Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore how student learning materials, such as textbooks, are becoming more oriented toward multi-modal approaches using visuality and orality. While such approaches may help students to understand and then to reproduce taught materials, the objective of this paper is to question whether they are serving…

Research and pedagogical information provided to teachers on implementing explicit strategy instruction has primarily focused on teachers' speech, with limited attention to other modes of communication, such as gesture and artefacts. This interpretive case study investigates two teachers' use of different semiotic resources when introducing…

This study compared the reading gains of Kindergarten students who were at risk for reading failure who were taught with either a structured supplemental reading program or with teacher-designed or teacher-selected instruction. The authors used a quasi-experimental design with preexisting groups to examine changes from pretest to posttest.…

In light of emerging technologies prompting new avenues for teaching and learning, students are positioned to "create" to learn, with video production being an important process for literacy development. There is a growing need for innovative instructional practices in reading and writing that are aligned with student interests and the activities…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of two handwriting approaches, D'Nealian and Sunform, on kindergartners' letter formations. Forty-one participants received D'Nealian handwriting instruction as the control group; 133 kindergartners were instructed in Sunform as the experimental approach. Pre-post tests at the beginning and end…

Previous research indicates that a transactional strategies instruction (TSI) approach to teaching comprehension strategies improves students' reading on standardized tests and other reading measures. However, to date, TSI is not prevalent in schools. The purpose of this article is to provide a more detailed description of the approach, to report…

This working paper explores contemporary research related to methods for teaching reading in Spanish and English in bilingual, foreign language, and English as a second language (ESL) classrooms. Changes stemming from innovations in research and learning are identified and a table is provided to compare methods of teaching reading in Spanish and…

A study was devised to determine which of two instructional methods (conventional instruction or videotape presentations of structured material in addition to classroom instruction, discussion, and demonstration) would be more helpful in teaching prospective teachers how to teach work recognition skills to children. The videotaped materials…

This study investigated the effectiveness of teaching specific rather than global comprehension skills; the correlations among sex, intelligence level, and comprehension gain when taught global or specific comprehension skills; and the correlations between the factors of intelligence, comprehension, and vocabulary without regard for the teaching…

This in-depth review of the literature synthesizes articles and abstracts identified as education-oriented microcomputer research studies published since 1979. A brief, historic overview of educational computing is followed by a review of the Becker (1983) survey, which concerned the distribution of microcomputers in education in the United…

This critical review and evaluation of the literature covers the field of computer assisted instruction (CAI) and reading from its inception to the present day. Seventeen research studies are discussed as well as four surveys of previous research in this field. Major issues addressed include the effectiveness of CAI and computer managed…

This project was conducted in order to determine the practicality of using specialized videodisc instruction to help preservice elementary school teachers learn the Language Experience Approach (LEA) to teaching reading more effectively. Texas Tech University students enrolled in an interactive video course planned and produced the interactive…