Suggests a whimsical text on dyslexia that might be written by David Barry, columnist for the "Miami Herald." (RAE)

Praises the writing persona of syndicated columnist Mike Royko and speculates on how he might comment on the research related to reading. (HTH)

Responds to the author's genuine and imagined reader mail. Discusses issues involving "information anxiety," educational jargon, statistical versus educational significance, and cultural literacy. (RS)

Sight word lists have been used since prior to 20 B.C. and have changed forms many times. Today sight word lists are numerous and are widely and variously used. They differ in source, intended purpose and/or audience, and criteria for including specific words. Despite the differences, there is much agreement that they do reflect the most basic…

Uses a humorous approach to discusses the release of "What Works," the 65-page booklet about research in teaching and learning published by the U.S. Department of Education. (NKA)

Offers a humorous perspective on being a proponent of the whole language approach to reading instruction in the face of those who favor phonics and specific skill instruction. (SRT)

Discusses Keith Stanovich's essay "Romance and Reality" published in the December 1993/January 1994 issue of "Reading Teacher." Reviews Stanovich's arguments about reading research relating to phonics, reading processes, phonological awareness, and reading difficulties. (RS)

Cautions that a lack of rigor in research methodology and a lack of restraint in interpretation may ruin the potential benefits of educational ethnography. (HOD)

Discusses learning disabilities in light of Gerald Cole's book "The Learning Mystique: A Critical Look at Learning Disabilities" and in the humorous guise of being diagnosed by a learning disabilities expert as having a neurological dysfunction due to a lack of interest in watching football. (RS)

Discusses D. Durkin's 1979 study of reading comprehension instruction and J. Heap's critique of the study in a recent issue of "Journal of Reading Behavior." Asserts that the traditional reading lesson is a vehicle for acculturation or teaching cultural knowledge and logic. (SRT)

Discusses the theory-to-practice issue in reading education. (FL)

Argues that metacognitive development should remain--or become--an aspect of instruction that aims to enhance students' reading comprehension. (HOD)

Reflects on reading research and reading education, observing that mature judgment and perspective seem to be lacking in both fields. (MM)

The two reported studies examined children's approaches to and success in conceptualizing a literal main idea in reading. The first study examined elementary pupils' ability to formulate a main idea for brief, carefully controlled paragraphs written with one specific but unstated main idea. The study revealed that although subjects' grade…

Presents a question-and-answer dialogue in which the author thinks about the queries he received or wished that he had received during the past year. (JD)