The reading and mathematics objectives of the Georgia Criterion-Referenced Tests for Grade 4 are described. In reading, objectives are defined for: (1) literal comprehension, the understanding of information explicitly stated in the materials; (2) inferential comprehension, the understanding of information not literally expressed; and (3) problem…

Psychological procedures change behavior in part by creating and strengthening perceived self-efficacy, which refers to personal judgments of performance capabilities in a given activity. In addition, it has been hypothesized that attributions, or perceived causes of outcomes, exert important effects on self-efficacy. A study investigated how the…

A study examined whether language patterns found in English, which differed from those in Spanish, would have a significant effect on English as a second language (ESL) learners' comprehension while reading English text. Average fifth grade readers were randomly assigned to either an initial Spanish speaking group (N=18) or an initial English…

The Reading Test for New York State Elementary Schools is designed to determine the most difficult prose text a student can read with comprehension. Test uses described include evaluating the student's current level of achievement; determining reading difficulty levels for instruction; measuring growth of comprehension; determining statewide…

Starting with laboratory research on the suppression of visualization in reading, this study investigates effects of treatments (reading vs. listening and pictures vs. no pictures, in a 2x2 design) and aptitudes on the learning of verbal and spatial types of content. Approximately 100 fifth grade pupils were given a battery of four ability tests,…

A 2 x 3 factorial design was employed to assess the efficacy of peer teaching and token reward contingencies (contingent tokens, noncontingent "yoked" tokens, and no tokens) in a remedial reading program. The relationship between on-task performance and reading improvement was also assessed. Forty-two fourth grade to sixth grade rural Appalachian…

The main purpose of this study was to determine and describe the effects of the comprehension component of the criterion-referenced reading program, Wisconsin Design for Reading Skills Development (WDRSD), on reading achievement and self-concept of sixth-grade students. Parametric techniques were employed in a quasi-experimental study involving 44…

The limitations and advantages of any given measure of performance used to classify students as good or poor readers have not been investigated thoroughly. A study was conducted to determine what happens on several dependent measures of comprehension when the same students are separated into good and poor readers based on different criteria.…

This report reviews research and opinion concerning the teaching of reading with in-school television and describes a commercially televised reading program for sixth and seventh grade Duval County (Jacksonville, Florida) schoolchildren, who watched television at home, but who received correlated instruction in school classes. Pretest and posttest…

Commonality analysis is a statistical technique used within the context of a study to examine school effects among disadvantaged students. The research investigated the unique and common contributions of background, mental ability, program and parental involvement variable sets to the reading vocabulary and comprehension of students participating…

This case study reports the use of token reinforcement in remedial reading instruction with an eleven-year-old boy from rural Appalachia. During phase one, tokens were given for reading 50-word passages without error; token value was contingent upon the number of attempts necessary to read without error. During phase two, words missed in phase one…

The intensive reading instructional centers in Hartford, Connecticut, provide reading services to over 500 pupils in the third, fourth, and fifth grades. Reading teams consist of a reading consultant, two master teachers with strong backgrounds in reading, and a part-time clerk-typist. Instruction takes place in eleven-week cycles. Each teacher…

Activities used with intermediate-grade students who have reading difficulties are presented, and suggestions for building interest and motivation are listed. Included are (1) motor development exercises such as practice in coloring, drawing, and tracing; (2) activities such as various listening games which are designed to improve auditory…

Part of a series, the purpose of this low-readability/high interest book is to use higher order thinking to develop students' reading comprehension skills. The reading skills addressed in the book are based on state reading standards and assessment tests for grades five and six. The goal of the series of books is to teach students how to analyze…

This multimedia program (a CD-ROM and a teacher's guide) features reading comprehension activities to encourage students to read for meaning. It includes exercises for 100 intermediate level books that are commonly available in classrooms or libraries. The program provides 20 "island destinations" that contain activities that assess comprehension,…