. As a writing instructor, part of my philosophy is that to write well, one should practice writing. I've always believed re...more
028.9 KRA 2004
Research study FVR or more general term: recreational reading.
FVR (Free voluntary reading): no book report, no questions at end of chapter, no look-up every vocabulary. Put down a book you don't like. Free voluntary reading is the foundation of language education. p1
Quote in book p150 "Our problem in language education, as Frank Smith has pointed out, is that we have confused cause and effect . We have assumed that we first master language "skills" and then apply these skills to re...more
Research study FVR or more general term: recreational reading.
FVR (Free voluntary reading): no book report, no questions at end of chapter, no look-up every vocabulary. Put down a book you don't like. Free voluntary reading is the foundation of language education. p1
Quote in book p150 "Our problem in language education, as Frank Smith has pointed out, is that we have confused cause and effect . We have assumed that we first master language "skills" and then apply these skills to re...more
This book is full of good information and I am glad to have it in my collection. However when you have something that is this type of research summary it is designed to be referenced, not read cover to cover. Now I read it this way because it was a text-book for a class so I had to often stop and refocus as I would forget what I was actually reading as it got lost in the citations which sometimes seemed to make up about half the text. It is tough to read something where there is a citation that...more
While I didn't really enjoy the style this book was written in, the research citations broke up the text and coincidentally ruined the flow, I did learn a lot of new things about the affects and benefits of reading. My favorite was the studies explaining that reading greatly improves language acquisition for second language learners compared to rote memorization and grammar lessons. I think this kind of knowledge would inspire people who are struggling with a second language to read more.
I am no...more
I am no...more
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Mar 20, 2010
Gabriella
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
teachers, librarians, parents
Shelves:
library-book
I read this book because it was compulsory for my Approaches to Narratives course. It is quite interesting once you get over the fact that it is a book about research. It is about how reading helps people build vocabulary, make spelling and writing skills better, and also comprehension skill are developed by reading. Through the book I was thinking 'This is so true' and it makes you feel good that you were a child who liked to read and, according to the book, it not only made you feel entertaine...more
Some great evidence for why reading is so important. Krashen highlights lots of research showing why free voluntary reading is actually the most effective way to improve reading skills, vocabulary acquisition, and writing style. He also discusses reading incentives and why they don't work.
Krashen is one of the best advocates for librarians in our role as encouraging free choice reading. Loved this book.
Krashen is one of the best advocates for librarians in our role as encouraging free choice reading. Loved this book.
Very good, fast read that summarizes some of the research on reading, especially free voluntary reading (rather than reading instruction). Krashen is a prolific researcher, and often has his own research (or that of his grad students, I would assume) to back up his points. I read the second edition, from 2004, and would like to see it updated further still. The research on comic books and on television viewing all seem dated to me; few studies more recent than 1995 seem to have been cited. Overa...more
I bought this for my middle school library professional collection after reading it for a class. Though the research citations do detract from the enjoyment of reading it, I can move past them to the heart of the book. I will be pushing for Free Voluntary Reading (FVR) time in our Language Arts classes.
Krashen's work--especially this book--is consistently cited by Gallagher, Atwell, Schmoker, Alfie Kohn, and others. I thought it was time to read the book they all kept citing--loaded with interesting research studies done over the past century on benefits of free voluntary reading over traditional reading instruction.
Yeah, baby -- free voluntary reading !! (aka, FVR!!). (Seriously, tho, required reading for anyone seriously interested in literacy and 'the problem of literacy.' This is an authority -- all the research, succinct, and pointed. For everyone else.....whatever ;-) ).
Krashen is the free voluntary reading maverick, and this book lays out the research and makes his case. I like the take-aways in bullets in the margins: good for busy professionals who need research-based talking points.
I had read the earlier edition of this book years ago and LOVED it. This newer edition is great, too. It is definitely a book that will influence the literacy program at our charter school.
I also read this for my thesis as an undergrad. It was my first introduction to research on literacy. I'd love to read more books like this.
Great book for all teachers (of reading)! I'm glad to see the research supports free voluntary reading in the classroom.
So I read this for a class and found it amazingly awesome because it backs up everything I want to do with my life.
1 like · like · see review
Highly relevant and interesting read to anyone studying Language and Literature on an academic level.
Krashen is "The Man."
I don't always agree, but I always THINK more and differently after reading him.
I don't always agree, but I always THINK more and differently after reading him.
Best book I know of for teaching ESOL students. Can't get any better.
Stephen D. Krashen provides a solid argument in favor of self-directed reading in the classroom. Krashen provides numerous studies to back up his claims that children who choose their own books and have ample opportunity to read them during school will see improvements in vocabulary, spelling, grammar, writing, and reading scores.
This research has been here for years. When will parents, educators, administrators, and government officials realize that to improve reading, children need to read? It...more
This research has been here for years. When will parents, educators, administrators, and government officials realize that to improve reading, children need to read? It...more
1 like · like · see review
Apr 14, 2011
Pana
added it
Excellent...a must read.
Packed with enlightening information and research that many teachers and scholars have cited, but it isn't very readable. It really is a compendium of the research, not a narrative to read. If you are looking for powerful research, statistics, and facts to back up your reading teaching practices, this is for you. If you simply want to read a narrative about reading practices in the classroom, this is not it. (Try Readicide by Kelly Gallagher or The Book Whisper by Donalyn Miller).
A must for teachers of Language Arts. Period. I disagree with the reviewer who found this to be text book-like: "TPR" felt like a conversation with a smart and passionate researcher, the sort who can break down big issues into simple concepts. While there is plenty of attention paid to SSR, Krashen also unpacks the importance of access to text as essential to reading efficacy. He tackles Accelerated Reader.
Give this as a gift to any children's or teen librarian you know.
Give this as a gift to any children's or teen librarian you know.
Mar 14, 2008
Robin
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
those who want to read about reading
Recommended to Robin by:
read about it on GNLIB
Shelves:
2008-list,
library-related
Well, the specific reason that I requested this title from another library was to read the section on the importance of pleasure reading, specifically the use of comic books to "hook" young people into reading. So I've only read a small section of the book so far but what I've read, I like.
The section on reading comics is as good as I hoped it would be. Krashen has some interesting connections to make for readers and those who are encouraging young people to read.
The section on reading comics is as good as I hoped it would be. Krashen has some interesting connections to make for readers and those who are encouraging young people to read.
A great book for anyone wanting to address the literacy problem. I would highly recommend it.
Strong support for free voluntary reading in school; the more one reads, the better reader AND writer one becomes.
Great, readable research!
Stephen Krashen, even though I think that sometimes he's a bit strident, is the guru of independent reading. You can't just do Common Core, he argues (especially on Twitter). Schools must also invest in voluminous reading.
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Stephen Krashen is professor emeritus at the University of Southern California, who moved from the linguistics department to the faculty of the School of Education in 1994. He is a linguist, educational researcher, and activist.
Dr. Krashen has published more than 350 papers and books, contributing to the fields of second-language acquisition, bilingual education, and reading. He is credited with i...more
More about Stephen D. Krashen...
Dr. Krashen has published more than 350 papers and books, contributing to the fields of second-language acquisition, bilingual education, and reading. He is credited with i...more
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