Topic: Reading Attitudes--Negative.

10-second review: Negative statements that students are likely to make about reading.

Title: “Measuring Attitudes: An Extra Dimension.” LD Kennedy and RS Halinski. Journal of Reading (April 1975), 518-522.

Negative Statements about Reading:

Reading is difficult for me. I read only what I have to. Authors seem to like words that are hard to understand. It takes me a long time to read anything. There are very few things that I find interesting to read. I dislike reading because most of the time I am being forced to read. I read too slow. It’s hard just to sit and read. I don’t care to take the time to read.

Reading bores me. I usually do not understand what is happening in a story. Reading is too  complicated. Reading just doesn’t appeal to me. When I read, I can’t keep my mind on the subject. I can’t sit still long enough to read. Reading turns me off. Reading is difficult because of those big words. I am seldom in a mood to read. I get tired when I read. I have to read material over and over to get something out of it. It’s hard to get interested in reading things which are assigned. I hate to read. I seldom get any new ideas from reading. Reading takes too much concentration.

Comment: I would be surprised if even good and successful readers have not had these same negative comments on reading at some time. I think one thing we can say to reluctant readers is that what they think about reading is true. Changing these attitudes about reading, focusing on what can occur through reading, rather than on the process of reading itself, is what teachers need to emphasize. RayS.