Reviews of the research on literacy for students with moderate intellectual disability indicated that sight-word instruction continues to be their primary mode of reading instruction. Reported in this article are data supporting the Sight-Word Component of the larger Integrated Literacy Curriculum for Students with Moderate to Severe Intellectual…

Reports that reading on the job is extremely widespread, is primarily "reading-to-do" rather than "reading-to-learn," and is often aided by extralinguistic factors. (MKM)

Findings indicate that different readability formulas will not record the same degree of change in readability level if easier synonyms are inserted, sentences shortened, or text rewritten for simplification. (MKM)

Provides research findings that paint a bleak picture of the functional reading competence of aged persons. Supports previous research indicating that functional reading competence decreases with age. (JT)

A study of the application forms for Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, public assistance, food stamps, Medicaid, and Medicare was conducted to examine the frequently occurring unfamiliar, specialized vocabulary words. It was found that 76 such words occurred at least ten times in the documents studied. A large number of other…

Presents teaching ideas using the classified advertising sections of newspapers, noting that the ability to decipher classifieds ads is an important life skill. (SKC)

The study of reading in restricted contexts ultimately short changes children. The continuous proliferation of research data results in teacher training courses that are overloaded with marginally relevant material. A vast number of "teachable skills" are isolated, and well-meaning publishers produce sophisticated but unnecessary materials;…

Reviews Laura Zirbes' long career with particular emphasis on her theories of progressive reading instruction. Suggests that she is a neglected but important figure in modern education. Examines the implications of Zirbes' work for contemporary progressive education. (DR)

Describes an investigation that showed that abbreviations in classified ads are difficult to comprehend and suggests that instruction be given in understanding abbreviations as a real life reading skill. (MKM)

In order to assess various reading and writing abilities of adults, for comparison with corresponding abilities of pupils in grades 7 through 12, and to investigate the extent to which adults' reading and writing abilities can be regarded as satisfactory, answers to a series of tests and questionnaire data were obtained from random samples of…

After reiterating the findings of an earlier examination of job literacy, this paper discusses the results of a job literacy survey involving interviews with 107 individuals representing 100 occupations ranging from short-order cooks and assembly-line workers to lawyers and corporation vice-presidents. Other aspects of the research findings…

Demonstrates that many three- and four-year olds' attempts to read familiar print are highly organized, and indicate attention to graphic detail in some contexts. Also concludes that letter name knowledge alone does not explain children's shift from using meaning-oriented strategies to using both meaning and print-oriented strategies. (JAD)

The Fry Readability Graph was used to assess the approximate readability level of each of 23 selected instructions, publications, and forms commonly used by adults in order to compare their readability levels with the minimum literacy level as defined by the United States Office of Education (approximately the eighth grade level). The results…

The purpose of this project, begun in July 1970, was to learn what American adults read, and what they are able to read, as they go about their ordinary activities in the course of a normal day. A national survey of the reading activities of adults was administered to 5,096 individuals. Some conclusions drawn from the survey data are as follows:…

The authors question the furor over declining reading scores, since their study of the daily reading materials of white collar, skilled labor, unskilled labor, and retail personnel indicated little need for these job holders to function at more than a sixth-grade reading level. (Editor/SJL)