This research examines the question of variability in scholastic achievement and focuses in particular on the language factors argument concerning the relationship between reading competency and the multiple subject-matter outcomes of schooling. (Author/RK)

The work reported in this paper was designed to explore the strategies used by 5-year-olds reading sentences from the first book in their school reading scheme, and to test predictions of error patterns derived from the work of MacKinnon (1959) and Soderbergh (1971). (Author)

Describes quantitatively some aspects of the state of affairs of educational methods for teaching reading to deaf children in England and Wales. (Author/RK)

Examines differences in eighth graders' vocabulary learning from two history text passages with two versions of contextual information. Finds that the "considerate" text characteristics of proximity, connectivity, explicitness, and completeness were important in increasing comprehension. (MM)

Most Americans oppose establishing a set of universally required texts--not because creating a core curriculum is inherently undemocratic, but because it's an un-American idea. The Chall curve shows graphically what is at stake in teaching literate culture to everyone. (MLW)

Reports on five studies which investigated reading for pleasure. Finds that this reading is characterized by within-text reading rate variability, is more arousing physiologically than other waking activities, and gives readers a feeling of control. Also finds that the Fog Index of readability predicts readers' preferences and difficulty rankings.…

Review of research of between-class and within-class ability grouping on the achievement of elementary students. Ability grouping appears most effective for specific subjects with students remaining in heterogeneous classes most of the day. Cross-grade assignment for selected subjects can increase achievement. (SLD)

Slavin's 1987 review of research of between- and within-class ability grouping on achievement of elementary students is discussed, and its assumptions examined. It is suggested that recent theory and research make the Slavin review most useful from the perspective of historical analysis. (SLD)

Examines the validity of oral reading accuracy and comprehension as indicators of difficulty for functionally illiterate adults and the feasibility of using four less commonly measured variables as additional indicators of difficulty. Indicates that accuracy and comprehension are valid indicators of difficulty. Rate and miscue quality are strong…

Article reviews research focusing exclusively on the reading knowledge of preschool children who have not begun schooling and have not received formal reading instruction. The categories are (1) studies that document what preschool children learn about reading (informally at home or in preschool), and (2) studies that tell us how children learn…

Reviews recent research on metacognition and presents some implications for its use in the classroom. (FL)

The reading accuracy of seven-year-old children was found to be significantly better with the installment rather than the whole method of oral reading. In addition, word complexity, extraversion, and sex interacted in their effects on reading accuracy. The results are discussed in terms of their implication for classroom practice. (Author/RM)

This article reports some cautions to consider when too much emphasis is placed on phonic instruction, especially with adolescent and adult learners. The importance of developing automaticity in word identification and fluency in reading rate is discussed. Six specific procedures designed to improve reading fluency are outlined. (Author/CT)

This study added extraneous information and increased syntactical complexity to determine the relative importance of computational and reading abilities in solving arithmetic word problems. Analyzing tests of 200 sixth graders indicated the combined abilities accounted for 54 percent of the variance in solution accuracy. (BS)

Offers a proposal for an integrated reading and writing curriculum that emphasizes essay and other informational writing. (HOD)