Silent reading is the primary mode of reading for proficient readers, and therefore, silent reading fluency is often assessed in research and practice. However, little is known about the validity of the tests administered to students with different language backgrounds. Given that academic language is assumed to be especially challenging for…

Purpose: The aims of the current project were twofold: (a) to describe the use of academic words in written language samples by fifth-grade students and (b) to examine the predictive relation between academic word use in academic writing and reading comprehension. Method: Investigators utilized written expository responses of 1,128 students in…