This paper reviews the literature and research on literature-based reading programs (as an alternative to basal reading instruction) that have proven successful and identifies key elements of such programs. The first part of the paper contains an introduction, a statement of the problem, the significance of the problem, a description of the…

The Chicago Mastery Learning Reading Program (CMLRP) discussed in this report is a method of instruction based on the mastery learning model developed by University of Chicago professor Benjamin Bloom. The report describes the procedures and results of an evaluation of the program's effects on reading achievement, information related to the…

A study designed to provide insights into reading programs and materials, specifically those in the 21 elementary schools in one California school district, is described in this report. Following a brief presentation of the background of the study, the report states the 15 questions investigated and describes the variables, population, and…

The Content Area Learning/Reading Project at the Cosgrove Junior High School in Spencerport, New York, was initiated in the fall of 1979. The goals of the project were to foster effective instruction in all classrooms and to promote instruction based on sound principles and practices as indicated by research and by review of successful content…

Observational studies of elementary school classrooms have indicated that basal reading programs (BRPs) influence strongly both how children are taught to read and what they read. BRPs are developed by authors working in varying degrees of involvement with the editors of educational publishing companies. Classroom observation literature and…