Discusses the unique approaches, well-put notions, fine-tuned procedures, or insightful conclusions in 10 dissertations nominated for the 1989 Outstanding Dissertation Award from the International Reading Association. (RS)

Demonstrates the complex social nature of literacy by examining research on the influence of social interactions on reading and writing development. Illustrates these findings with examples from the environment and activities of a kindergarten classroom. (MM)

The concept of education as social reproduction illuminates practices in teacher education (particularly in reading instruction) that foster student failure and inequality. (Author/IAH)

Examines second-grade teachers' responses to students' answers in the questioning phase of reading lessons. Identifies eight response types: the null rejoinder; explicit evaluation; repetition of student's response; elaboration; and combinations of the last three types. Finds negligible differences among teachers' responses to readers of varying…

Describes how a shared poetry exercise, combining whole language experiences with process writing techniques, motivates remedial readers. Notes that this technique helps remedial readers achieve success in writing, build sight and meaning vocabularies, and improve reading fluency. (MM)

Drawing on theoretical and practical sources, the paper develops four basic principles of teaching in the reading/language arts and discusses how these apply to the selection and effective use of computer assisted instruction (CAI). CAI is seen as an integral part of a broad based instructional program. (Author/DB)

Describes 13 practical ideas for classroom teaching at the elementary level, including writing classmates' biographies, keeping a class diary, and improving emergent readers' vocabulary with word cards. (MM)

Describes an eighth grade reading teacher's program which involved students visiting elderly adults in nursing homes. Argues that the experience provided the context for students to deal with responsibility in a realistic setting, and that the positive circumstances encouraged them to share their experiences in oral and written form. (RS)

To explain the concept of literacy, the Integrative Systems Model of Literacy is developed, illustrating how understanding literacy has direct applications to both instruction and research. The model's utility in reconciling opposing concepts of literacy is shown, presenting practical suggestions for literacy instruction which minimize social,…

Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition was implemented with elementary school regular, remedial, and special education students as an approach for organizing reading and language arts instruction. Compared to a control school, the experimental school found significant effects on reading vocabulary, total reading, and language scores but…

Advocates content-based reading as an effective way to facilitate foreign students' rapidly achieving reading proficiency in English. This article presents data on student achievement, feedback, and retention from a study of two variations of content-based English-as-a-Second-Language courses to support the author's position. (16 references)…

Examines the use of hypertext documents by middle school students. The study focused on gathering and analyzing information on students' use of various hypertext-based reading materials. Analysis of the data led to the identification of six hypertext reading patterns: skimming, checking, reading, responding, studying, and reviewing. (Contains 12…

Three experiments compared the effects of interspersal drill and practice using 30% new items/70% review items with 100% new items, with a total of 17 students (ages 9 to 17) having behavior disorders, emotional handicaps, learning disabilities, or mild mental retardation. The ratios were compared for instruction in spelling, multiplication facts,…

This article describes a theoretical model of reading disability that integrates research findings in cognitive psychology, reading, and education. The model identifies four patterns of reading disability: (1) nonalphabetic readers, (2) compensatory readers, (3) nonautomatic readers, and (4) readers delayed in the acquisition of word recognition…

Four adolescents with moderate mental disabilities were taught by peers to read key words from labels of cooking products using constant time delay. Students mastered the reading of target key words in a relatively short amount of time with minimal errors, acquired some incidental learning of cooking definitions, and were able to generalize the…