Describes a problem-solving computer program, "The Refrigerator Game," designed for second language learners, which focuses on the meaning of language, rather than its form. The success of this program proves that students can learn well by focusing on a game's goal, rather than on language itself. (SL)

Describes 10 categories of inferences and proposes a three-step procedure for teaching students to make inferences while reading. (HOD)

Describes six ways to adapt textbooks for studying purposes: chapter outlines, adapting chapter questions, adapting vocabulary, lowering reading levels, taping textbooks, and color coding textbooks. (HOD)

Preteaching vocabulary terms to fifth-grade students was found to have a significant facilitative effect on their acquisition and retention of social studies content. An instructional sequence for teachers to follow in preteaching concept vocabulary is outlined. (RM)

Explores ERIC materials on various theories of language development and their implications for vocabulary development in classroom settings. Provides suggestions for enriching the school language environment to promote vocabulary growth. (HTH)

Contributors offer suggestions for teaching "David Copperfield," a vocabulary unit built around the theme of love, and a vocabulary guessing game. (HOD)

Examines several approaches to vocabulary development that are alternatives to direct vocabulary instruction. (AEA)

Concludes that there are about 88,500 words in printed school English and that even systematic direct vocabulary instruction could not account for a significant proportion of all the words children actually learn, nor cover more than a modest proportion of the words they will encounter in school reading materials. (FL)

Offers an instructional sequence based on the premise that the spelling of English words very often reflects meaning more than sound and designed to help students make use of this understanding in learning to spell and to increase their vocabulary. (AEA)

Offers suggestions for the systematic study of characters that can help children develop skills in understanding stories. Describes two activities that can be used for this purpose. (FL)

Describes a method of teaching reading skills in a second language that focuses on: (1) eliminating the student's fear of giving a "wrong answer"; (2) discouraging overuse of a dictionary; (3) teaching recognition of cognates, roots, and the use of certain prefixes and suffixes; (4) using a variety of texts; and (5) utilizing skimming, scanning,…

An often-neglected aspect of daily language is syllable doubling or repetition, as in infant language ("nounou"), onomatopoeia ("ronron"), interjections or responses ("oui oui"), names ("Mimi"), or military slang ("coco" for "commandant"). The mechanisms and semantic functions of this phenomenon are outlined, drawing on examples from French…

Describes and presents an inventory for estimating primary grade students' ability to read mathematical vocabulary and their understanding of math concepts. (FL)

Reports that crossword puzzles have proven to be a rewarding teaching instrument in a variety of subjects, then describes computer software that can aid in the construction of accurate, attractive puzzles within practical time constraints. (FL)

Describes four stages of the assessment of instructional materials: (1) research and development; (2) assessment of prototype materials; (3) formative evaluation; and (4) summative evaluation as used in the Vocabulary Development Project. (DEP)