Illustrates how prediction can be used to improve content area reading, provides examples of successful prediction techniques, and encourages teachers to develop their own uses of prediction. (FL)

This paper suggests a three-step approach for motivating and enabling eighth graders to authentically attempt to comprehend assigned passages from their U.S. history textbooks. The steps are the following: (1) attempt to activate prior knowledge and interest in textual readings by using relevant materials and varied literary sources to motivate…

The sixth edition of this book presents preservice and inservice teachers with theory and related teaching strategies designed to assist middle and secondary students in reading and learning from their textbooks, and this edition seeks to integrate the current state of the art with some personal ideas. It includes a CD-ROM Digital Supplement which…

Describes an instructional procedure based on the findings of schema research and illustrating the truth that the more students know about a subject, the better they can comprehend what they read about that subject. (FL)

This study examined middle school students' reported awareness of strategic approaches they used when they had difficulty reading science text. Student responses indicated that they used text and social context to resolve comprehension difficulties but that they were largely unaware of the use of prior knowledge for the same purpose. (SM)

Empirical studies on teaching content-area information to underachieving or mildly disabled students are reviewed. Instructional options include content reduction, learnable text, content enhancement, use of audiorecordings and computer-assisted instruction, and promoting use of cognitive and metacognitive strategies. A content enhancement model…

The effect of graphic organizers on 14 learning-disabled students' (grades 5 and 6) recall of science content was compared with that of students taught identical content without the graphic organizer condition. Evaluation two weeks later found no statistically significant differences between the groups on production or choice response tasks. (DB)

Describes how two metacognitive/study strategies (SQ3R and What I Know Sheets) are combined to produce one effective, efficient strategy to enhance reading comprehension. (SR)

A study attempted to determine a variety of facilitating and militating elements that influence Content Area Literacy/Learning Teaching Strategies (CAL/LTS) implementation. It investigated the impact of various contextual or ecological features embedded within the student teaching experience on student teachers' ability to implement various…

This individualized inservice packet on the sequence of the reading lesson enables teachers to utilize a sequential procedure in content reading which will provide students the necessary skills to read the material, react to the printed word through independent thinking, and acquire the process and meaning of the discipline. It is one of a…

This individualized inservice packet enables teachers to individualize instruction in the content areas through the utilization of suggested teaching tactics which encourage student mastery as well as independent behavior. It is one of a nine-part series of booklets--Teaching Teen Reading--in self-instructional format intended as a practical…

Collaborative learning strategies can improve the learning of subject matter in content area classrooms, but they are only one aspect among many that influence how much learning will take place in a class period. The Directed Reading-Thinking Activity (DR-TA) is an effective teaching/learning strategy to use with content area material. Much of the…

A study examined students' ability to comprehend consistent or inconsistent text when activating relevant or irrelevant background knowledge. Fifty-five grade six students reading at or above grade level were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: activated/consistent, nonactivated/consistent, activated/inconsistent, and…

Reading to learn mathematics forges a new synthesis of the traditional basics of reading and mathematics which aims at fostering critical thinking and may provide an instructional context within which students and teachers can work out meaningful conceptions of mathematics. Benefits of this synthesis of reading and mathematics include: (1)…

Describes how textbook activity guides that emphasize active student involvement through cooperative learning and a self monitoring component can help students become active, flexible, more effective readers of textbook materials. (HOD)