This article reviews research concerning the organizational, selective, and connective aspects of reading and then assesses the impact of constructivism on four reading-related issues in the United States: (1) readability of texts; (2) assessment of reading ability; (3) instruction in reading; and (4) conception of literacy. The article argues…

Using the format of a think-aloud protocol, this paper critically reviews a study from "The Journal of Reading" from the perspective of a not-so-typical high school reading teacher. In this situation the hypothetical secondary school reading teacher came from an English major background, had 15 years experience teaching reading and…

An annotated bibliography of materials on the language experience approach to reading instruction, prepared as part of a study to determine the effects of and methods for implementing this approach in primary classrooms, comprises the major portion of this document. The bibliography's 63 annotations are arranged in four categories: (1) the…

Several theories of story structure are reviewed in this paper, including those of D. Rumelhart, R. Schank, and T. van Dijk. Examples are given of Rumelhart's story grammar consisting of elements such as setting, episodes, events, and reactions that must be present to form a coherent structure. Schank's contribution to story structure theory is…

Describes principled, research-based ways to consider vocabulary instruction. Focuses on the relationship between vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension, the role of direct instruction, and definitional, contextual, and conceptual methods of vocabulary instruction. (SKC)

Based on a review of literature, the premise is developed that summary writing is an extremely complex task that is not appreciably enhanced through trial and error methods. Argues that some direct instruction is necessary and offers a writing strategy that integrates five steps from a direct instruction model with six rules for summarizing text.…

Summarizes Huey's and Vygotsky's characterization of inner speech and posits that Vygotsky's description of the inner speech process is optimal for explaining the role of oral language in the reading process despite objections from psycholinguists regarding the disparity of speech between silent and oral reading. (FL)

Reviews a line of research in which the readability of basal reader stories is assessed through a comparison of traditional and story grammar-based indices. Presents implications for the measurement of readability and the preparation of basal reader stories. (FL)

Proposes a pyramid organization for constructing theories of reading. Discusses each category of the proposed organization: (1) readers and learners, (2) materials, (3) tasks, (4) situation organizers, and (5) settings. (FL)

Notes that single-subject designs, developed in clinical settings, are now being used for diagnosis and instruction in the schools. Discusses their importance to the teacher. (FL)

The review of research on teaching of reading to learning disabled (LD) students first examines past conceptualizations of LD, favors the hypothesis that LD students fail to deploy cognitive resources effectively, examines recent research on teacher effectiveness, and suggests 10 strategies for teaching reading to LD students. (Author/MC)

Reviews the research on the relationship of metacognition to fluent reading and offers techniques for developing knowledge of and fluency in reading. (AEA)

Uses the works of J. Piaget and N. Chomsky to develop a holistic theory of reading. (FL)

Notes that the Soviet Union has seen its own great debate about reading methods and that, in its most recent stage, linguistics and research have played a role. Reviews the development of reading instruction in that nation. (FL)

There always has been a problem with grouping practices in reading programs. The complexity of the interaction between readers, texts, and the contexts in which reading takes place often is ignored by educational decisions that suggest that one program, set of materials, instructional technique, or grouping arrangement can address the needs of all…