This paper discusses some of the larger trends in present day American society and education, indicates how these trends are affecting reading, and points out some possible directions for future development. The trends discussed include "Sex Equality," which discusses sexism in basal tests, male teachers of reading, and the greater number of boys…

The first step in arriving at techniques for the improvement of reading rate is the careful and thoughtful formulation of a specific objective. Once a reading rate objective has been phrased, the next step is to examine all available resources of help in reaching that objective. These resources include films for use with regular motion picture…

This study involved a direct comparison of existing instrument techniques to determine how each technique adds to a total reading program. Also studied was the order in which various techniques are best used in a program. The subjects were 60 students who were enrolled in a two-year academic center preparing students for employment in both…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether repeated sessions of reading practice within the home, directed by a person who would support and encourage the pupil, would result in a significant increase in reading achievement. Eight boys and eight girls were selected at random from each of six second grade classrooms in two elementary…

This paper discusses the characteristics of inner-city, deprived children which cause learning difficulties; the characteristics of typical basal readers which cause problems for these children; conditions which promote optimal learning; and practical suggestions for instruction. The areas of learning difficulty for the children discussed include…

The two-year goal of the Diagnostic-Prescriptive-Individualized Primary Reading Program (DPI) is to cut in half the deficit between the national norms and actual achievement scores of the pupils as measured by the California Achievement Tests at the first and second grade levels and the California Test of Basic Skills at the third grade level. As…

Much remains to be learned about the complex structure of skills that make up the reading process. The first priority in improving reading instruction is the identification of minimal sets of skills and knowledge necessary for acceptable reading competence at several stages of development in the reading process. The second priority is the…

This study assessed the first-year effects of Project Instruct on the acquisition of word attack skills by kindergarten children. Evaluation of the project was conducted in schools which contained a relatively large number of children classified as disabled readers. Kindergarten children in five elementary schools experienced the instructional…

This paper discusses some of the findings and needs of reading research. The areas of research study mentioned include word boundaries, letter names, preschool reading, teacher questioning, critical reading and Negro dialects. Researchers cited include Dolores Durkin, Frank Guszak, Jay Samuels, Guy Bond, A. Sterl Artley, Edward Fry, and Robert…

This paper discusses some educational developments which have either surfaced or been revived during the past decade or so and which may contribute to or influence the teaching of reading. The developments discussed include: accountability and performance contracting; the use of more adults (parents, paraprofessionals, and college students) in the…

This book discusses the nature of individual differences, eye movements, readiness to read, problems of testing and measurement, and remedial reading teaching techniques. This 1973 revised edition contains two new papers by the author and an extensive introduction by David Mackay. The contents include: (1) "The Contemporary Challenge: Reading in a…

The purpose of this study was to determine if the Primary Individualized Reading Divided Day (PRIMIR D/D) Program and the non-PRIMIR D/D approaches are effective in the Seattle school system; does the operation of the PRIMIR D/D program justify startup expenses and maintenance costs; is there reason for modifying, continuing, or eliminating the…

The purpose of this study was to determine what effect a teacher in-service program in reading study skills had on teacher achievement, teacher attitude, and the relationship between pupil achievement and the in-service treatment experiences of their respective teachers of reading and social studies. Sixteen teachers and their sixteen classrooms…

This paper summarizes several research studies related to reading and writing disabilities in children. The major purpose of these investigations was to test some of the German theories on dyslexia, especially regarding visual perceptual problems, spatial orientation, and dominance factors. The dyslexic child, as defined in Germany and used in…

In this paper the author examines the more commonly accepted causes of failure in reading and argues that all of them are related to and explained by two major problems: the lack of proficiency in the spoken language and traditional orthography, the medium in which reading is most commonly taught. Each of the factors generally accepted as…