Relationships between reading comprehension (RC) and critical thinking skills, vocabulary, and cognitive ability were examined using 3 tests with 165 underachieving first-year college students in a remedial reading class. The Iowa Silent Reading Test's vocabulary subtest best predicted RC. The Developing Cognitive Abilities Test's three subtests…

An experiment in which 90 undergraduate students were tested on simple and complex versions of a word-span task with high and low frequency words suggests that both word knowledge and a content-free working memory play causal roles in the relationship between word span and higher level cognitive tasks. (SLD)

Describes three characteristics of whole-literacy instruction and relates these characteristics to current perspectives on vocabulary instruction. Includes examples designed by middle-grade teachers who were interested in using these ideas to shape classroom instruction. (MG)

Aimed to determine the basic English words Japanese students are not familiar with and to develop a reliable and easy-to-use vocabulary survey. Investigated the relationship between familiarity and second language and first-language recall to judge the amount students overestimate their vocabulary when using a self-checking familiarity survey.…

Relations between children's peer play competence and other relevant competencies were investigated using two samples of urban Head Start children. Dimensions of peer play were examined concurrently with emotion regulation, autonomy, and language. Children exhibiting high levels of peer play interaction were found to demonstrate more competent…

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a readers' theater fluency program. The participants were 12 students with learning disabilities in a combined second/third grade exceptional education classroom. Through the use of pre and post reading attitude surveys, field notes recorded by the observer, and pre and post oral fluency…

This paper discusses research findings regarding vocabulary instruction and reading comprehension and suggests methods to develop vocabulary using visual aids. As indicated by the research, vocabulary instruction is necessary and can lead to improved comprehension; there also appears to be a strong need to relate concrete visual experiences to…

Developed by the ABCs of Construction National Workplace Literacy Project, this fifth-grade level module teaches strategies for finding the meanings of compound words used in technical writing encountered by pipefitters. It also addresses working with words in context and finding definitions with a dictionary. Four exercises are provided. (YLB)

Results of an analysis of a newly developed spelling test and several related measures are reported. Information about the reliability of a newly developed spelling test; its distribution of scores; its relationship with the standard battery of aptitude tests of the Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation; and its relationships with sex, age,…

This learning module is intended to improve the spelling, reading, and writing skills of health care industry employees by enhancing their word usage skills. The module, which is designed to be presented in a 32-hour course of eight 2-hour biweekly sessions, is divided into two parts. The initial part emphasizes the development of new learning…

The practicum reported in this document provided an alternative method of teaching vocabulary to students characterized as disabled readers. The method was a naturalistic approach of reading stories aloud to students, combined with guided discussions before, during, and after the reading to develop critical thinking skills. A target group of 11…

This study investigated the effect of the study skill strategies of concept mapping and cooperative learning on students' academic achievement. Forty fifth grade students were placed in three groups: (1) cooperative concept mapping groups (N=9--3 students in each of 3 small groups); (2) a standard concept mapping group (N=11); and (3) a control…

Teaching ideas and learning activities for using newspapers to improve reading achievement, reading motivation, and writing skills are provided in this guide. Most of the guide consists of student activity sheets and is designed to assist elementary and secondary teachers in the use of newspapers as teaching tools. The eight sections (and their…

A study investigated the results of the use of Form E (Vocabulary and Comprehension subtests) of the Nelson-Denny Reading Test (NDRT) with six successive cohorts of freshmen entering a midwestern state university. The purpose of the study was to determine the relationships existing between NDRT scores and other indicators of academic success such…

A study examined whether or not high school teachers could name or list the reading skills needed by their students. The three skills categories were comprehending expository text, understanding content area vocabulary, and applying word analysis skills. The questions used to elicit information from teachers were (1) What must students do to…