Why some gifted children do not like to read

This study examines gifted students’ attitudes toward reading. Although enjoyed by most gifted students, many have negative attitudes toward reading. The purpose of this study was to identify causes for these attitudes and provide suggestions to help teachers develop more positive attitudes in these students. Reading attitude instruments were administered to 124 sixth‐, seventh‐, and eighth‐grade students grouped according to ability as gifted, average, or below average. The students were then classified as having positive or negative attitudes toward reading and their open‐ended responses were analyzed. As a result of students’ answers, classroom activities were suggested in four areas: (a) selecting reading materials, (b) designing prereading activities, (c) providing challenge, and (d) assessing interests and attitudes.