32 



Indiana University Studies 



view of these facts, it is evident that the cities of Indiana 

 should consider seriously the advisability of emphasizing rate 

 of silent reading in the intermediate grades. 



Diagram 6 presents in graphical form the average silent 

 reading rates for Indiana and for two selected cities, also the 

 highest and lowest scores in each grade. The diagram empha- 



60 













. — ■ 











y 



y' 



I'' 



y 1 



,y'^ 







^^.2312 ^ 







/ 



vli 









18!2 ^ 







1 





20 





8l2 







1 





2d 3d 4th 5th 6_th 7th 8th 



St. Louis Grand Rapids 



Indiana Northern Illinois 



Thirteen Cities 



Diagram 8. A^TRAGE Quality Scores ix Silent Reading for Indiana, 

 Northern Illinois, St. Louis, Grand PvApids, and Thir- 

 teen Cities 



sizes the fact that schools vary widely in rate of reading. The 

 average rates of reading in some classrooms are three times 

 as high as the average rates in other classrooms. In numer- 

 ous recent investigations it has been found that emphasis on 

 silent reading instruction, together with abundant opportunity 

 to read simple selections silently, is prerequisite to rapid pro- 

 gress in rate of reading. The diagram shows clearly the need 

 of a careful scrutiny of the methods and materials employed 

 in reading instruction in many cities of Indiana. 



