A Survey of Out-of-School Activities of Third Grade Students with Above and Below Level Reading Achievement Scores

This study surveyed the out-of-school activities of third grade students with above and below level reading achievement scores. Twenty-one students scoring in the first through third and seventh through ninth stanines on the reading comprehension subtest of the Stanford Achievement Test participated in the study. Each child individually completed the out-of-school activities survey, designed and administered by the researcher. Results of the survey indicated that significant differences do exist in the out-of-school activities of the subjects. The greatest number of differences existed between the above and below level third graders, and the above and below level third grade boys. A smaller number of differences were noted between boys and girls and the above and below level girls. Specific differences in activities are described in the study. The relationship between out-of-school activities and reading achievement must be further investigated to determine the influence of out-of-school activities on reading achievement. Also recommended for further investigation are the effects of certain variables such as age and parental background on reading achievement and out-of-school activities.