During the past 35 years scientific research and experience in teaching have produced results that may help to make teaching children to read more successful.

This is demonstrated in the following statements and quotations.

* In order to give books a better image, their entertainment value and role of advisor should be taken into account.
The crucial requirement for any increase in reading skill should be improved interest and pleasure in reading.

* Children who are encouraged to write their own texts will be more likely to
become self-sufficient readers ("First writing, then reading"). The child as author of its own texts.

* With only a prescribed class reader, no pupil will become a true reader.

* Intermittent use of a wealth of reading material and the use of motivating methods, such as a classroom library and the method "Temptation to read", reduce the time needed for increasing reading skills (speed, comprehension), by two thirds.

* It is the aim reading education to engender a love of reading and to get children used to books. This has to be done by offering individual reading experiences rather than direct whole-class teaching methods.

* First reading: Own texts, storybooks and suitable children's magazines are more important for the child than a primer or prescribed reader.

* In classes 1 and 2 the development of a general motivation for reading not only in school, but also outside the school, plays a decisive role as it is the only way for a child to experience reading positively and thus widen their
reading experience and increase their skills.

* Teachers should be interested readers as well. Children are influenced when they see their teacher enjoying reading.

* More important than hearing anything read to him at school, is the teacher's permanent influence on a child's private motivation to read.

* The positive experience of meeting the author of a children's book can awake an interest or enhance the child's willingness to read.

* Reading not only means the ability to read aloud: the understanding of the text must not be forgotten.

* "Making books" is often a magic formula for the start of self-sufficient reading.

Collected by Hans-J. Fuhrmann The Workshop Center at Pestalozzischool Gladbeck

(As I often hear, are they very much known at schools, but from my eyperience with teachers I know: Reality at schools is not like this. We have still to fight for changements!)

Any suggestions?

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