Finds that both low-ability and average-ability first-grade readers, and to a lesser extent high-ability readers, from different socioeconomic backgrounds, select books that are beyond students' reading level. Discusses influences of gender and genre on these selections. Discusses the relation of frustration-level texts to interest and motivation,…

Explores how authors and illustrators of 21 children's picture books with international settings portray children of poverty. Discusses causes and representations of poverty in the books: fathers who leave home to find work; child laborers; modes of transportation; housing; children who lack material goods; and the barter system. Finds…

Investigates word meaning constructions of four middle-school learners during self-selected reading events where learners targeted unfamiliar words. Explores learner perceptions about vocabulary acquisition. Finds learners used multiple strategies in single encounters with new words, were not inhibited by inaccurate word meaning constructions,…

Describes the reading development of two Hispanic children during their first-grade year. Uses a qualitative, "confessional" narrative genre. Portrays their literacy emergence in relation to the teacher's expectations and the classroom balanced reading program. Interprets the children's reading development in light of current controversies in…

Shows that English as a foreign language (EFL) students in mainland China believe that their command of English vocabulary plays a crucial role in their reading comprehension. Suggests the final replacement of linguistic knowledge by conceptual or sociocultural knowledge as the top factor that affects their reading comprehension seems to take…

Notes how research emphasizes the importance of tailoring instruction to the needs of the individual child. Examines tutoring interactions with Ricky, a friendly, vivacious first-grade boy who started the school year significantly behind peers in reading and writing. Explores what instruction can be provided to meet Ricky's individual learning…

Studies the hypothesized independence of phonological awareness and naming-speed variables in predicting variance in three aspects of reading performance. Indicates that phonological measures contribute more of the variance to those aspects of reading skill that involve decoding or word attack skills; naming-speed measures contribute more to…

Presents three research claims that may have influenced the adoption of rhyme and analogy as part of the National Literacy Strategy. Notes that the three claims are: rhyme awareness is related to reading ability; rhyme awareness affects reading achievement; and rhyme awareness leads to the development of phoneme awareness. Concludes that not one…

Finds that children's self-perception as readers significantly related to their reading achievement; and mothers had stronger beliefs than did fathers in their ability to help improve boys' reading achievement. Concludes that significant differences favoring females were found in children's reader self-perceptions and their reading achievement.…

Presents a study in which both fathers and mothers of four year olds were presented with 14 children's books representing various genres and were asked to select the five books they would read to their children. Gives reasons for their selections. Finds that there were some differences between mothers'/fathers' book selection and some differences…

Studies the effects of Reading Recovery participation on 103 first-grade students in Atlanta elementary schools. Finds that participating in Reading Recovery appears to assist students in increasing their level of belief about their value in the eyes of significant others but does not increase students' sense of competence. (NH)

Assesses the reading achievement of two groups of first grade students receiving instruction with different reading strategies and philosophies. Finds that average and below-average students benefited from a consistent instructional format that utilized direct instruction, authentic literature, and integrated decoding strategies. (NH)

Examines the historical, political, and research roots which have shifted reading instruction from being basal dominated to more literature driven. Argues the future of children's literature in reading instruction depends on exploiting the potential of online and electronic texts, fine-tuning genres of literature, and constructing theories of why…

Describes two activities (the use of a newspaper and consultation with a dictionary) that English-as-a-second language (ESL) college students can use to independently learn new vocabulary. Finds that dictionary work was laborious but necessary, and that ESL students need to be taught prudent use of the dictionary. (SR)

Proposes that readability formulas cannot predict text difficulty. Presents results of an experiment designed to demonstrate that "text difficulty" is determined by individual differences (perception) and not by the objective qualities of a text. (NH)