Finding a great read: Book selection strategies for sixth grade silent reading

This study was a qualitative inquiry into reading habits and book selection strategies of sixth grade students. Data were collected from 51 students' reading logs, book conferences, and student interviews. Five individual students were profiled for a closer look at relationships between book selection, reading enjoyment, reading attitudes, and proficiency. The most common book selection strategies were choosing the next book in a series, peer recommendations, and choosing a book based on its subject or genre. The most successful book choices were based on subject or genre, peer recommendations, and recommendations from adults. Teachers' book talks and authors of the month helped many students make successful book choices, and personalized recommendations were particularly helpful for students with negative attitudes toward reading. Time spent reading, reading proficiency, and attitudes toward reading were related: students who read the most showed the greatest gains in proficiency and the smallest declines in attitude.