An extensive basal evaluation form--written in a series of 73 questions, each requiring a short narrative response and many with specific references to notes in the appendices--is presented in this paper. The evaluation form is divided into two sections: general questions on teacher's guides and general questions on student books. The questions on…

Intended for teacher educators in reading, this paper provides criteria for evaluating texts for reading methods courses. The first part of the paper discusses some considerations in choosing a text, including course format, how frequently the text will be used, and whether the text will be a supplemental, companion, or principal resource. The…

This document consists of worksheets used by the California Right to Read program. The worksheets include "Student Performance Data by Class,""Student Performance Data" (for a given grade), "Summary: Data on Reading Program,""Summary: Reading Methods,""Teacher Skill Assessment Form,""Skill…

The Right to Read Needs Assessment Package (NAP) is designed to assist individual schools in evaluating their current reading program, personnel, and achievement in a relatively short period of time as a prelude to planning a more effective approach to reading instruction. The contents include instructions and suggested forms for the collection of…

This paper describes the Basic Reading Inventory, an individually administered informal reading test composed of a series of word lists and graded paragraphs which the child reads aloud to the teacher. Comprehension questions follow the reading of each paragraph. The contents include: "Preface"; "Description of the Basic Reading…

The purpose of this study was designed to increase the reading abilities of students in the targeted first and third grade classes in two elementary schools located in the Midwest. The study involved an action research project highlighting the overall growth of the students' academic achievement through increased reading growth. The study was…

The second year evaluation of Georgia's Reading First Program primarily addresses the question of the program's effect on students' reading achievement. How schools implemented Reading First is also discussed. The results from the evaluation are, for the most part, positive and support the continuation of the program. The achievement data…

The purpose of this project was to increase grade four students' reading motivation by helping them to develop a broader awareness of literary genres, and through participation in literature-based discussion activities. Approximately 71 students and 33 teachers participated. The following interventions were used: creating a literature rich…

Describes (and presents in an appendix) the Multidimensional Reading Instruction Observation Scale, a formative evaluative instrument to evaluate the quality of reading instruction by recording interactions between student and teacher regarding cognitive processes, affective processes, and management skills from three perspectives: teacher…

Describes a follow-up survey of United States developmental reading programs. Analyzes data and compares them with findings from the previous decade to draw implications for the future of college developmental reading. States that developmental education is dependent on innovative teaching and learning strategies and on an increase in the…

Narrow reading means reading in only one genre, one subject matter, or the work of one author. The case for narrow reading was first presented over twenty years ago (Krashen, 1981). Narrow reading, it was argued, has the advantage of providing the developing reader with a familiar context, that is, familiar background knowledge that helps make…

This guide begins with a story about the parents of twin kindergartners. The story models ways in which the parents of Mike and Chris help them learn to read, such as reading the newspaper together with them and asking them questions about the books they are reading. Included is another short story parents can read with their child, and a list of…

A study examined the effectiveness of the Title 1 Middle School Summer program that provided students at two middle schools in the Columbus, Ohio public school district with background experiences to help them connect learning to living. Mathematics and literacy lessons were developed around travel experiences to museums, zoos, baseball games, Sea…

A study examined whether implementing reading computer assisted instruction compared to traditional reading instruction will produce more effective comprehension at the elementary school level. Subjects, 30 fifth-grade boys and girls in a low socioeconomic area of Brooklyn, New York, were divided into experimental and control groups. Subjects in…

A study examined the reading approaches used by teachers and how accurately the teachers described the approaches to reading they purported to use. Subjects, 206 teachers in 19 elementary schools from 9 schools districts in a southeastern state, completed a questionnaire. Results indicated that (1) 68.75% of the teachers cited the basal as their…