Faculty Publications

Revealing Relationships: First Graders Share Personal Literature

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Beginning readers, Book choice, Children’s literature, Elementary education, First-grade students, Multiple literacies, Personal literature, Reader interest, Reader response, Reading material, Reading motivation

Journal/Book/Conference Title

SAGE Open

Volume

4

Issue

2

Abstract

Literature holds the potential to significantly influence the lives of readers, but what is the nature of this influence for very young readers? This study investigated the question “What are the relationships between beginning readers and their personal literature?” A first-grade class of 18 students individually assembled a collection of personal literature, that is, literature that they chose to read for their own purposes, and shared their literature during presentations to the class. Data collection included observational field notes, multiple forms of literature, audio recordings, and photographs. The data were analyzed using the constant comparative method. The findings indicated four main outcomes: Students’ personal literature is a reflection of who they are as a child within a family structure; students’ personal literature brings them comfort; students’ personal literature is a reflection of their inner desires; and students’ personal literature is selected for their entertainment. The theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed.

Department

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Original Publication Date

6-11-2014

DOI of published version

10.1177/2158244014529438

Link to Full Text

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