Competency #5A: Building Block Search in ERIC with Reflection

My topic is about helping emergent readers use the library to further their reading skills and interests. I used the ERIC database for the building block search.

s1=reading instruction
s2=elementary or primary or grammar
s3="school library" or "school library media center"
s4=support or motivate or encourage

s1+s2+s3+s4=26 hits

The second hit seems appropriate.

2. What Motivates Reading? How Library Media Specialists Can Contribute to the Development of Good Readers (EJ784602)

Author(s):
Fitzgibbons, Shirley A
Source:
School Library Media Activities Monthly, v20 n10 p21-25, 35 Jun 2004
Pub Date:
2004-06-00
Pub Type(s):
Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Peer-Reviewed:
No
Descriptors:Reading Comprehension; Independent Reading; Reading Attitudes; Reading Achievement; Media Specialists; Reading Skills; Reading Instruction; Reading Motivation; Role Perception; Educational Environment; Library Role; Reading Habits; Habit Formation
Abstract:Since the significant report "Becoming a Nation of Readers: The Report of the Commission on Reading" (Anderson, Hiebert, Scott, and Wilkinson 1985), more attention has been given to the need to motivate and encourage reading in addition to teaching reading skills. That report concluded that the best predictor of reading comprehension, vocabulary size, and gains in reading achievement between the second and fifth grade is personal reading. Then during the 1990s, the "whole language" and "literature across the curriculum" movements had as a primary objective the encouragement of more independent reading. As a result of this focus, several publications were influential in promoting specific approaches including "Fostering the Love of Reading: The Affective Domain in Reading Education" (Cramer and Cramer 1994) which is based on motivation theory and research. This article draws from recent research to posit that motivation to read is an essential ingredient to the development of good readers, and as importantly, to lifelong readers; and that there is evidence that reading attitudes and behavior are linked to reading achievement. Suggestions for the role of library media specialists, working cooperatively with teachers, are presented based on this research.

While working on this search, I felt frustrated. Trying to find synonyms for my subjects was difficult for me. Also, this search made me feel like I needed "all the answers" before I even began looking. It makes me think of a puzzle. All the pieces are there on the table, but you have to find the exact piece to make the picture complete. This search made me feel like the piece I was looking for was the one on the floor under the table.