Debates the question of how automaticity in reading develops. Suggests that the traditional view of automaticity development (a result of limited attentional capacity) does not adequately describe the process. Discusses comparisons of alternative views of automaticity and the traditional view. (RS)

Investigates context effects for words with more than one meaning. Finds that younger children (third graders) were more sensitive to the sentence context in which an ambiguous word appears, whereas the processing of older children (sixth graders) was determined more by the relative frequencies of the word meanings. (RS)

Finds high correlations between word reading and nonword reading; and skill in word identification was almost inseparable from the phonologically analytic decoding process that is tapped by nonword reading. Notes differences in reading comprehension were closely associated with differences in decoding skill. (SC)

Suggests placing phonological awareness in the context of the problems of reading and the symptoms of reading disability. Considers how reading builds on the foundations of the child's development of primary language. Contains eight assertions about the development of reading and its difficulties. (SC)

Looks at what is known about multisyllabic words, which is a lot more than educators knew when the previous generation of multisyllabic word instruction was created. Reviews the few studies that have carried out instructional approaches to increase students' ability to decode big words. Outlines a program of instruction, based on what is currently…

Using a word order correction paradigm, this study assessed syntactic awareness skills in children with good and poor reading comprehension, matched for age, decoding skill, and nonverbal ability. Poor comprehenders performed less well than normal readers, and the performance of both groups was influenced by the syntactic complexity and semantic…

Examines relations between morphological sensitivity and decoding ability in grades 3 through 6 to investigate the morpho-phonological nature of English orthography. Indicates that children's recognition of derivational relationships improved with grade level. Concludes that both phonological awareness and sensitivity to morphological structure…

Studies the relationship between working memory capacity and reading comprehension in fourth-grade children and the nature of the working memory resources involved in reading comprehension. Shows that working memory capacity was a direct predictor of reading comprehension when contrasted with vocabulary and decoding skills. Discusses the reasons…

Naturalistic observations and interviews with service workers found on-the-job reading was based on knowledge of codes and rules of practice and required problem-solving and metacognitive strategies. Workplace competencies should be considered within their social and cultural context. (SK)

Investigates the development of decoding (efficiency), reading comprehension, vocabulary and spelling during the elementary school years. Determines the differences between poor, average and good performers with regard to the development of these skills. Finds clear seasonal effects for reading comprehension, vocabulary and spelling, but the…

Reviews the literature on decodable text, instructional material containing words with phonically regular relationships that the reader has been taught. Synthesizes findings into a theoretical model that suggests a specific developmental juncture in which decodable text may be useful. Concludes that additional analyses of words in text are not…

Presents a study in which 74 boys with reading disabilities and a matched control group of normal readers were followed during their compulsory schooling (to grade 9). Assesses word decoding performance on three occasions. Finds that the most powerful predictor is early reading performance and non-verbal intelligence. Notes that neither teaching…

Compares a sample of prison inmates with the norms obtained for large samples of 12-year-old students on tests measuring word decoding skills, reading, and spelling abilities. Shows that most of the inmates performed better or at the same level as 12-year-old students on all tasks measuring reading, spelling, and word decoding skills. (SC)

Production, mediational, and utilization deficiencies, which describe how strategy use may contribute to developmental trends in episodic memory, have been intensively investigated. Using a mediator report-and-retrieval method, the authors present evidence concerning the degree to which 2 previously unexplored mediator-based deficits--retrieval…

Literacy scholars appear to have reached consensus that a balanced approach to reading instruction holds the greatest promise for improving reading achievement among students. Following the lead of the National Reading Panel (2000), curricular manifestations of a balanced reading program include instructional components in phonics or word…