This article reports on the results of 11 interviews conducted as a follow-up to a survey that examined the perceptions of university faculty regarding the importance of graduate programs preparing reading specialists for leadership roles. The results of the interviews indicate that programs require a leadership course that has reading specialist…

In order to systemically improve student achievement in elementary literacy, a large urban school district partnered with a local university to develop a model for high-quality professional development that hopefully would result in long-term changes in teachers' literacy instructional/practices. Schools were selected based on their Adequate…

As educators we talk a great deal about theory to practice, and we hope our candidates will understand and make the connections needed in order to apply their theory to practice. Often though, we do not spend enough time helping our candidates discover what their own theory base is and thus that theory to practice (praxis) connection gets broken.…

Research has identified certain comprehension strategies that seem to work in an optimal manner to increase the reading comprehension of K-12 students. However, little evidence exists about whether teachers use identified, research-based strategies when teaching. In view of the critical nature of literacy achievement for diverse populations and…

Findings show that there are now 68 institutions which grant academic credit for developmental reading courses. (RB)

As a direct result of the passage of the America Reads Challenge Act in 1997, Mt. Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has developed a reading tutor program. The program includes a college credit course and on-site visits by college faculty supervising student tutors. This article includes the rationale for development of a credit course for reading…

Advocates the teaching of study skills in place of speed reading in college reading programs. (RB)

Offers a brief history of college level reading programs from the 1920s to the present. Concludes that, despite past trials and errors, most established college reading programs appear to be in firm ground. (PRA)

This book lists more than 200 graduate reading programs in the United States and Canada. The programs are arranged alphabetically by states, and the programs within each state are arranged alphabetically by institution. Each listing gives the name and address of the person responsible for the reading program, the degrees offered by the institution…

The America Reads Project is a program that trains San Francisco State University (SFSU) undergraduates to serve as tutors in local elementary schools. This paper focuses on the findings from the 3rd year of the project (1999-2000). For the 3rd year, 55 undergraduates were trained in a 3-unit course. Eleven elementary schools participated in…

Describes a competency-based reading program at Illinois State University and presents some of the limitations and advantages of such a program. (RB)

Presents a list of task competencies that identifies the critical areas in which a reading specialist performs and provides a basis for judgments affecting the revision and initiation of graduate reading programs. (RB)

The interpretation a mature reader gleans from written language is a reflection of his linguistic, cognitive, emotional, and experiential level. In providing adequate instruction, therefore, instructors must be knowledgeable about the developmental sequences characteristic of each of these domains. The theories of L.S. Vygotsky, George Kelly, Jean…

Discusses study which sought to determine the nature and extent (specifically, the credit, enrollment, faculty involvement, and support for the institution) of reading improvement programs in the larger senior colleges and universities in the United States. (JM)