Survey question 3: Why are you not currently using sustained silent reading in your reading classroom?

• “Students choose to want directed reading. When tried, many had a hard time staying on task.”
• “Time.”
• “Children are extremely low in ability. They need guided reading to understand story. They miss key words. This is a special education class.”
• “I am working in a Chapter I [a federally funded compensatory education program for disadvantaged children in the United States, now called Title I] 7th and 8th grade program where we are concentrating on study skills, time management, and organization. I see the children for the minimum required time -- not enough time.”
• “During reading class, occasionally, an assignment is read, but there is not a special period or time set aside for SSR.”
• “We do a lot of oral reading and cooperative learning activities. However, we do novels occasionally in class.”
• “I do use it occasionally. The biggest problem is for the students to bring in something to read -- they forget it; they [say they] 'hate' to read, etc.”
• “1. Scheduling difficulties; 2. Justifying the expenditure of time; 3. Getting the cooperation of the entire staff for an SSR program.”
• “Not all of my 7th grade students are able (or willing) to use the time for reading.”
• “Our class periods are 42 minutes. I wish I had time to have my students read in the class, but I don't.”
• “Because of behavior problems and many students not willing to participate.”
• “We must have a portion of the class teacher directed. We also do skill work.”
• “It was removed from the curriculum.”
• “It is no longer a part of a school-wide policy. Students became disinterested and wanted to use the time to do homework.”