A sample application in the development of reading habits: I am Reading - I am Learning Project

The most important factor reinforcing individual habits is the tendency to the habit initiating at an early age. In order to have the habit of reading become permanent at later ages, it needs to be acquired at an early age. Therefore, the family has a very important role in the individual acquiring the habit of reading. Prior to beginning school, children take persons in their living space as examples. The parent, who reads and encourages reading, and the other persons around the child have important roles in upbringing a society with a strong habit of reading. When it is considered that in information society there is a need for an education system that educates students, who read and question what they read, it can be said that reading education and the habit of reading primarily commences in the family and then develops at primary school. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the students spending quality time with their family and the development of the sympathy and habit of reading books with the support of the family. The study group of the study conducted according to the survey method consists of a total of 211 students studying in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades at the Nesibe Aydın Schools in the province of Ankara during the 2011-2012 academic year and 582 parents. The questionnaire and the reading tracking table developed by the researchers was utilized as a data collection instrument in the study. At the end of the 8 week application period, parents were invited to the meeting providing information on the results of the project and they were awarded a “Certificate of Appreciation”. According to the data obtained from the study findings it was observed that parents were pleased to participate in this project, a positive change occurred in the reading habit of a large proportion of children and parents throughout the application period of the project, and sympathy for books started to appear in children.