The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of aligning classroom core reading instruction with the supplementary reading instruction provided to 133 struggling grade 2 readers. A 2-group, pre-posttest true experimental design was employed in this study. In 11 elementary schools, 12 teachers taught both the aligned and unaligned core and…

Examines how concepts-about-print knowledge interacted with other traditional measures of print knowledge, to affect children's reading environmental print in context and out. Demonstrates that concepts-about-print and word recognition were the most reliable discriminators between children who could accurately and consistently read environmental…

Studies the number of reading articles published in major journals by the leading research universities' reading faculties. Presents institutional productivity ratings of various universities. Provides data from several time periods. Finds that several institutions continue to make substantial scholarly contributions. (HB)

Describes several instructional strategies that were used in an earlier research study for moving children into successful fingerpoint-reading and beyond within the setting of a Shared Book Experience. Reports some additional data supporting the use of these strategies. (RS)

Presents the background, design, research, and possible uses for the Cloze Story Map, which combines the elements of cloze with a story-mapping strategy to represent the structure and semantic content of both narrative and expository text. (FL)

Suggests that integrating story maps into a reading lesson helps readers attend to details as well as to relationships between story elements before, during, and after reading. Reports findings of a study to support this belief. (FL)

Examines and evaluates a guided reading lesson using a literature webbing strategy, with predictable books. Concludes that this approach significantly improved young readers' comprehension. (MG)

Compares the effect on beginning readers' main idea comprehension of a direct instruction model, basal reader main idea comprehension lessons, and language extension lessons for group-dictated experience charts. Reports that the direct instruction group outperformed basal and control groups in determining main ideas across a variety of tasks. (MM)

Finds that a story mapping procedure significantly improved fifth-grade students' comprehension, but finds no difference between a typical basal lesson using a discussion of oral and written questions as a review and a story map as a review to improve comprehension. (FL)

Explores whether first-grade students' concepts about reading differed as a function of their teachers' theoretical orientations to reading instruction. Finds that whole language students verbalized more reading strategies than other students, valued and used phonics as much as other teachers and students, and viewed reading books as the central…

Recommends research-based comprehensive changes in basal reading instruction. Points to the need for purposeful, direct, and text-related reading skill instruction, and for a change in the sequence of the reading lesson, with basal skills being taught prior to reading of the text. (ARH)

Finds that state-level textbook adoption committee members reported four major unresolved reading issues: (1) assessment of students' reading progress; (2) whole language versus basal approaches; (3) ability grouping; and (4) use of tradebooks in place of basals. Suggests that the members may lack sufficient specific knowledge of the issues to…

Measures the effects of two oral reading instructional routines (the Oral Recitation Lesson and Shared Book Experience) on second-grade students' reading development (including word analysis skills, oral reading errors, self-correction rates, oral retellings, vocabulary gains, and fluency). Finds that the Shared Book Experience was superior or…

Indicates that each instructional unit was composed of several mini-lessons rather than representing an integrated and related unit organized around a central purpose. Finds that lesson parts failed to make logical connections to previous or following parts. Concludes that the nature of reading lessons could be a contributing factor to the…

Explores the validity of skill hierarchies in reading comprehension. Finds no differences in comprehension skills between subjects receiving or not receiving comprehension skills instruction. Argues for a unitary or holistic view of reading comprehension. Argues for increasing the time students spend reading self-selected materials. Suggests…