A pilot study examined the effects of improved breakfast nutrition on students' academic achievement. Participants were 142 intermediate school children who usually ate breakfast in school. All children were given the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests, Form 1, Levels A-D, and were ranked according to their total reading scores. The experimental and…

Discusses educational uses of microcomputers in context of development theories and models of education and describes the development of a computer-supported writing system for the development of academic skills--a children's newswire service--and its influence on the improvement of low-achieving students' reading and writing skills. (MBR)

Reviews contributions made by Marie Clay to the field of reading instruction and literacy. Maintains that Clay refused to be drawn into the battle between the phonics and "whole-word" approaches to reading instruction. Discusses the current status of language instruction in Great Britain and Clay's continuing significance. (CFR)

Argues that effective instruction for children with reading difficulties relies little on accurate diagnosis. Maintains that standardized reading tests can help identify children with reading problems. Asserts that children with reading difficulties would be better served by more instruction and less diagnosis. (CFR)

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 12 titles deal with the following topics: (1) cognitive sophistication and story recall in early adolescence, (2) readability as an interactive process, (3) a sustained silent reading program with seventh and eighth grade…