(1) Promoting Children’s Reading Motivation With Culturally Relevant Reading Education

Cheyeon Ha
Florida State University

Shawna Durtschi
Florida State University

Alysia Roehrig
Florida State University

Jeannine Turner
Florida State University

Makana Craig
Florida State University

Michael P. Mesa
Florida State University

Chelsea Funari
Florida State University

Abstract

This study explored how a culturally relevant summer reading program may empower young Black students through social action and opportunities for reading engagement, thus supporting their reading motivation. The North Florida Freedom Schools (NFFS) was designed to realize social justice by providing free educational opportunities, especially for underserved children. Within this context, we explored the students’ autonomous reading motivation and relevant variables to explain how the summer programming may support their motivation to read. In this mixed-methods study, we found that students’ autonomous motivation to read was positively related to their self-efficacy, autonomy, relatedness, and controlled motivation to read. Building positive social relationships and supporting autonomy were important factors in explaining students’ high autonomous motivation in NFFS. Moreover, students reported that participation in NFFS inspired them to effectively engage in reading activities and believe in the value of social action (i.e., how people could contribute to making a better community).

Citation

Ha, C., Durtschi, S., Roehrig, A., Turner, J., Craig, M., Mesa, M.P., & Funari, C. (2021) Promoting Children’s Reading Motivation With Culturally Relevant Reading Education. Florida Journal of Educational Research, 59(1), 268-282.

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