Noting that research indicating Newbery Medal books are not popular with elementary students in spite of their unquestioned superiority in plot, characterization, and style, a study examined the readability level of Newbery Medal winners from 1974 to 1986. Three readability formulas were used to assess readability: Gunning's Fog Index, Fry…

This book addresses the task of matching books to students' reading levels, or book leveling. It assists teachers in making informed choices about appropriate leveling systems, recommends which books can be used in instruction, and suggests how book text level and student reading abilities may correspond. The book will help classroom teachers and…

Provides tables to be used with the Spache Revised Readability Formula that decrease the number of necessary calculations. (MKM)

Assigning enrichment articles that are of an appropriate readability level will discourage plagiarism.

Argues that the use of microcomputers and prewritten computer programs can save teachers time and effort in calculating the readability levels of written materials. (FL)

Examines the image of Columbus as presented through children's literature. Examines the characteristics, personality, and accomplishments attributed to Columbus in trade books from the third- to sixth-grade reading level. Reports themes of Columbus as Genoese, child, sailor, man of scientific reasoning, leader, missionary, patriot, conqueror, and…

Intended to encourage the development of textbooks and related materials that are both worthy of being read and readable, this paper presents standards for high quality reading instruction materials for kindergarten through grade 8. Approved by the California State Board of Education, the standards are based on the premises that better reading…

Presents guidelines for use in examining the comprehensibility of a textbook, questions to ask about the book, and suggestions for using the guide questions. (FL)

Letting students as they read underline or highlight words they do not know allows teachers to find out the words their students do not know. This procedure also leaves a record of all the once unknown words for students to re-read later. It is an added advantage for teachers that it allows them to see how far into a book students have read, and…

A 15-item story problem test was written at three readability levels (below grade 4, grades 4-6, above grade 6) by two methods (vocabulary control and sentence control). Six test forms were administered to 1158 children in grades 3-6. Readability level had no effect on problem difficulty. (Author/MNS)

Reviews ERIC documents concerned with the use of comic books in the classroom. (FL)

Looks at factors in the textbook publishing industry, especially costs and censorship, which affect the quality of available reading series. Notes the problem of readability and content bias. Finally, presents a checklist of basal reader evaluation criteria. (SJL)

Examines the reading level and potential comprehension level of 10 fourth-grade science textbooks. Reports that there is a great deal of variability between and within the science texts. (YP)

The 15 adapted fairy tales presented in this book were prepared for use in practicing oral reading by a parent and a child, a teacher and a child, or two children, one of whom reads slightly better than the other. The stories in the book are arranged in dialogue format for two readers. The high interest/low readability stories in the book are…

This guide to producing a readable, appealing, and interesting school newsletter is intended for teachers, administrators, and secretaries who might be intimidated and overwhelmed by the task of newsletter production. The guide will help school professionals write, design, and produce a school newsletter that will reach today's busy and…