A recent study in "Reading Research Quarterly" provided evidence that an online reading achievement gap, based on income inequality, exists that is separate and independent from the well-known achievement gap in offline reading. This column briefly reviews the evidence and provides an initial set of instructional suggestions that may be…

Moment-to-moment emotions are affective states that dynamically change during reading and potentially influence comprehension. Researchers have recently identified these emotions and the emotion trajectories in reading, tutoring, and problem solving. The primary learning-centered emotions are boredom, frustration, confusion, flow (engagement),…

An easily-implemented instructional innovation that improved reading comprehension for students including striving readers, average readers, and advanced readers is described in this article. START (Students and Teachers Actively Reading Text) was developed to improve reading comprehension instruction and achievement. This innovative instructional…

Shows that fifth and sixth grade social studies and science students using the Guided Reading Procedure devised by Anthony Manzo scored significantly higher on short-term and long-term retention tests than did students using other reading approaches. (FL)

Concludes that the extra attention paid to children during the administration of reading tests does not have a significant effect on test performance and that the Hawthorne effect does not influence reading test results. (RB)

Presents the 38 most common phonograms (rhymes or word families) in rank order based on frequency. Notes that these 38 phonograms with added beginning consonants can make 654 different one-syllable words, and that teaching phonograms can be a definite help in teaching students to decode and thus to read and write better. (SR)

Replies to an article in this issue that responded to an earlier article ("On Balanced Reading") by this author. Argues that Welna's unbalanced coverage of research and critique is the very fuel that continues the Reading Wars. Argues that a study of past and present research can lead the profession to common ground. (SR)

Demonstrates that the practice of classifying children who have learning disabilities may do more harm than good when the labeling is done by teachers who should concern themselves with instruction and leave diagnosing to doctors. (RB)

Contends that visual presentations of story elements can enhance poor readers' comprehension. Supports the claim by presenting a study on a mapping readiness approach to improve comprehension. (FL)

Reports that the addition of 15 minutes of relaxation training to weekly remedial reading periods for disabled readers throughout a school year raised concentration levels and decreased anxiety, neuroticism, and number of reading errors. Describes a few types of relaxation exercises that may be helpful. (ET)

Concludes that male tutors effect greater gains in the reading achievement of Mexican American boys than do female tutors. (RB)

Describes a study that examined the classroom behavior and reading achievement of elementary school children placed on the Feingold food additive elimination diet. Concludes that children who remained on the diet for six months became less impulsive but did not raise their reading scores significantly. (FL)

Offers an analysis of 10 "Sesame Street" episodes, revealing that the literacy messages conveyed on the program do not reflect current understanding of the process of becoming literate. Shows that hardly anybody reads on "Sesame Street." Discusses why Ernie can't read and how to help him read. (SR)