Text reading fluency is an important reading goal for all students. Students with a known reading disability often need systematic and evidence-based instructional supports to reach grade-level benchmarks in fluency. A recent focus on high-impact tutoring practices has given attention to the virtual or remote implementation of programs. This…

Although over 15 years have passed since Witt (1990) noted that no empirical evidence exists to support the contention that a collaborative approach to consultation leads to more positive outcomes than a hierarchical or expert driven approach, this issue generally remains unaddressed (Schulte & Osborne, 2003). While the literature documenting…

A study implemented and evaluated the Book Buddies model using National Service volunteers as tutors for high-risk first-grade students in a high-poverty urban setting. Using a design with a randomly assigned control group, results show that tutoring sessions produced clear effects. Children who received 40 Book Buddies lessons significantly…

Ninety-seven developmentally disabled mentally retarded persons (aged 10 to 48 years) living in an institution, in group homes, or at home were trained in environmental language, speech, and reading skills using a game oriented multisensory approach. The evening tutorial program consisted of 20 sessions over a 6 month period. A pedagogic and task…

Research has shown that well-designed tutoring programs that use volunteers and other nonprofessionals as tutors can be effective in improving children's reading skills. Students with below-average reading skills who are tutored by volunteers show significant gains in reading skills when compared with similar students who do not receive tutoring…

Presents a project to develop emergent literacy awareness and increase success with reading and writing through the America Reads program. Suggests the value of early experience and interaction with print in children's reading and writing development. Finds that approaches in which systematic code instruction is included alongside meaning…

Shows how a structured tutoring program helped increase both student and tutor reading scores. (JT)

Argues that national intervention endeavors should contain evaluation requirements that are sufficiently flexible to allow a range of rigorous evaluation designs. Uses the recent America Reads Challenge and research and evaluation efforts conducted independently at three university sites to illustrate the possibilities and pitfalls in engaging in…

Describes "Start Making a Reader Today" (SMART), a volunteer tutoring program that helps K-2 students at risk of reading difficulties. Finds that the program improved students' word reading, reading fluency, and word comprehension, though level of performance at end of second grade was still much lower than that of average-achieving…

Assesses a program for the lowest achieving children in a classroom that enables them to function and make progress with their peers near the middle or upper levels of their class. Children are given 30 minutes of individualized training daily, with text reading and writing being the central elements. (NKA)

This compilation presents material related to the HOSTS (Help One Student To Succeed) Reading Mastery/Learning/Tutorial System, a program consisting of the use of electronic databases, comprehensive diagnostic tests, computer software, instructional materials, staff development, tutorial master plans, and a professional support system to support…

Describes a cross-age tutoring program that provides benefits to both the university student athletes who serve as tutors and the elementary school students with whom they work. Gives reasons for the success of the program, as well as evidence of the success. (MG)

Describes the Charlottesville (Virginia) Volunteer Tutorial, a one-on-one tutorial program that promotes the literacy development of young children and involves a wide range of community volunteers. Suggests that the program offers one model of an affordable, alternative form of early intervention. (SR)

The major goal of the University of Southern Maine Reading Academy Project was to demonstrate the effectiveness of process-oriented, diagnostic/prescriptive instruction by trained tutors in raising the literacy levels of adults reading at less than a sixth grade equivalency level. Preservice and inservice training using an empirical model of…