In this guide, the various factors necessary in a secondary level reading center are discussed in two sections. "Testing and Diagnosis" explores group screening tests, reading tests, student selection, diagnostic testing, the basic skills list, the Informal Reading Inventory, and posttesting. "Methods and Motivation" covers student motivation,…

Unfortunately, the current popularity of questioning strategies has led to their widespread excessive and/or exclusive employment in evaluating reading comprehension. An approach in reading instruction which utilizes both verbal and nonverbal communication for assessing comprehension contains several unique features that provide for the…

This paper acquaints the classroom teacher and researcher with the cloze procedure as a multipurpose tool. The cloze procedure is discussed as a measurement, diagnostic, and instructional instrument. In particular, the advantages and disadvantages of the cloze procedure for each of these purposes are considered. Cloze passages, their construction,…

This paper, from the Workshop Center for Open Education, deals with the problems of recognizing and dealing effectively with reading difficulties. The introductory sections explain the problems of identifying the poor reader and define the concept of reading. The next section investigates the following biases that are prevalent in reading tests:…

Contains a short test of reading comprehension that encourages students to use common sense and powers of perception when studying reading. (RL)

Suggests that teacher observations form a valid and integral part of student assessment and that, in addition to standardized tests and informal tests, this "inner-ocular technique" is an important means for assessing the effectiveness of reading instruction. (MKM)

The purposes of this study were to determine which test instruments should be used to report instructional and independent reading levels to tutors or classroom teachers and what recommendations should be made concerning the materials to be used for teaching the child. The subjects were children from grades two through ten who had been identified…

This paper suggests several techniques and instruments which can be used and/or adapted for classroom use to gather diagnostic data on each child's reading levels and reading skills. The contents include: a look at some of the factors which impede a teacher's development and use of skill in diagnostic procedures for reading; a discussion of some…

The aim of this bibliography is to provide a reference on the cloze procedure that will be useful to both the practitioner and the researcher. The selection of material was made on the basis of the following criteria: the importance of the source as a contribution to cloze research; the extent and usefulness of the source's bibliography as a guide…

Shows how third graders' error patterns on a reading test related to their cognitive styles. Suggests corrective teaching strategies to follow such categorization and analysis. (RL)

Discusses informal reading inventories and suggests that teachers adjust the inventories to their own teaching practices to assure reflection of students' ability to perform in the classrooms. (MB)

The Degrees of Reading Power test (DRP) and its related technology are described in this publication. It contains a brief description of the DRP, which was designed to measure the most difficult level of text that a student can read with comprehension; a report on the validation of the test; sample DRP passages; an instructional viewpoint as it…

The diverse student population which characterizes most community colleges requires that its professors recognize new techniques for teaching communication skills to disabled learners. This paper offers junior college instructors in the content areas some techniques for improving the reading skills of their students and includes suggestions for…

This paper addresses the question, How can the teacher become an instructional manager, turning informal feedback into pupil progress? Particular attention is given to ways teachers may use test data to help them plan lessons for the students. A number of suggestions for improving students' reading skills are also provided. (RB)