There are many "truths" concerning reading psychology and pedagogy that teachers accept without questioning and that play an important role in current reading instruction. However, both science and education are deeply affected by the tenor of their times, and present day answers should be regarded only as tentative propositions that may be…

Nine separate articles addressing various aspects of library services to gifted youth include a philosophy statement and discussion of school media centers, reading guidance, leisure reading habits, computer use, critical television viewing, resources and referrals, programs involving community agency cooperation, and selected resources for…

A study tested the relative effectiveness of four methods of teaching remedial reading students (grades 6 through 11) how to identify the main idea of expository paragraphs. Forty-seven students were divided according to treatment and were given the same pool of 125 paragraphs about geology and weather to read, and were given pretests and…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 12 titles deal with the following topics: (1) the effect of writing instruction on reading comprehension and story writing ability; (2) eighth grade remedial students' concepts about reading and writing; (3) the effect of a…

Intended for parents and reading teachers, this annotated bibliography contains materials concerning parent involvement with reading. The bibliography provides suggestions and information for professionals and parents concerning (1) home activities that assist the development of general school and reading readiness, (2) support of the school…

The Reading Enrichment/Achievement Demonstration Project (READ) has provided continuing studies, since 1976, of sustained silent reading programs that use paperback books. The 1980-81 Project READ involved 1,100 young people in the juvenile justice system who attended 25 alternative schools and community-based programs. The public school portion…

This document focuses on trends in school and home frameworks for learning found in National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data from 1977 to 1990. Trends in classroom instruction, course taking, students' attitudes, homework versus television viewing, and reading habits and home support for literacy are considered. One table provides…

A preliminary study investigated whether regular periods of sustained silent reading (SSR) would positively affect verified silent reading comprehension scores for eighth grade students. The hypothesis tested was that students allowed 15 minutes of recreational reading (reading self selected material for enjoyment) five times a week for three…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 30 titles deal with a variety of topics, including the following: (1) the effect of a series of lessons based on real life experiences for improving reading achievement; (2) reading achievement and the transition from letter to…

Twenty-five undergraduate preservice teachers in the literacy block (a six credit hour block of reading and language arts methods courses) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln wrote their literacy autobiographies to fulfill one of the course requirements. These autobiographies help students' develop insights into their literacy past and present.…

This book is one in a series that present stories by practitioners in Catholic schools. The papers include: "The Write Traits: Trait-Based Writing Assessment and Instruction for the 21st Century" (Arlene Bertellotti-Weidner); "What's in a Name?" (James Bleecker); "What is a Christ-Centered Environment?" (Michael L.…

With more than 100,000 computers in public schools across the United States, the impact of computer assisted instruction (CAI) on students' reading behavior needs to be evaluated. In reading laboratories, CAI has been found to provide an efficient and highly motivating means of teaching specific educational objectives. Yet, while computer…

Uses anecdotal evidence to investigate elementary and secondary school reading teachers' perceptions of their own development as readers. Analyzes positive and negative factors that influenced these teachers both in school (such as teachers, instructional practices, learning environment) and out of school (such as family reading, library exposure,…

This document analyzes responses to questions included in a national assessment of knowledge of U.S. history and geography in an attempt to determine the relationship between study habits and academic performance. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 1994 asked 4th-, 8th-, and 12th-grade students specific questions regarding…

A review of writing and reading competencies among college students in general and education majors in particular indicates possible directions in setting teacher education admission standards, in providing language instruction courses for student teachers, and in establishing criteria for exiting teacher education programs. As is suggested by…