Research on subject matter instruction across the 20th century (e.g., Stevens, 1912; Bellack, 1966; Hoetker & Ahlbrand; 1969; Gall, 1970; Langer, 1999; Mehan, 1979; Nystrand, 1997;) reveals a preponderance of teacher-directed lecture, recitation, and round-robin reading of text in place of instruction that focuses on reading-to-learn, thinking,…

Examples showing how educational practices can result in students' reading difficulties are taken from the problem areas of: classroom atmosphere, reading attitudes, parental reactions, dull or difficult reading materials, limited reading resources, teaching practices, overemphasis on skills, and the individual needs of students. (JN)

While acknowledging that studies reveal no single personality structure characteristic of disabled readers, the author presents basic techniques for secondary teachers which improve reading while taking account of the emotional needs and predispositions of nonreaders. (SJL)

The orthodox view of reading as the accumulation of isolated skills continues to dominate classroom practice. Under this framework, prescriptions for problem readers usually involve intensified drills in the same basic skills to which the students failed to respond in the first place. Prevention entails the early and often precipitous examination…

A discussion of adult learners and a description of instructional reading strategies--based on thinking--for adult learners are presented in this paper. A definition of adulthood and the nontraditional learner in the paper highlights adults' cognitive skills, interests, and literacy levels, while the metacognitive awareness of disabled and good…