Observation has suggested that different subgroups of precocious readers might be distinguished by different patterns of strengths and weaknesses. In particular, it seems that one group of children might be distinguished by the strength of their top-down, conceptually driven processes and another by their strong bottom-up, text driven processes.…

A study was conducted to determine whether high and low ability comprehenders would benefit from induced lookbacks over naturally occurring text. Subjects were 64 tenth grade students selected on the basis of how their self-perceived proficiency matched their actual reading achievement as measured on a standardized test. The subjects were randomly…

A study investigated the use of the semantic webbing technique to improve reading comprehension. The model of a web consists of the core question, the web strands, the supports of the strand, and the strand ties. Subjects, 25 third graders and 26 fourth graders, were assigned to reading ability groups based on past performance, informal testing…

A study examined whether illustrations that must be attended to in order to make sense of a text hinder decoding by encouraging dependence on such illustrations for interpretation of text, both for decoding and for answering questions. Subjects--167 first graders--were asked to read four stories, two of which were taken from basal readers and two…

A study was conducted to examine the effects of prescribing the use of some specific reading strategies on comprehension. The effects of such prescription on the interactions among instructional method and a number of individual difference variables were also investigated. Subjects were 140 high school students randomly assigned to read a text…

The development and evaluation of Informed Strategies for Learning (ISL), an experimental curriculum to enhance children's reading comprehension, are described in this report. The report opens with a summary of the project, in which 20 modules--each focusing on a different strategy--were designed and 60 lesson plans were developed. This section…

Describes and assesses different explanations for the low reading achievement level amongst Afro-American children and critiques traditional attempts to remedy this dilemma. Recommends a holistic approach that fuses cultural difference and social structural approaches to reading and acknowledges that motivational processes are central. (RDN)

Research studies on how adults learn and develop second-language reading competence were considered in the context of a componential theory of reading. In particular, C. A. Perfetti's Verbal Efficiency Theory (VET) was used as a framework in which to organize and evaluate the studies' contribution to the field of second-language reading. The…

A study examined how culturally diverse students increased their reading/writing performance through a structured volunteer tutoring program. Two university professors developed volunteer tutoring programs at six elementary schools in southeastern Michigan. Program objectives were to: (1) increase the reading performance of culturally diverse…

This program was developed and implemented to improve the reading achievement of low-performing third-grade students through the use of language arts skills and strategies. The objectives for the program were for 80% of the target group to improve their identification of sight words; demonstrate positive reading attitudes; increase pleasure…

Addresses the issue of assisting and motivating weak readers in history courses to participate more in research projects by utilizing varied types of materials in small group settings that incorporate different ability levels. Discusses specific types of materials (books, films, and oral history) and sources to locate these materials. (CMK)

Finds surface-level metacognitive knowledge across three metacognitive domains--declarative, procedural, and conditional. Finds that average middle school students' (grades four through eight) metacognitive knowledge of science reading, science text, and science reading strategies is similar to that of younger and poorer readers of narrative text.…

A study examined how 50 bilingual fourth-graders utilized cognitive reading strategies to enhance comprehension of expository texts in Spanish and transfer strategic reading behaviors to English reading. Results indicate that strategic behaviors in the native language undergirded second-language reading behaviors and were more important in that…

Noting that no one approach to reading instruction is "best" for every child, this booklet discusses the "reading styles" approach, which matches instructional approaches to each child's particular strengths and weaknesses in reading. The first section of the booklet discusses the urgency of the issue of low reading achievement…

A study examined the "Summer Opportunity to Accelerate Reading" (S.O.A.R.) program, which provided early intervention to accelerate literacy learning for at-risk students entering grades 1-3 in the fall of 1998. Subjects were 388 students enrolled in 3 S.O.A.R. campuses from 37 Austin Independent School District (AISD) elementary schools…