Testing procedures can measure poor reading ability rather than ability in the tested area. This study examined the effects of different procedures for administering test items on 205 third grade pupils of varying reading levels. The procedures were: oral only; look-listen; and silent reading. Results and their significance are discussed.…

A course of study to enhance the effectiveness of the traditional third grade reader and workpack as instructional tools was designed for this practicum. The goal was to create a familiarity with the purpose and function of varied print media available within the community, thereby creating a foundation upon which the students (30 third graders)…

Investigates the use of graphic and contextual information in word recognition and the extent to which good and poor readers are flexible in their ability to trade off one type of information for another when the situation warrants. (HOD)

Studies accurate recognition of letters in different types of letter strings when time to inspect the strings is limited in second- or third-grade children. Compares results of children with naming speed deficits and phonological deficits. Provides some support for the hypothesis that failure to automatize letter recognition interferes with letter…

Determines whether the oral reading performances of grade three students speaking a Newfoundland dialect are affected by syntactic differences between the dialect and Standard English. (RB)

Three studies, involving 140 black third grade students reading below grade level, sought to determine whether dialect interference negatively affected reading comprehension. The first investigation found that a story could be repatterned to significantly reduce the number of miscues and minimize dialect interference between the student's oral…

A follow-on study was conducted on first-grade and third-grade children who were tested on a word identification measure of the Woodcock Reading Mastery Test. Results found decoding strategy was highly correlated with concurrent reading test scores. Use of phonetic decoding was a strong positive predictor and whole word decoding a negative…

This report describes a study that examined the question of whether or not a child's chronological age at school entry or gender affects his/her academic achievement. It posits 2 hypotheses: (1) that there is a low or negligible correlation between the chronological age at which a child enters kindergarten and a sample of the child's overall…

This executive summary reports on the number of students not reading on grade level in all second and third grades throughout Louisiana. The report notes the provisions of the legislation that requires such data be generated, and discusses selection of the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) as the uniform assessment instrument to be…

A free response cloze test was administered to 31 third graders to test the hypothesis that qualitative as well as quantitative differences in syntactic abilities or skills exist between good and poor readers. The subjects were divided into two reading level groups (good readers and poor readers) according to their scores on the SRA Assessment…

Recent research projects demonstrate that pictures in reading textbooks have a negative effect on the word-decoding ability of young readers. This particular study questioned whether the relative difficulty of the words being read determines the effect that pictures have on good, normal, and poor readers. After pretesting to determine reading…

Screening batteries for the identification of learning disabled children in grades one and three were validated for a pooled group of students from an urban, a suburban, and a rural school. Predictor batteries of individually administered instruments were able to classify students into low achievers and others on several criterion variables…

Compares the effects of the dynamic and traditional testing models on reading placement levels of Chapter I students. Finds that students have a wider range of functioning in reading than traditional placement indicates. Concludes that teachers can place students more accurately by using the dynamic model. (PRA)

To determine if there are qualitative as well as quantitative differences in the syntactic errors committed by good and poor readers, two studies were conducted. In the first, 31 third graders, grouped as either good or poor readers according to reading grade equivalent scores, completed a 300 word cloze passage. The results suggested that poor…

This report evaluated the Child Centered Reading Program which was designed to develop and improve reading ability, behavioral attitudes, and self image of the 2000 inner city elementary students participating in the program. The program was administered by a coordinator, four reading teachers and two educational assistants. The activities…