In 1988, a study was conducted to determine whether a holistic or an isolated skills approach is more effective in improving the reading abilities and attitudes toward reading of predominantly Hispanic community college students. The study sample consisted of two groups of developmental reading students. The majority of students in both groups…

Developed as part of the Minimum Performance Testing Program (MPT), these item specifications for sixth grade reading were designed to provide an overview of the general content and format of test items used to measure instructional objectives. Each item specification contains the following information: objective identification number; grade…

This report presents the results of the evaluation of the 1988-89 Comprehensive Instructional Management Systems-Communication Arts (CIMS-CA) program, which focused on developing a holistic communication arts curriculum and staff development program reflecting the most recent research for students in kindergarten through eighth grade;…

A study examined the effect on reading achievement, mathematics achievement, and ACT scores when computer based instruction (CBI) was compressed into a 6-week period of time. In addition, the effects of learning style and receptive language deficits on these scores were studied. Computer based instruction is a primary source of instruction that…

This study sought to determine whether or not student teachers who were trained and required to use a data-based problem-solving approach in their practicum classrooms would obtain higher levels of pupil achievement in reading and mathematics than student teachers who did not receive the training. Student teachers (N=23) were randomly assigned to…

To ascertain program effectiveness, a written attitude survey, consisting of 14 questions, was administered to 85 Mexican American children in grades K-8 during the first 5 days of the Leipsic summer program and to 85 children during the program's final 7 days to determine their attitudes toward themselves, their home schools, and the Leipsic…

A comparison of the results of grades 4, 7, and 10 of the Dearborn Public Schools and the state attainment on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) by skill areas and objectives is described. The contents include (1) Dearborn versus state MEAP attainment results, (2) comparison of MEAP results with previous MEAP results of same groups…

This document contains 49 pages of tables presenting data ranking schools' reading achievement in New York City. Scores are from the Degrees of Reading Power test administered in grades 3 to 10 in 1986. This report complies with the New York City Decentralization Law's requirement that each school be ranked by the percentage of pupils reading at…

A study examined what effect, if any, vision training exercises had on reading achievement. It was hypothesized that training students to control more accurately the speed and direction of their eye movements would improve their visual skills. However, it was also hypothesized that a more efficient visual system would have no effect on reading…

Although critics persist in attacks on the teaching profession in general and the teaching of reading in particular, both elementary and secondary school reading scores have increased steadily over the past three decades. Even Black and Hispanic students (who still score below the averages for White students tested) have made sizeable gains in…

The skills and concepts described in this kindergarten through grade eight reading program guide emphasize the following: (1) teachers' expectations for and attitudes toward students affect student performance, (2) students' self-concepts and expectations are related to their achievement, (3) children learn in different ways and at different…

An extended abstract is provided for a major article titled "The Effects of Frequent Curriculum-Based Measurement and Evaluation on Pedagogy, Student Achievement, and Student Awareness of Learning" is described. The article summarizes research on the educational effects of data-based program modification (DBPM). Thirty-nine special…

A study assessed the performance of language-minority and language-majority children in a two-way Spanish-English bilingual education program in Port Chester, New York. The program treats language learning as a resource for all students, with each group of children teaching their native languages to the other. Second- and third-grade classes are…

Two approaches to the study of long-term effects of different prekindergarten (pre-K) programs in the Austin (Texas) Independent School District (AISD) were studied. In one study, limited English proficient (LEP) students attending AISD kindergartens in 1981-82, 1982-83, and 1983-84 were followed to see if those who attended pre-K showed an…

A practicum designed to help 10 first-graders successfully complete their homework, and to involve their parents as teachers at home, was implemented by a school social worker who was a member of a multidisciplinary child study team that assisted students with academic, social, and behavioral problems. Many children referred to the child study…