The goals of this study were to (a) develop an empirically based model regarding the development of fluent and automatic reading in the early elementary school years and (b) determine whether fluent text-reading skills provided benefits for reading comprehension beyond those accounted for by fluent word decoding. First-, second-, and third-grade…

A practicum was designed to motivate first-grade students in a rural community in the southeastern United States to read independently for pleasure in the classroom and at home. A whole language program was implemented which did not include the use of basal readers or workbooks. Children's literature was the primary source used for reading…

A study tested the hypothesis that students who were required to read a book of their choice for 15 minutes per night would have a more positive attitude toward reading than similar students who did not have that assignment. The Estes Attitude Scale for reading was given to two classes (high group and low group) of sixth graders in central…

Since 1945, the proportion of literate adults in Korea has risen dramatically. One of the factors that has facilitated this rise is the current use of the "Hangul" alphabetic script, which is very consistent in its representation of sounds. Although the "Hangul" script was invented in 1443, it was not accepted officially in…

THE EFFECTIVE READER SHOULD DEVELOP WORD ATTACK SKILLS, AN ADEQUATE VOCABULARY, AND THE ABILITY TO ADJUST READING RATE TO THE PURPOSE FOR READING. THESE SKILLS ARE INTRODUCED AND REINFORCED AT EVERY GRADE LEVEL WITH INCREASING DEGREES OF REFINEMENT FROM YEAR TO YEAR BY BOTH READING TEACHERS AND CONTENT AREA TEACHERS. LESS OBVIOUS BUT EQUALLY VITAL…

The effectiveness of individual adult-child conferences in increasing the independent reading of elementary school children was investigated. During an 8-week baseline period, data on the number and difficulty level of books read by students in grades 2, 4, and 6 were gathered. Subjects in the upper one-third of reading-value scores (difficulty…

The implementation of individual adult-child conferences to increase independent reading is described. Implementation procedures evolved from research experience with elementary school children over a 3-year period. The results of three studies involving two inner-city elementary schools are briefly summarized, indicating the value of…

An elementary school reading-interest project was designed to overcome summer learning loss and to foster an interest in independent reading. The major strategy, "The Reading Interest Passport," consisted of nine independent reading contracts leading to "badges." This approach was selected after consideration of cost, coordination with ongoing…

Discusses the use of performance contracts to teach reading to secondary school students in classes classified as "corrective,""developmental," and "enrichment." (HOD)

Students' book choices and discussions during independent reading were studied in a combined fifth/sixth grade classroom. The meanings students and the teacher gave to the practice of independent, "free-choice" reading were studied, and the influences that shaped students' choices of books were explored. Independent reading is actually social in…

Describes a community college's skill building courses that use videotapes for reading and study skills instruction. (TO)

Outlines the procedure to be followed in a directed reading lesson, including setting purposes, predicting outcomes, and examining and judging information. Bibliography. (MD)

Discusses the issue of capable high school students who are excellent readers but don't read outside of school assignments. Suggests that the school librarian's role in solving this problem is to provide a variety of reading materials and to encourage reading both in the library and in the school program. (BK)

Three activities are presented that provide opportunities for independent research, expanded learning and the exchange of ideas: the "Think Box,""Inquiry Reading" and "Operation Interaction," to give skilled readers the enrichment and challenge they need. (Author)