This report describes a program for improving reading comprehension. The targeted population consists of first, second, third, and fourth grade classrooms in a middle class community located in a suburb of a large midwestern city. The problem regarding poor comprehension skills is evident from teacher observation, student performance, previous…

Research findings are cited that explain how reading comprehension is a complex process involving the coordination of multiple factors and provide a basis for instructional methods to improve children's reading comprehension skills. (MLF)

A review of research in reading comprehension is presented. The role of language in comprehension is analyzed and implications are drawn for actual practice by primary teachers in the reading curriculum. (Author/SK)

Describes an alternative approach for initiating a reading program at the beginning of the school year that urges teachers to defer formalized instruction for two or three weeks and to use informed activities instead. (FL)

Describes an effective procedure for getting "print-bound" poor comprehenders to attend actively to meaning while reading and to improve their comprehension and attitudes toward reading. (AEA)

Compares juvenile magazines and basal readers published in the 1960s with those published recently and concludes that the values exhibited in the publications are remarkably similar for the two time periods. Lists the values stressed in the publications. (FL)

Discusses children's responses to questions concerning their attitudes about reading, libraries, school influence on reading habits, and tells how adults can help children to read. (HTH)

Investigated the relationship among eight dimensions of reading attitude and measures of academic aptitude, locus of control, and field independence for 322 inner-city fifth graders. Verbal academic aptitude correlated significantly with the Expressed Reading Difficulty, Reading Anxiety, Silent versus Oral Reading, and Reading as Enjoyment reading…

Describes the development of uninterrupted sustained silent reading (USSR) as an integral part of the elementary school curriculum, and describes the use of a student attitude survey to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the USSR program in a particular classroom. Includes a copy of the survey. (HTH)

Criticizes the lack of good literature in popular basal series and advocates the reading of good fiction as vital to producing an active, responsive reader. (MKM)

Details a study that examined how attitudes toward reading varied among subgroups of the general population--the subgroups were composed of sixth-grade students; college students; adults, aged 18 through 22, who had never attended college; and adults, aged 60 and older. (FL)

Suggests that the acronym "SCIENCE" may be used as a guide to evaluating seven factors that should be promoted by a reading program: success, curiosity, interest, enthusiasm, nurture, challenge, and enjoyment. (MKM)

Tells a story about a five-year-old boy and discovers through the telling how to be a better teacher. (MG)

Reports that inner city remedial reading students self-selected traditional fairy tales over more contemporary stories available to them. Cites the work of Bruno Bettelheim and Karen Zelan, who suggest that these children select such materials to find intrinsic meaning. Argues that reading aloud to children is a valuable if not necessary means of…

Creative ways to motivate students to read and report on books include having them retell the stories differently, invent products related to the stories, share snacks like those the characters ate, illustrate action from the story, write imaginary conversations between themselves and the characters, and turn the stories into short skits. (SM)