Describes a six-trait reading model called the TRAITS of an Effective Reader that provides a reading assessment framework for classrooms, schools, and school districts. Explains trait-based reading assessment and discusses the six traits that make up this model: conventions, comprehension, context, interpretations, synthesis, and evaluation. (NB)

Two studies examined the reading comprehension and strategy use of 46 deaf college students. Results indicated that students with higher reading ability improved comprehension as a result of strategy training but students with lower reading ability did not. Results also suggest that deaf students profess a better reading comprehension than they…

Describes a teacher-research study of the reading acquisition of a second-grade student. Observes the social and instructional context of Amy's reading and her use of visual and non-visual information. Discusses patterns in Amy's text choice over 4 phases, patterns in strategy use, and teacher roles. Discusses this reader's self-extending system…

Discusses materials that foster engagement in the learning process for students, teachers, and parents. Looks at three sets of materials helpful for vocabulary and comprehension strategy development: (1) guiding teachers and students through the think-along process for developing reading comprehension; (2) building vocabulary and comprehension at…

Forty-eight first-grade children with reading difficulties were taught 48 words using a whole-word method, a subword method for making connections between each color-coded spelling unit and its corresponding phonemes, or a combined whole-word and subword method. The subword method showed a reliable advantage on a test of real word reading.…

A study found children (ages 7-12) with difficulties in phonemic awareness and word identification who received Fast ForWord (FFW) training (n=11) and Orton Gillingham (OG) training (n=9) made similar gains in phonemic awareness. Unlike children who received FFW, children who received OG training made significant gains in word attack. (Contains…

Despite the fact that recidivism can be reduced by an increase in literacy, little information is available about effective educational programming, especially in reading, for adjudicated youth. A short-term, one-to-one tutoring program using low cost materials proved to be successful in increasing reading performance for 12 adjudicated youth.…

This publication is a transcription of a forum held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on May 19, 2006 on background knowledge and reading proficiency. This topic goes to the heart of the education reform agenda, according to the first speaker, Eugenia Kemble, executive director of the Albert Shanker Institute, the sponsor of this…

In response to the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), raising literacy levels in secondary schools has taken on a new urgency. Recognized literacy author, Elaine K. McEwan, focuses her revised second edition on enhancing the "five big ideas" for raising reading achievement with seven cognitive strategies of highly effective readers and…

This booklet presents tutoring strategies for use in the Read-Write-Now! Partners Tutoring Program, which assists school-age children, grades 1-6, in reading and writing. The booklet discusses general strategies, guidelines for effective tutoring, what to do during tutoring sessions, paired reading (including the basics and some "finer…

A practicum used a program of high interest activities involving reading to address the problem of low reading comprehension grades and test scores of eight students in the second through fourth grades, who were an average of 1 year behind the norm in reading. The program's six units included a listening unit, computer technology unit, daily…

Noting that only the combination of ingredients could be said to be unique, this booklet describes the SITDOWN technique for reading improvement. The booklet begins with background information, noting that students' reading difficulties can be approached through the "back door" of spelling. The booklet presents a week-long schedule for sequencing…

Prereading activities, analogous to prewriting activities, can draw on the reader's prior knowledge of the subject and make the student's reading of literature more proficient, raise the comprehension level, and make class discussions more meaningful. Some suggested prereading activities for the literature classroom include (1) making students…

A study investigated the development of metacognitive strategy instruction on standardized reading comprehension measures with fourth grade students. Forty-one subjects were assigned to one of three criterion reading groups, based on pretest scores using the Stanford Diagnostic Reading Test (SDRT) and the Wide Range Achievement Test: (1)…

Discusses a descriptive study of reading strategies used by lawyers and law professors, and reports on an experimental study where law students were taught the strategies. Finds that the strategies significantly improved comprehension, especially of beginning law students. (SKC)