Academic Reading Attitudes and Performance as a Function of Gender

Childhood reading levels are important predictors of later childhood academic success. A child’s reading ability and reading attitude is a strong indicator of future academic success and lifelong reading (Kush & Watkins, 1996; Wigfield & Guthrie, 1997). Educational leaders need to foster a climate of reading acceptance at school. To accomplish this, schools need to provide a learning environment filled with reading role models. Schools should maintain large quantities of reading materials that include all student reading levels and interests. Teachers should be given professional development and instructed on how to provide interesting and relevant reading opportunities for their students.