Urban Teenagers Talk about Leisure Reading

Abstract

In urban school districts in the United States, it is not unusual for 80 percent of the eighth-graders to read below grade level. Schools are tackling low literacy levels by initiating literacy programs, many of which contain a focus on building the habit of leisure reading. While research has shown a connection between success in school and the amount of leisure reading students do, little is known about the leisure reading habits of urban teenagers. This paper reports the results of a three-part study investigating the leisure reading behaviors of urban teenagers and suggests strategies to support their literacy development.