The Adult Literacy Research Working Group (ALRWG), a panel of experts on adult reading research and practice, was established by the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) in collaboration with the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL). It was part of the Institute's efforts to provide educators, parents and others…

The authors provide a review and critique of 82 empirical investigations conducted in the United States on teacher preparation for reading instruction. These studies were chosen from a pool of 298 based on the authors' coding of research quality indicators. Applying an inductive paradigmatic analysis of the 82 studies, this review suggests that in…

The Florida Online Reading Professional Development (FOR-PD) program is funded by the Florida Department of Education (DOE) and is housed at the University of Central Florida (UCF). FORPD is an online staff development project designed to help teachers improve reading instruction for learners in grades preK-12. Developed collaboratively with…

Designed to determine if elementary school teachers have mastered the reading concepts most emphasized in undergraduate courses at the University of Northern Colorado, where they mastered these concepts, or why they have not mastered the concepts, the measure includes 51 items in multiple-choice format. The items cover "basic reading…

Designed to assess the attitudes toward and perceptions of competency in teaching reading in the content areas held by preservice and inservice teachers of elementary and secondary school content area subjects, this inventory contains specific skill statements on a five-point Likert-type scale. Each statement represents and illustrates the…

Designed to differentiate preservice and inservice teachers according to their theoretical orientation to reading, the TORP consists of 28 items reflecting practices and beliefs about reading instruction. The items, which require a Likert-type response, fall into three categories: phonics (smaller than word emphasis), skills (whole words with…

A review of the literature reveals little evidence that classroom decision making is an important component in teaching effectiveness. Studies investigating decision making before (preactive) and during (interactive) instruction indicate that teachers are preoccupied with activity flow and procedural concerns rather than with increasing student…

Reports on a study of preferred reading instruction approaches among 121 British reading teachers. Finds that most do not use a single approach, but a blend of approaches determined by individual differences. Maintains that most perceive their role as encouraging students to enjoy reading. (CFR)

Research on reading teacher effectiveness has taken several different directions over the past 30 years: during the 1950s and most of the 1960s, research focused primarily on teacher qualities; in the early 1970s attention shifted to the effect of the teaching process on student learning, while in the late 1970s and early 1980s experiments defined…

To learn how basal reading program manuals affect teacher behavior during the time scheduled for reading, classroom observations were made of 16 teachers from first, third, and fifth grade classes. The first grade teachers were observed for a total of 605 minutes; the third grade teachers for 780 minutes; and the fifth grade teachers for 535…

Reviews contributions made by Marie Clay to the field of reading instruction and literacy. Maintains that Clay refused to be drawn into the battle between the phonics and "whole-word" approaches to reading instruction. Discusses the current status of language instruction in Great Britain and Clay's continuing significance. (CFR)

Using a survey of 1,656 Connecticut public school employees, this study compared burnout and stress variables for five groups: classroom teachers, school social workers, school psychologists, guidance counselors, and reading specialists. Questionnaires included a burnout inventory, role-behavior survey, and request for demographic information.…

Argues that effective instruction for children with reading difficulties relies little on accurate diagnosis. Maintains that standardized reading tests can help identify children with reading problems. Asserts that children with reading difficulties would be better served by more instruction and less diagnosis. (CFR)

States that there is concern in Western nations that literacy rates are falling. Asserts Reading Recovery programs can reverse this trend. Reports on evaluation studies of Reading Recovery and contends that the short-term gains that result from Reading Recovery programs require further research. (CFR)

Describes Reading Recovery as a school-based prevention strategy to reduce the number of children with reading and writing difficulties. Reports on a study of 83 primary-level students in 12 New Zealand schools. Finds that students participating in Reading Recovery improved reading skills the most. (CFR)