A nationwide sample of kindergarten classes in over 2,000 schools provided information on their use of the SWRL/Ginn Kindergarten Program for the second consecutive year, 1975-76. Replicating an initial inquiry, the data showed that (1) high overall levels of outcome proficiency can be reliably attained in kindergarten reading instruction; (2)…

To determine the relationship between particular reading materials used most frequently with students in grades one through six and the amount of progress students made during the 1982-83 school year, a study was conducted by the District of Columbia Public Schools. Nine of the ten reading materials on the approved textbook list were assessed, and…

An instructional analysis was conducted for the following major reading programs widely in use in a California school district: Bank Street (1965, 1973), Macmillan (1965, 1975), Harper and Row (1966, 1972), and Ginn 360/720 (1968, 1976). This paper describes the results of the analysis, examines the programs' current designs, and recommends…

This report describes and evaluates the Chapter 2 Inexpensive Book Distribution Program (IBDP), a federal program designed to motivate children from age three to high school to read, and the Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) organization--the sole contractor of the IBDP. Following an executive summary, an introductory section presents basic…

A study designed to provide insights into reading programs and materials, specifically those in the 21 elementary schools in one California school district, is described in this report. Following a brief presentation of the background of the study, the report states the 15 questions investigated and describes the variables, population, and…

THE FOURTH-GRADE READING PROGRAMS IN 285 PUBLIC, PAROCHIAL, AND PRIVATE RHODE ISLAND SCHOOLS WERE SURVEYED TO IDENTIFY THE POLICIES, PROGRAMS, MATERIALS, PERSONNEL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT AFFECT PRIMARY GRADE READING INSTRUCTION. STATE-TESTING-PROGRAM SCORES WERE USED TO COMPARE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF 20 READING TREATMENTS. A QUESTIONNAIRE…

To measure the effectiveness of the Basic Skills Education Program (BSEP) reading curriculum--eight reading skill modules employing military job-specific reading materials and used by the U.S. Army in Europe (USAREUR)--and to provide information for improving it, a study examined 183 soldiers from 38 European posts who were enrolled in the BSEP…

A study was conducted to provide preliminary information on the nature of remedial reading instruction. Specifically, the study examined the focus of remedial instruction and the relationships of this instruction to the classroom reading program. In addition, it gathered data on what instructional activities remedial students missed when they left…

This What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) topic report addresses reading interventions for students in grades K-3, including core reading curricula, programs, or products to be used as supplements to other reading instruction, programs that focus on staff development, and literacy software. The WWC review on beginning reading focuses on programs…

Observational studies of elementary school classrooms have indicated that basal reading programs (BRPs) influence strongly both how children are taught to read and what they read. BRPs are developed by authors working in varying degrees of involvement with the editors of educational publishing companies. Classroom observation literature and…