This study investigated the extent to which various factors play a part in English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students' ability to resolve pronoun-antecedent connections in reading. The subjects were 97 ESL learners with four different native languages (Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Spanish) enrolled in the University of Illinois's Intensive English…

This study examined the development of metaprocessing abilities in children with varying degrees of language abilities and sought to determine if the patterns of metaprocessing development that emerged were similar for these ability groups. Subjects were 141 children ages 4-5 at the beginning of the study, divided into a control group, a low…

This study investigated the premise that disordered temporal order perception in retarded readers can be seen in the serial processing of both nonverbal auditory and visual information, and examined whether such information processing deficits relate to level of reading ability. The adult subjects included 20 in the dyslexic group, 12 in the…

Five original research papers by faculty of the Department of Linguistics at the University of Southern Illinois at Carbondale are presented. The titles and authors are as follows: "Measuring the Instructional Sensitivity of ESL (English as a Second Language) Reading Comprehension Items" (Sheila R. Brutten, John T. Mouw, and Kyle…

An experimental study investigated the effectiveness of multimedia instruction in improving listening comprehension of high school students studying second-year Spanish. Specific comprehension difficulties were found in recognizing linguistic and cultural implications, making guesses based on key words and phrases, and understanding and responding…

This study was conducted to explore the relationship between teaching methods and students' grades at the college level. Subjects, 58 undergraduate students enrolled in 2 introductory education courses, were organized into groups and exposed to one of two teaching methods: the lecture format and reciprocal teaching. Reciprocal teaching engages…

This study explored the relationship between test anxiety and metacognitive word knowledge on performance on a reading comprehension test. One hundred and seventeen college students completed four paper and pencil measures: (1) a self-report measure of test anxiety; (2) an archival test of reading ability; (3) a metacognitive word knowledge task;…

Intended for parents of children in Kindergarten through Grade 2, this book explains 10 keys to literacy that ensure reading success, the 5 major influences on a child's overall academic success, and how reading skills can be affected by attitude and expectations. The book provides ideas for ways to help a child become a better thinker, listener,…

A program was developed for improving primary level student intelligences in order to improve reading comprehension, prediction skills, and the ability to apply targeted reading strategies. The targeted population consisted of first and second grade students in a middle class community located in the far southern Chicago metropolitan area. The…

This report describes an intervention to aid students in demonstrating their comprehension of reading material through an alternative instrument. The target population consisted of fifth grade students in a middle class community in central Illinois. Problems in comprehension were revealed through declining district test scores and teacher…

A study tested a teacher training intervention designed to provide experimental teachers with peer support as well as specific principles and techniques for fostering active reading strategies in severely reading disabled adolescents. The study investigated whether and how changes in teaching result in changes in students' reading performance. The…

This study examined the effect of an English intervention program on Singaporan pupils' proficiency in listening and spoken language skills in English and their native language. In 1966, the Singapore Ministry of Education instituted a bilingual school program to ensure that children developed a command of English and one native language. In 1983,…

A study evaluated a teacher development model that provides teachers with peer support and techniques for fostering active reading strategies in inner-city reading disabled adolescents using Collaborative Strategy Instruction. Subjects were 13 pairs of teachers in 9 middle, junior high, or senior high schools who taught reading comprehension to…

Designed to help parents in their important role as their children's most powerful guide to reading and learning, this book contains directions, guidelines, and activities to build a positive environment and a relationship that promotes learning. Chapter titles are: (1) Helping Children with Reading and Learning; (2) Creating Interest and Positive…

This study provides a description and analysis of how teachers read research in light of prior beliefs about what research is and how it should influence teaching. Attention to teachers' beliefs has become an essential feature of studies designed to help understand research. The beliefs on which researchers and teacher educators typically focus…