Two instructional strategies to help mildly learning handicapped students read and understand textual material are described: (1) previewing (use of introductory paragraphs, including questions, that provide a cognitive framework for approaching a textbook passage); and (2) text summarization by students themselves as a follow-up activity.…

The effects of pictorial advance organizers presented before reading a passage on the retention of passage information were examined for 48 children in grade 5. Those given an integrated pictorial advance organizer recalled more than did others on both immediate and delayed tests of recall. (SLD)

Illustrates how advance organizers can be used to aid the second-language decoding process. Devices considered include cognate recognition, syllable-morpheme information, contextualized meaning, chronological ordering, time-frame reference, cross-cultural differences, redefinitions, and direction of discourse. (CB)

Presents a study which examined elementary science textbooks (grades four and six), noting (1) text organization and structure; and (2) the degree of problem solving required in chapter activities (according to Bloom's taxonomy). Reports a need for a more varied use of text structures and the inclusion of activities that utilize higher-level…

A discussion of pre-reading exercises in second language reading instruction looks at the theoretical justification for advance organizers in particular, examines the types of background knowledge that fluid reading requires, and gives models for exercises designed to activate this knowledge. Examples are from French texts. (MSE)

A study of student test performance in a preclinical operative dentistry amalgam course revealed that structured worksheets linked to videotape and lecture presentations improved immediate recall of key points for both presentation types and were well-received by students. Other worksheet uses are suggested. (MSE)

Advanced organizers produced two distinct effects--subsumption of related material and abstraction of incidental concepts. (RB)

Results obtained from the research were inconsistent, indicating no support for the thesis that objectives aid learning. Research recommendations are submitted, with conclusions drawn reflecting the positive attitudes toward presenting objectives. (JB)

Presents the procedures, results, and conclusions of a study to investigate the effects of (1) sex, (2) intelligence, and (3) prior experience in puzzle solving on the categorization skills of youth. A two-dimensional type puzzle involving 4 sorting variables was given to 110 ninth graders. 22 subjects, age from 7 to 18 were given a 3-dimensional…

The effectiveness of having 51 students generate their own headings for scientific text is assessed. Results reveal that generating headings enhances performance on a number of recall measures compared to either author-provided headings or no headings. (Author)

The effects of behavioral modification strategies in pretraining subjects was contrasted with no pretraining in notetaking systems. Test mode expectation was a second variable measured. Analyses of variance on performance scores and scores reflecting the efficiency of notes showed several significant interactions between the two independent…

Anticipating the information contained in a text is a skill which needs to be practiced in order to aid the reader's overall understanding, thus allowing the teacher to concentrate on new items of language. The "two-phase speculative" approach assists in teaching and unifying thematic aspects of a reading passage. (Author)

Reports on a study to determine whether questions asked prior to reading or questions asked before and after reading would improve elementary school students' word recognition and reading comprehension performance. Concludes that no significant differences existed in favor of the prequestion task on word recognition or comprehension performance.…

Research from four subareas of prose learning (advance organizers, response modes, objectives, and inserted questions) is considered and weaknesses in the studies conducted are noted. Suggestions are advanced as to how researchers might profitably spend their energies in the future. (RC)

Specific teaching strategies to help hearing-impaired secondary students comprehend abstract concepts include (1) pinpointing facts and fallacies, (2) organizing information visually, (3) categorizing ideas, and (4) reinforcing new vocabulary and concepts. Figures provide examples of strategy applications. (DB)