Suggests that attempting to define an all purpose literacy that does not vary with subject matter, personal experience, and occasion is an illusory task. Presents data on standards of literacy among the Australian population that tend to refute claims about declines in literacy standards. (AEA)

Grade 1 literacy skills of twin children in Australia (New South Wales) and the United States (Colorado) were explored in a genetically sensitive design (N = 319 pairs). Analyses indicated strong genetic influence on word and nonword identification, reading comprehension, and spelling. Rapid naming showed more modest, though reliable, genetic…

Reports the results of various studies conducted in Australia to determine national reading standards. (AEA)

"Sound Foundations," a literacy curriculum designed to teach phonological awareness to preliterate children, focuses exclusively on phoneme identity (that is, different words can start and end with the same sound). It works from the principle that phonemic awareness is necessary but not sufficient to reading, which depends on the…

The Distar model of reading and language instruction was shown to be effective in developing the reading and language skills of 12 retarded Australian children beyond the usual expectations for such children, and in fostering mastery of most of the basic literacy skills. (Author/DLS)

The development of strong foundational literacy and numeracy skills for all students is a very high priority for schools, education systems and governments. The ways in which children develop these skills during the crucial years of primary education are of major interest to all concerned with students' learning and development. The ACER…

Increasing multiculturalism and globalization have resulted in new literacies in Australia and other Western countries. "Reading between the lines" is a critical skill that children need to develop as they grapple with stories and information from other socio-cultural settings. The parable is an excellent conventional literary device for…

Reviews remedial reading programs at the secondary level in the six areas of Australia. (HTH)

A strong statement about the declining academic standards in Australian high schools and about the need for an educational system that embodies diligence and self-discipline. (AEA)

Defines literacy as the ability to make good-mannered sense in reading and writing to the satisfaction of those in power with respect to the task at hand. Lists educational essentials necessary to produce a literate populace, offers a critique of current schools, and recommends an experiential approach to teaching reading and writing. (AEA)

Investigated the relationships between teacher feedback and students' self-talk and self-concepts in mathematics and reading. Data collected from students in six rural Australian elementary schools indicated that self-talk (positive and negative) mediated between subject-specific teacher feedback (ability, effort, and negative) and academic…

This study used a longitudinal design to examine the possibility of a causal link between metacognitive knowledge and reading performance across time in a group of grade 2 Australian children (1989 cohort, N=100; 1990 cohort, N=90) with and without learning disabilities. Revaluation between 1 and 2 years later found: no relationship between…

This study of immigrant language skills used data from the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia, which followed a cohort of settler arrivals for the first 3.5 years of their residence in Australia, surveying them at three points in time. The survey examined determinants of improvement in English language skills with time among immigrants…

Reports results of two national literacy and numeracy testing programs in Australia revealing that there is a sizable fringe group of people unable to function effectively because they cannot meet minimal demands of reading skills. (JL)

A sample of boys of Australian and Italian descent was divided into groups according to silent reading comprehension scores. The students' oral reading was recorded and the resulting miscues categorized. When oral reading accuracy was examined, the lowest level Italian group read more accurately than the equivalent Australian students. (Author/MLW)