Current reading research largely focuses on word reading. This study complements that focus by considering what children do when encountering unknown words and how that problem-solving changes over time. We used overlapping wave theory to describe how children who were having difficulty with reading changed their word-solving actions across nine…

University educators have observed the concurrent problems of student attrition, higher than normal or desired failure rates and students struggling to complete assessable and non-assessable work, for instance, set readings. Recent public commentary has pointed to the widening participation agenda with its lowering of university entrance scores…

This paper describes the structure and activities of READ (Reading Effectively Across the Disciplines), a pilot initiative to improve students' critical reading skills, disciplinary literacy and academic success. READ employs a multimodal design that consists of faculty training in disciplinary literacy instruction and curricular enhancement,…

Analyzes the literature concerning learning centers. Concludes that there are two definitions of the term, one meaning the improvement of a student's ability to learn independently, primarily through learning skills instruction and counseling, and the other meaning the individualizing of instruction and learning activities through the use of…

An English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) professor writes about her own experiences with college ESL students, focusing on the issue of content in study labs and ESL reading instruction at Baruch College. Aspects of the curriculum that promote language development, including active interaction with text, are described. (10 references) (LB)

Describes structured and open-ended evaluation techniques that permit students in a reading center to rate their own reading performance. (FL)

Reviews materials from the ERIC database describing the variety of functions a high school reading lab can perform and suggesting ways to evaluate student improvement in the reading lab situation. (MKM)

Presents six ways that instructors in reading clinics can emphasize student strengths, including (1) planning for special surprises, (2) building time off into the schedule, (3) finishing the clinic on a positive note, and (4) reinforcing the success of the clinic. (FL)

Discusses advantages of computer assisted instruction (CAI) in a community college writing/reading curriculum. Using word processing software, students write reports, themes, and essays on the microcomputer. Other software is used for learning vocabulary, grammar, reading rate and comprehension. Includes problems to avoid to ensure success in CAI…

Describes a remedial reading program utilizing a systems approach in a learning laboratory. (MKM)

In this article, we describe the development of a technology-based intervention program for older struggling readers. Developed over several years, this program was based on a theoretical understanding of reading acquisition. In addition, it capitalized on pedagogical principles that can be enhanced through the use of integrated media. The end…

Describes the reading and writing laboratory program at the University of Albuquerque. (FL)

Readers' contributions include ways to make inservice meetings interesting, a checklist for designing and evaluating learning centers, ways to help low ability readers use public libraries by taping materials, how to encourage college students to attend state council conferences, and comments on misleading findings from the Nelson-Denny Reading…