The purpose of this single-site case study was to examine the experiences of graduate teachers enrolled in a Reading Specialist Certification (K-12) program who engaged in literacy-related action research that was woven throughout their coursework. Qualitative data included 24 graduate teachers' video self-analyses, reflection blog entries, and a…

This study explored how an elementary reading teacher navigates the complex role of literacy instruction in public schools. Data was gathered through observation, semi-structured interviews, and document collection and analysis. Observation notes, transcripts, lesson plans, and schedules were analyzed using In Vivo, Values, and Descriptive coding.…

This was a qualitative case study that compared data across six district-level literacy coaches' epistemological and ontological beliefs about how to teach reading. All six coaches were working as a cohort of literacy coaches on the development and implementation of a secondary reading intervention program for seventh-grade struggling readers.…

Presents a useful instrument which determines what administrators and teachers expect of reading specialists. (RB)

Presents the findings of a study of the attitudes of classroom teachers toward reading consultants. (DD)

Determines, for reading specialists in general and for reading specialists in the federally funded Chapter 1 program specifically, (1) their professional training; (2) their actual responses as compared to their perceived "ideal" responsibilities; and (3) their topic preferences for in-service education offerings. (RS)

A survey of 767 teachers from five major regions of the country solicited teachers' views and perceptions concerning the roles and responsibilities of reading consultants. It was found that 85% or more of the respondents thought that the prime functions of reading consultants are to diagnose students' reading problems, interpret test results,…

Explores three possible sources of influence which the experimental psychologist may have upon the reading instructor: psychological findings, psychological models, and research methodology. Discusses who is responsible for applying psychological findings to educational concerns. (JM)

Presents a list of task competencies that identifies the critical areas in which a reading specialist performs and provides a basis for judgments affecting the revision and initiation of graduate reading programs. (RB)

A pilot study investigated the quality of diagnostic decisions that are made on the basis of a precise model of reading and learning to read. The study was carried out by creating a computer simulated reading clinician that embodied a recent model of the reading process and by observing the behavior of this simulated clinician as it diagnosed…

Presents a study of students with severe reading difficulties in a public school setting. Compares the results with those of a study conducted in 1946. Suggests that field-based specialists can do a thorough diagnosis with tests and procedures currently available. (MG)

A questionnaire was constructed and evaluated by specialists in the field of reading instruction to gain information regarding the use of the Initial Teaching Alphabet (i/t/a). Elementary teachers and reading specialists in 16 randomly sampled school districts in nine states were questioned. Eight of the systems were in districts generally…

French linguist Alain Bentolila answers a number of questions about his work and the work of the International Center of Continuing Education, which he directs. (FL)