The Personal and Professional Reading Habits of K-5 Teachers

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the personal and professional reading habits of kindergarten through fifth grade teachers. Using a survey, 38 K-5 teachers responded to items concerning personal and professional book and magazine reading habits. Items concerning knowledge of recent children's literature were included under the topic of professional reading. Results were that the surveyed population tended to be frequent readers. When asked to name titles of recent children's books, few respondents were able to do so. The results of this study imply that the concept of teacher as reader needs development. Teachers need to evaluate their own beliefs about the purpose of reading so that they may become effective role models.