Students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in Australia have persistently performed at relatively low levels in national and international tests of reading literacy. Research attention is required to look for new models to promote reading and reading engagement for disadvantaged students. The current study discussed a case study derived…

There is considerable interest and controversy in the community concerning how our students are faring in the task of mastering reading. Broad scale assessment, formerly at a State level and now at a National level (NAPLAN), is potentially valuable in helping answer this question in a broad sense. However, there are limitations to the value of…

A reprint of chapter 28 from the authors' book, "K-6: Best Years of Their Lives?" published in 1979 by the (Australian) Primary English Teaching Association, which presents evidence that contradicts reports of a decline in Australian reading standards. (DD)

One of the key requirements of the Common Core State Standards for Reading is that all students must be able to comprehend texts of steadily increasing complexity as they progress through school. By the time they complete the core, students must be able to read and comprehend independently and proficiently the kinds of complex texts commonly found…

Presents reports from Africa, Australia, and Malaysia that reflect this journal's interest in informing its readers of current international literacy research that does not otherwise appear in featured articles. Hopes that these and subsequent reports will lead to broader understandings of global literacy issues and to future international…

Reports the findings of a study that sought (1) to confirm for Australian children the pattern of print concept acquisition noted in North America and New Zealand and (2) to determine whether children of varying reading proficiency can be differentiated in terms of their print concepts. (FL)

In this article, the author describes some of the possible components needed to develop multilevel theory that support the scaling of reading interventions. Scaling can be defined in a number of ways: depth, sustainability, spread, and shift (see Coburn, 2003). The author treats "scaling" in this paper as it has been traditionally…

Reviewed in this paper are some of the aspects of Australian practices and research activities in learning disabilities conducted over the past decade. Special emphasis is given to the diagnosis and treatment of children with severe reading problems. The influence of instruments such as the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities on the…

A variety of approaches to the teaching of reading have been applied in primary classrooms. While much information is available on the teaching of reading in the early years, little is forthcoming to guide teachers of older students. This qualitative research served to identify the beliefs and pedagogies of two experienced year seven teachers in…

The aim of this study was to examine what year-six reading instruction pupils were being given and what year-seven pupils needed and to explore the varying dimensions of the intervening expanse. (HOD)

This book offers 19 articles, published between 1992 and 2002 by the Australian Literacy Educators' Association, that present diverse viewpoints related to literacy assessment and reporting practices. Following an Introduction, articles in the book are: "Understanding the Influences on Teachers' Judgments in the Process of Assessing and…

Examines the use of repeated readings--children "reading along" with an adult--as a method of improving reading skills. Asserts that repeated readings by children with the voice support of a teacher/parent is an effective way to facilitate reading development. (MM)

Reviews current research in Australia in the areas of writing, reading, spelling, and using the microcomputer in the English classroom. (EL)

This paper reports on a series of three studies designed to assess the effectiveness of a metacognitive approach to teaching word identification and reading comprehension skills to upper primary poor readers, and to investigate effective methods for implementing the metacognitive program in the regular classroom. To improve word identification…

A study investigated whether instructors need to undertake in-depth training in miscue analysis as reflected in the Reading Miscue Inventory (RMI) to carry out competent evaluations of children's reading ability, or whether training in the Reading Appraisal Guide (RAG) can be equally effective. The study was carried out at Melbourne College in…