A program was developed for improving the reading of first-grade students in a progressive suburban community in northern Illinois. The problem was originally noted by an increase in the need for support services and low standardized test scores. Analysis of probable cause data revealed that students lacked knowledge of the relationship between…

This research shows that students often lack the ability to set appropriate goals for their learning. The students in this study did not take ownership in their education, and expected teachers to make decisions for them. The students in the study were fifth grade students in middle class communities in the Midwest. Analysis of probable cause data…

This report describes a program for improving writing skills and related attitudes towards writing of elementary students. The target population consisted of fourth grade students in stable middle to upper class suburban communities, located northwest of a large midwestern city. The problems of inadequate writing skills and poor writing attitudes…

This book is intended to provide the content and structure for a group study of reading and instructional practices that advance reading achievement. The book includes concise summaries of research that reflect sound practices in reading instruction and the most current understanding of the process of reading. It pulls together much of what has…

This report describes a project for improving students' listening and motivation. The action research took place from September 2001 through January 2002. The targeted first grade reading and eighth grade physical education students live in rural, Midwestern, middle- to high-income communities located in central Illinois. The problem was that…

This action research project focused on causes for reading deficiencies of the targeted eighth grade students and how those deficiencies affect students' achievement in language arts, science, and mathematics. The targeted population consisted of 30 eighth grade students in a middle-class community located in a suburban area of a large Midwestern…

This report describes a program implemented to improve reading comprehension in the content areas. The targeted population will consist of students in grades two, three, four, and five, in five midwestern schools, four public and one private. The problem of poor comprehension will be documented through test scores, parent and student surveys, and…

This report intends to describe a program designed to enhance reading comprehension. Reading comprehension relies on skills that enable students to remember facts, draw out main ideas, make inferences, and relate reading to personal experiences. The focus group consisted of middle and high school students in a metropolitan area in northern…

This action research project was designed to improve faculty knowledge of hearing loss and its effects on education at two Illinois elementary schools. Sixty-nine faculty members participated in the project. Methods of assessment of faculty knowledge included a survey, questionnaire, document analysis, and anecdotal records of informal…

This report describes a program for increasing student motivation in order to increase reading performance. The targeted population included second, third, fourth, and tenth grade special education students. Lack of motivation in reading was documented through data revealed by pre and post surveys of students' attitudes and interests towards…

This report describes a program for increasing student comprehension of nonfiction text by incorporating picture books into the social science curriculum, teaching students to use text elements, to generate questions about the content, and to make connections while reading. The targeted population consisted of fifth grade students in a…

This study describes a program designed to improve reading achievement. The targeted population consisted of primary and middle school students in two communities in northern Illinois. Both communities were suburbs of a major metropolitan area and the status of family incomes ranged from low to middle levels. Evidence for the existence of the…

Drama can be influential when combined with some subjects in the classroom. Social studies can be hard for students because it asks students to learn abstract subjects. It was felt that students would gain more understanding of the discipline of social studies if they interacted with the content. When students take an active role in learning, they…

This report describes a program for advancing at-risk students' reading comprehension, which was adversely affecting their academic progress. The targeted population consisted of elementary students in a middle class community located near a large midwestern city. The problem with reading comprehension was documented through teaching referrals,…

This research project investigated whether computer-enhanced reading improved the reading fluency of students. This study looked at 22 second grade students, ages seven and eight, from an elementary school located in a suburban community. The class was divided randomly into two equal groups. The researcher introduced all students to the book at…