The work reported here is part of an ongoing project to develop a language comprehension assessment instrument that: (1) is sensitive enough to pinpoint the particular language phenomena that are causing difficulty or have not been mastered, and (2) is also broad enough in scope to provide a credible and useful description of language proficiency.…

The purpose of the study was to compare the achievement, retention, and time to complete the required sequence of activities, of eighth-grade science students receiving instructions by means of audio tapes with those receiving the same instructions by use of printed materials. The sample was formed of 72 students designated as below average, or…

This student assessment project establishes an index of the level of educational preparation of on-campus day transfer students at Seattle Central Community College. Reading, writing, and arithmetic were chosen as indices of the level of academic preparation, and a self-report inventory was selected to measure academic motivation. Although…

This report deals with those students who have managed to negotiate the educational system and have reached college without acquiring sufficient reading skills. A brief review of the literature on college level reading programs serves as an introduction to an overview of the remedial reading programs now underway in Texas junior colleges. A case…

Research evaluated captioned educational films for the deaf for possible use in classes with normal hearing slow learners. Specifically, the project sought to determine the effects of captioning on attention, vocabulary level and reading ability, using conjugate reinforcement as an evaluation procedure. The results indicated that, under certain…

Research sought to test the utility of the Optacon (an optical-to-tactile converter, which enables the blind to read ink-print materials), to identify predictors of success with the Optacon, and to observe the Optacon's effect on student attitudes. Matched groups of blind students in grades 4 through 8 and 9 through 12 received instruction…

Linguistic cohesion involves the semantic and syntactic relationships that link sentences together. Research on linguistic cohesion is related to readability and to developmental and ability-level issues in reading/writing. Instructional strategies for low-ability readers/writers include predicting comprehension problems through cohesion analysis…

Considers demands on the reader of printed material displayed on the video screen. Ways that electronic media can engender and foster reading skills are discussed, including use of graphics in video displays and ways educationalists may contribute to development of videotext and software to teach reading. (40 references) (MBR)

Describes an empirical study that suggests using a cutoff score of 75 instead of the currently used score of 80 for the CPT Reading Comprehension Test (CPT-Read), which is used to place students in remedial coursework at Suffolk Community College. Also reviews the policy implications of establishing a lower cutoff score. Includes six data tables.…

Explores whether there are unique approaches to early literacy among children reared in a rural Appalachian culture. Describes the reading/writing development of two children--both developed unique styles and approaches to literacy, stemming from home and cultural influences, and a supportive, constructivist, whole language classroom. (PA)

Developmental and criterion reading and writing measures were administered to 300 primary-level students, revealing that elimination of IQ in the definition of learning disabilities would dramatically affect who is identified as learning disabled. A two-stage assessment model analyzing absolute criteria without IQ and relative criteria with IQ is…

Discussed is the importance of students being able to read and understand mathematics. The need for students to practice reading mathematics is emphasized. Discussions and homework are presented as examples of this needed practice. (KR)

This study found that a linear discriminant function was able, with 73 percent accuracy, to distinguish between learning-disabled dropouts (n=213) and learning-disabled graduates (n=92). The discriminant function was composed of six variables--student ethnicity, reading ability, family intactness, family socioeconomic status, school transfers, and…

Examines the differences in the effectiveness of whole language and traditional instruction in end-of-the-year reading, writing, and spelling achievement for children with varying levels of incoming phonemic awareness, reading, and writing ability. Finds that neither program was more likely to close gaps between children high or low in these…

Describes study that examined kindergarten and second grade students' recall of information that had been presented on a computer with varying levels of visual action and verbal labels. Developmental differences in children's use of verbal and visual systems are discussed, and reading ability levels are considered. (29 references) (LRW)