The prefaces of textbooks have considerable value as aids in helping students profit more from their reading. But they are frequently ignored by most young readers and rarely if ever assigned by teachers in a formal manner as aids to instruction. A model teaching unit originally using a social studies text can lead students to see the value of a…

The orientation of this paper is toward conceptualizing the ideal study guide. Preliminary sections discuss the general functions of a study guide--to map out a course, breaking it down into assignments of manageable size, and to direct and assist the student in learning the content of each assignment. The general role of an assignment also is…

The techniques of chapter mapping, reading chapter keys, and "T-note" making can help a student overcome immediate academic problems and stimulate student interest in taking a more thorough study skills course at a later time. Completed chapter maps provide the student with several immediate benefits, including a one-page list of all…

A study was devised to determine whether internal reading flexibility would be manifested by individual proficient readers, operating in the "rauding" mode (typical reading manner), and observed in a natural setting reading passages from textbook materials. Reading times were examined using both number of standard words and number of…

A PILOT PROGRAM IS BEING CONDUCTED AT HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY IN HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK, THROUGH THE JOINT EFFORTS OF ITS READING CENTER AND HISTORY DEPARTMENT. THIS COORDINATED HISTORY-READING PROGRAM FOR COLLEGE FRESHMEN WAS DEVELOPED TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSES OF STUDENTS' DIFFICULTIES IN A COURSE REQUIRING EXTENSIVE READING, TO ANALYZE THE CONTENT OF A…

Formal reading instruction occurs not only in elementary school reading classes but also in science and social studies classes, and continues into the junior and senior high school where content-related reading , study skills, and vocabulary are taught by subject. The 21 reading projects summarized in this report emphasize reading in the content…

Presents an informal testing device for discerning reading proficiency in students where standardized measurement is invalid. (JM)

Suggests four steps teachers can use to ensure that content area reading instruction enhances content area learning: (1) determine learning objectives, (2) determine needed reading and study skills, (3) accurately diagnose student needs, and (4) select specific skills for teaching at any one time. (FL)

Describes a visual representation technique that aids college students in reading textbooks, organizing lecture notes, preparing for examinations, and organizing papers. (JT)

Describes a project that used task cards to give students meaningful and interesting practice in using location skills in the content area of science. (FL)

Describes a two-column notetaking strategy for use with eighth grade remedial students. Notes that students regain a sense of independence and control using the strategy. (RS)

The article describes a four-step procedure for constructing two types of graphic organizers (hierarchical and compare/contrast) to help secondary academically handicapped students gain information from textbooks. Implementation methods include teacher-directed, student-directed with text references, and student-directed with clues. Testing…

Evaluates the effectiveness of the PORPE (Predict, Organize, Rehearse, Practice, Evaluate) integrated study strategy system in increasing college students' learning in an actual classroom setting. Finds that PORPE is a practical, durable strategy for learning content area concepts. (RS)

Studies skilled readers' perceptions of the relative importance of elements of informative text on a subject matter with which the readers were unfamiliar. Finds little agreement among subjects regarding which material was important to remember for a test. (HB)

Introduces the FLIP (Friendliness, Language, Interest, Prior Knowledge) framework to help middle and secondary students examine their reading assignments and develop appropriate plans of action. Includes a rationale for the framework, a description of it, and suggestions for classroom implementation. (SR)