Problems and demands of people involved in read-aloud school activities:

From the perspective of the school and volunteers

Abstract

There has been considerable discussion about the positive aspects of read-aloud activities in Japanese schools.

However, few studies have attempted to investigate the associated problems and demands. Thus, the present study discusses the problems and demands of people who are involved in read-aloud school activities,and particularly focuses on the theories of three schools.

The research in this study was conducted at three schools in southern Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. These three schools sponsor read-aloud activities,and utilize a group of volunteers. In each school,there were three participants,including a schoolmaster,a teacher(who is a contact person for such activities),and a volunteer.

The research was carried out as follows. First,semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants,who were each asked to provide responses to the two following prompts;(1)Please tell me about a problem,trouble,conflict,or anything that catches your attention regarding read-aloud activities in school.(2)Please tell me about the demands for volunteers(or the school)in the process of read-aloud activities with volunteers(or the school). Second,the researcher made transcripts of the interviews. Finally,the researcher worked with a doctoral student to analyze the transcripts by using the SCAT (Steps for Coding and Theorization)method.

Through this studyʼs analysis,we identified each of the three schoolsʼtheories of problem and demand. Moreover,from the common point involved in each of the three schoolsʼtheories,we proposed that we should ensure opportunities for dialogue about reading promotion should be ensured,and the focus of those dialogues can become the enclosed of school.