Highly skilled and less skilled college readers (n=29) were compared on several information-processing and language-comprehension tasks that tap cognitive components of reading. Results confirm that both areas distinguish skilled and less skilled readers and suggest that reading ability is a continuous function. (SLD)

Examines group and individual differences arising from strategy instruction. Finds support for strategy instruction for at-risk students. Finds also that students' motivation can influence their use of the instruction they receive. Raises critical questions regarding the role of motivation in strategy instruction and use. (RS)

Studies the effects of visual elaborations on the cognitive processes of adult learners. Compares the effects of two types of visual elaboration strategies on immediate and delayed recall. Suggests that the incorporation of visual elaboration strategies produces a greater depth of processing, leading to better recall. (HB)

Analyzes the use of graphic aids in electronic texts by using four conceptual differences distinguishing printed and electronic texts. Proposes that these four differences can act as a theoretical framework informing the use of such graphic aids. Discusses the need for and the ramifications of such a theoretical model. (HB)

Studied effects of expert knowledge and metacognitive knowledge on strategy acquisition. Boys who were poor readers and baseball experts were trained in reading strategy using baseball or nonbaseball stories. Found that boys trained using baseball stories demonstrated greater strategy use; boys with higher metacognition demonstrated better…

Reciprocal teaching is an instructional procedure designed to teach students cognitive strategies that might result in improved reading comprehension. This review of 16 quantitative studies generally supports the efficacy of reciprocal teaching but also indicates the need for further research into cognitive strategy instruction. (SLD)

The summary cloze technique offers an alternative to multiple choice. Summary cloze exercises are prepared by summarizing the content of the original text. The shortened text is transformed into a rational cloze exercise. The learner completes the summary text using the list of choices provided. This technique is a good measure of reading…

Compared the way in which learners of French as a Second Language (L2) and English as a First Language (L1) established the coherence of a specific text. Results indicated that when L2 learners approached a text, criteria of familiarity, expectation of meaning, and the teaching context were important. (12 references) (MDM)

Investigates a three-year reading club project, implemented in an urban school with kindergarten children for the purpose of promoting literacy. Shows a positive influence on children's interest in books, reading comprehension, and home reading experiences. (RS)

Examines the individual differences in cognitive styles of black male elementary school students to determine the implications of these differences for reading comprehension processes, especially of expository text. Results from 43 4th-grade students from 3 urban public schools reveal differences in reading comprehension for low and high…

A study found that both paradigmatic and syntagmatic aspects of text were important for signifying meaning of text in the reading comprehension of 102 Australian students at 3 age levels (10, 12, and 14 years). Underlying comprehension problems was a lack of prior experience of text topics. Reading preparation through developing shared meanings is…

A California pilot program is described in which five hard-of-hearing students enrolled in a mainstream high school German class. Although their speech in English was limited and their hearing loss was severe, they kept up with their hearing classmates in reading, writing, and listening (lip reading) and could speak as intelligibly in German as in…

Examines studies investigating the relation between technical vocabulary preteaching and text comprehension using older students. Offers instructional suggestions geared specifically for college developmental readings based on the findings of these studies. (RS)

Fifteen students read expository texts and filled in deleted words and phrases. The five deaf high school youths reported using similar strategies as hearing elementary school youths and hearing reading-disabled high school youths, but deaf readers more often relied on rereading and background knowledge, whereas hearing readers more often used…

Urges English for academic purposes programs to devise more holistic, task- and text-specific, strategy-oriented approaches for reading instruction. Recommendations are given for selecting reading materials, defining criterion tasks, and providing strategy instruction in reading strategies. The promotion of learner independence and use of content…