A study examined how 50 bilingual fourth-graders utilized cognitive reading strategies to enhance comprehension of expository texts in Spanish and transfer strategic reading behaviors to English reading. Results indicate that strategic behaviors in the native language undergirded second-language reading behaviors and were more important in that…

A program to improve social studies reading comprehension among students of English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) was developed in the form of a practicum for use in an exemplary new school in Florida. Participants were five ESOL students, aged 9-11, with widely varying English proficiency, and a group of fifth grade teachers responsible…

Intended as a guide for teachers of grades 3-6, this book presents ideas for the use of literature groups in the classroom. In chapter 1, the author talks about her own reading background and her discovery of teaching methods for literature, and presents ideas for forming literature groups. Chapter 2 offers advice on selecting and collecting good…

A study examined whether one modality for the act of reading occurred with greater frequency than another among a group of students experiencing difficulty acquiring the skill of reading. A reading style inventory was administered to 40 elementary school students enrolled in a basic skills reading program in Westfield, New Jersey, during the…

Reading for meaning is the primary objective of reading instruction. Therefore, it is imperative that teachers focus on effective ways to instruct comprehension strategies. Concurrently, holistic assessment that is authentic, varied, reflective and ongoing is also a critical objective of reading instruction. These two objectives can be met when…

"Questioning the Author" is a particular style of classroom discussion that tries to get young students (fourth and fifth graders) to actively grapple with the ideas they read about in class. It may be distinguished from other reading strategies by the following approaches: (1) it addresses a text as the product of a fallible author; (2)…

This paper describes the Partners in Literacy Project developed by Phelps County, Nebraska R-6 School District. This project involves a partnership among the school, the parents, and students in promoting the literacy development of students. This rural school district serves a student body of 43 and consists of 6 staff members. The students are…

This book presents essays that offer a guide to understanding the elements necessary to bring good reading instruction to all children. It includes a list of follow-up actions accompanying each essay to assist administrators, teachers, and parents in applying this knowledge to their own instructional objectives. Essays in the book are: (1)…

A study was conducted to examine students' reading difficulties from a metacognitive perspective by considering the content of their awareness and the control they demonstrated over that awareness as they reflected on similarities and differences in various types of reading materials. Subjects were 35 seventh grade students representing seven…

Two exploratory studies examined Peru's elementary reading programs. The first looked at reading curriculum, texts, and teachers; the second, at students' reading ability. In Peru performance goals are not specified for each grade by the reading curriculum nor are specific instructional materials recommended (reading is not considered a separate…

A study was conducted to determine whether word length and sentence position influence the likelihood that a child will acknowledge that a word has disrupted comprehension of a reading passage. In the first task, third and fifth grade skilled and less-skilled readers read 16 short paragraphs containing nonsense words and reported whether the…

Three articles describe methods for teaching library skills. The first presents a song used to teach students the Dewey Decimal system; the second describes a reading program incorporating Halloween and foreign countries; and the third includes short poems designed to teach students to care for library books properly. (CLB)

Suggests ways in which parents and teachers can work together to improve the reading development of children. Presents results from a survey which examined parents' knowledge and beliefs about reading, and indicated the need for more parent-teacher interaction. Recommends parents make a conscious effort to reinforce the school's reading program.…

An intervention program, consisting of story grammar training and/or attribution training, was designed to remediate the failure of poor readers to use metacognitive skills. Using 42 fourth-grade poor readers in three different treatment groups, results showed strategic training produced dramatic gains in reading comprehension. (BS)

Discusses the Global Method of reading instruction, which is used worldwide and which is based upon the belief that reading is a part of a language-based process, incorporating all of the communication skills. Examines its similarities to LEA, as well as its differences, and explains its advantages as a content area reading technique. (FL)